We discuss ⁠⁠The Librarian of Basra⁠: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter, which was the 96th most challenged or banned book from 2010 to 2019. First published in 2005, this picture book is based on the true story of Alia Muhammad Baker's experiences during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It won an ALA Notable Children's Book Award in 2006.

In this episode, we discuss why The Librarian of Basra has been banned. We also offer our assessment of its pros and cons. Please listen to our sixteenth episode for a close reading of the book's characters, themes, and significance. 

Some of the sources mentioned in this episode:

• https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2023/03/record-book-bans-2022 

• https://www.commondreams.org/news/federal-book-banning-bill

• https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3931733-texas-judge-orders-banned-books-returned-to-library-shelves/#:~:text=A%20federal%20judge%20in%20Texas,county's%20library%20shelves%20during%202021 

• https://library.potsdam.edu/bannedbooks/top100

• https://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/the-librarian-of-basra/ 
• https://www.al-fanarmedia.org/2021/08/alia-muhammad-baqer-savior-of-basra-librarys-books-dies-at-69/

• https://www.cfr.org/timeline/iraq-war

• https://www.bookologymagazine.com/peace-ology/banned_books#:~:text=Nasreen's%20Secret%20School%20and%20The%20Librarian%20of%20Basra%20have%20been,settings%20of%20Afghanistan%20and%20Iraq

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather for running our Twitter page, and Lizzie for our audio editing! Please visit our website for a ⁠⁠transcript⁠⁠ of this episode.

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