October 4 to 10 is Banned Books Week. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the joy of reading and stand up for the right to read. Will you join me in taking action?
About Banned Books Week
Although it has been in the news more lately, banning books isn’t new. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. We’ve seen a similar surge in recent years as our society becomes increasingly polarized.
In the United States, the Banned Books Week website reports over 4,000 challenges to books in 2025. Almost all (92%) of the challenges were initiated by pressure groups, or government officials and decision makers. Over one-third (39%) of the challenged books represent the lived experiences of LBGTQIA+ people or people of colour.
This type of censorship isn’t only a problem in the United States. The desire to censor or restrict access to certain books makes headlines here in Canada as well. PEN International reports book banning escalated significantly here in 2025. The Province of Alberta led the charge but it’s happening here in Ontario too. Toronto Metropolitan University’s Canadian Library Challenges Database lists close to 2,000 titles.
And in the UK, Index on Censorship, the UK partner for Banned Books Week, reveals more than half of school librarians had been asked to remove books from their shelves. Further, more than half of bookshop owners say they have noticed an increase in intimidating behaviour toward them or their staff.
We must protect the freedom to read
Books can transport us to distant times and places. By allowing us to see the world from different points of view, books can foster empathy and compassion for the plight of others.
When I hear of special interest groups wanting to ban books, I have to wonder what they are afraid of. These bans often target young adult fiction titles, and many of the challenges refer to shielding children from explicit content. The word “indoctrination” comes up a lot in book banning discussions as if exposing young people to different points of view will lead them astray.
Let’s give our young people some credit. In a world where young people read less and can access harmful and hateful content online in seconds, parents and educators should celebrate that kids want to read at all, rather than try to censor them.
In an earlier post about the Rainbow Fish controversy, I discussed how banning or cancelling books takes away the opportunity for conversation and learning. Here’s an idea for parents: Instead of sheltering your kids, why not encourage them to read? Better still, read along with them and then have an open conversation about what you read.
Take action this Banned Books Week
The simplest thing you can do this week is read a challenged book. Here are some lists to help you find titles:
- The American Library Association’s Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2025
- Freedom to Read Canada’s Challenged Works list
- Index on Censorship’s Banned Books Week UK Reading List
Beyond reading, the best thing you can do is keep the conversation going about the importance of literary freedom. Here are some more ideas on how to do that:
- Talk to friends and family about the importance of protecting the freedom to read.
- Add a banned took to your book club’s reading list.
- Visit your local library to see if they’re hosting any events related to Banned Books Week.
- Share a banned book in your local Little Free Library.
- Visit a local independent bookstore.
In an increasingly divided world, we cannot allow the lived experiences of people from marginalized groups to be silenced out of fear or prejudice.
Will you join me in celebrating Banned Books Week? I’ve chosen a book to read from the list and will share a review next weekend. Drop me a comment below to let me know what you’re reading.
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I’m planning to read Educated by Tara Westover, and I read 1984 last year. Banning books makes no sense.
It really is bizarre, Edward. There’s no basis for most of the bans. They often relate to a small portion of “objectionable content” rather than considering the work as a whole.
Exactly! I was telling someone else that politicians and most school boards don’t read all those books. The only reason they’re being banned is that activists, mostly “Christians,” make it their purpose in life to find these books and push for bans, just to create animosity in communities. They get energized by chaos.
Great suggestion to share a banned book in a Little Free Library. Thanks, Michelle!
I actually love that the Little Free Library organization is actively promoting Banned Books Week and encouraging people to share books. Thanks, Wynne.
I’ve paused my re-read of 1984, partly because it’s so much more badly-written than I remembered (I don’t know how I hoovered through it like I did in high school), and am currently reading a book that’s not on the list but is similar in many characteristics to some of the most frequently banned books. It’s Julie Orringer’s The Flight Portfolio, and the opening chapter is from a gay man’s POV. The show they made from it, Transatlantic, is explicit about their relationship. If they haven’t pulled it here, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time until they try.
One of the books on Bookshop.org’s lists, Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The Bluest Eye, was just removed from the shelves a week or so ago in my county’s district. Every copy. Every school. Basically sends the message that sexual abuse is too gross to contemplate, driving victims deeper into silence. And that Black women aren’t worth reading, I guess. Even if they win prizes. I’ve DNF’d that one twice as just too intense for me, but I’ll defend to the death a kid’s right to read it if they want to.
I have never read 1984. I’ve been trying to read some of the classics. Some are easier reads than others. I struggled through Little Women late last year when I found a copy when cleaning up my daughter’s room.
I mentioned on your post that I’ve added The Bluest Eye to my reading list. It sound similar to Sold which I just finished reading. If we stifly any discussion of sexual abuse, it just opens the door for trolls like Epstein to thrive. Ugh.
I had no idea books were banned in the UK until I realised some regions with far-right councils are banning books in schools and removing rainbow flags from schools and public buildings. But you are right in what you ask, Michelle: ‘What are these people frightened of that they want to ban these books and tear down flags?’
It reminds me of movies that are banned, mainly due to extreme violence or gore. But I hear little about banned movies now since streaming platforms came along and many banned movies became available to watch, and you can choose whether to watch them. Instead of a few people making the choices, why not let most of us choose what to read and watch?
It really is sad and a bit bewildering, Hugh. Many of the books on the list are classics that were written in a different time. Banning them just takes away the opportunity for thought and conversation—two things that are sadly missing in our world these days.
I will not work on Sunday. Toi many miserable years of frantic prep when I was still teaching for that. But I will admit I literally just this minute capped me pen after Sketching out a banned books post for in the morning. May I link back to yours?
Yes of course! Thanks for reading.
I really try to understand the arguments for banning books, but I can’t. Freedom of the speech, the press, and to assemble should never be taken away. I’m left scratching my head at some of the books that make the banned books list.
I agree, Pete. I just don’t understand it. What I found really interesting was that many of the groups arguing for bans haven’t even read the books they want to ban or restrict.
That adds to the ridiculousness of their arguments.
I love campaigns such as this and also Freedom to Read in late February. A reminder of how powerful books and reading and ideas are.
Exactly. I have learned so much from reading books by authors of different backgrounds. We can’t allow those voices to be silenced.
A Clockwork Orange! I haven’t seen that book since I was a teen. And I think we have every Sarah Maas book in A Court of Thornes…series. The oldest grand is smitten. Really interesting to look through each list and see what each country has listed as unacceptable. I know many of them but now need to add so many others to my own reading list. Thank you for this timely reminder that ALL books are essential and valued.
Thanks, Deb. You really have to wonder what the objection is to some of these titles. It makes me want to read them all to find out!
Michelle! Thank you so much for the links to banned books! I’m in, I’m in! ❤️❤️❤️
I can’t wait to hear what you read, Vicki. 🤗 I chose “Sold”. It’s a young adult fiction novel on the theme of modern slavery and sex trafficking. It felt like an appropriate read in these “Epstein days”.
That’s my #1 from the list, too! 🤗
Protect our freedom to read! It cannot be better said!
Reading is so critical to understanding each other. It’s sad that people refuse to open their hearts and minds to the plight of others.