Censorship is surging thanks to an organised rightwing minority targeting books on LGBTQ and Black characters and issues“A book is a loaded gun in the house next door,” warns a character in Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s dystopian vision of an America where books are considered so dangerous they must be incinerated. The novel appeared 70 years ago, in the aftermath of Nazi book burnings and amid McCarthyism and Soviet ideological repression. But the urge to ban books has resurged with a vengeance, with the American Library Association (ALA) recording a doubling of censorship attempts in 2022, to 1,269 across 32 states: the highest rate for decades. Pen America, which champions freedom of expression, tallied more than 2,500 cases in the last school year.These attempts are not merely more numerous but are also broadening and deepening. The decisions of school boards and districts take place in the context of politicians grasping electoral advantage and punitive yet often vaguely worded state laws on education – such as the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis’s, Stop-Woke Act. At least 10 states have passed legislation increasing parental power over library stock, or limiting students’ access. In place of spontaneous challenges to single titles come challenges to multiple titles, organised by campaign groups such as Moms for Liberty. The ALA says that 40% of attempts last year targeted 100 books or more. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2023-04-13 17:21:33 UTC ]
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As book-bannings sweep the United States, two campaigns from the industry demonstrate different styles and tones of response. The post Penguin Random House, Authors Guild on Book Bannings appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-05-06 00:17:19 UTC ]
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Maia Kobabe’s book “Gender Queer,” about coming out as nonbinary, landed the author at the center of a battle over which books belong in schools, and who gets to make that decision. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-05-01 23:54:03 UTC ]
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In Texas, where libraries are a political battleground, the Texas Library Association recently convened its annual convention in person for the first time since 2019—in the district of a state representative Matt Kraus eager to ban books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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“If they’re gonna ban books, then the whole library should be in play," Chaz Stevens told the Miami New Times. Continue reading at The Huffington Post
[ The Huffington Post | 2022-04-27 09:01:57 UTC ]
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Teens across the country are fighting back against censorship and book bans. This guide to how to start a banned book club can help. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-04-26 10:34:00 UTC ]
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Janelle Monáe was joined by Times columnist Erika D. Smith to discuss her book 'The Memory Librarian' on Saturday at the L.A. Times Book Festival. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-04-24 17:01:01 UTC ]
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After a few years of virtual ceremonies, the 42nd Los Angeles Times Book Prizes was held in person Friday at USC, kicking off the Festival of Books. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-04-23 04:25:08 UTC ]
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Last Thursday's Independent Book Publishers Association's “The Battle for Free Expression: Indie Publishers and Libraries in the Fight Against Censorship.” panel offered insights from digital media, public libraries, academic research, and online education on the rise in book banning. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A parent complained about the book because it had a rainbow on the cover, which they assumed meant it had LGBTQ content. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-04-14 14:03:15 UTC ]
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The New York Public Library made four banned books available nationwide on SimplyE, its free-reader app. The titles include Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi and Catcher in the... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-04-13 23:48:05 UTC ]
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The new report finds an astonishing 1,586 book bans and restrictions in 86 school districts across 26 states, targeting some 1,145 unique book titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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At a three-hour hearing yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties investigated the jump in book bans in schools and the danger these bans mean for the protection of the First Amendment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Over 1,000 books were banned in schools in the past year, with bans disproportionately targeting books on race and the LGBTQ community. Continue reading at The Huffington Post
[ The Huffington Post | 2022-04-07 19:26:40 UTC ]
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These are the 10 books the American Library Association reports as being the most banned or challenged titles of 2021. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-04-05 14:07:04 UTC ]
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Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, plans to hold a hearing April 7 to examine the wave of attempted book bannings in schools and libraries across the country. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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If I could, I’d delve into undeservedly forgotten novels, works of intellectual history and biography -- and so much more Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2022-03-30 16:51:25 UTC ]
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The poll found that 71% of voters oppose efforts to remove books from public libraries, including majorities of voters across party lines. Furthermore, 74% of parents of public school children expressed “a high degree of confidence” in school librarians to make good decisions about which books... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's latest Kindle Paperwhite is one of the nicest (and newest) e-readers out there, and you can now pick one up at an all-time low. It's on sale for just $105, for a savings of $35 (25 percent) off the regular $140 price. You'll also find deals on the regular Kindle with a built-in front... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-03-22 10:35:35 UTC ]
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If you’ve been paying attention to local news, you know the wave of book bans sweeping the nation isn’t slowing down—but people are pushing back. PEN America continues to speak out against censorship; a professor has offered to teach Maus to all students affected by its ban; the Authors Guild... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-03-17 15:55:49 UTC ]
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Angela Engel, publisher of the Collective Book Studio, examines the disturbing connection between banned books and antisemitism. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-11 05:00:00 UTC ]
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