Marisa and Mary are back with a new episode of The Book Jam! We have a special guest today, Samatha Lee, she is Head of Reference Services at the Enfield Public Library AND serves as chair of the CT Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee.
This makes Sam, the perfect guest for today's topic: we are talking about the books 'they don’t want you to read' because it is Banned Books Week. Listen and find out what is Banned Books Week, what is a challenge versus a ban, and of course hear us talk about our favorite banned books. These books cover big topics like racism, black lives matter, homophobia, sexual assault, and #metoo movement.
Check out the Books Mentioned below to add even more books to your To Be Read pile.
Marisa’s book:
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brenda Kiely. Teen, Grades 7+. Published by Atheneum, and Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, September 2015.
Mary’s book:
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan. Teen, Grades 7+. Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, August 2013.
Samantha’s book:
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. High School, Grades 9+. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, October 1999.
Books we talked about this episode:
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
Rainbow Boys by David Levithan
Both Can Be True by Jules Machias (Marisa’s unnamed reference to this book plot)
Better Nate Than Never by Tim Federle
Middle School’s a Drag by Greg Howard
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, Emily Carroll (illustrator)
Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean
Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee
Monstress by Marjorie Lui
Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 by Stephenie Meyer, Young Kim (illustrator)
It's Perfectly Normal: A Book about Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris
Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
Jack of Hearts by A.C. Rosen
Caleb Roehrig’s works.
Camp by Lev A.C. Rosen
Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
Judy Blume’s works (She has the distinction of being one of the most banned writers in the U.S).