Banned Books Week 2023

Submitted by Meghan on Thu, 09/14/2023 - 12:02pm
Sunday, October 1, 2023 - 10:00am to Saturday, October 7, 2023 - 6:00pm

Founded in 1982, Banned Books Week is an annual event designed to organize publishers, booksellers, librarians, educators, journalists and readers to explain and advocate for free expression and to defend the right of every individual to read what they choose.  Here at River Bend, we love our banned books, and proudly provide access to texts that span a wide array of topics and beliefs.  We support your right to free speech and freedom of expression.  

 

Listed here are some of our favorite banned and challenged texts.  Our audiobook partners at Libro.FM have also put together a fabulous list of audiobooks and interviews with authors regarding censorship and free expression.

 

Infographic: Top Ten Most Chalenged Books of 2021:The American Library Association tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Of the 1,597 individual books that were challenged or banned in 2021, here are the top 10 most challenged: 1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images. 2. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison. Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit. 3. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson. Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit. 4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez. Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit. 5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda. 6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term. 7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women. 8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit. 9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson. Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content. 10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin. Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

Event address: 
2217 Main St.
Glastonbury, CT 06033
All Locations
Books: 
New Kid: A Newbery Award Winner By Jerry Craft, Jerry Craft (Illustrator) Cover Image

New Kid: A Newbery Award Winner (Paperback)

By Jerry Craft, Jerry Craft (Illustrator)
$12.99
ISBN: 9780062691194
Availability: Available at One of Our Locations
Published: Quill Tree Books - February 5th, 2019
Gender Queer: A Memoir By Maia Kobabe Cover Image

Gender Queer: A Memoir (Paperback)

By Maia Kobabe
$24.99
ISBN: 9781549304002
Availability: Available at One of Our Locations
Published: Oni Press - May 28th, 2019
Lawn Boy By Jonathan Evison Cover Image

Lawn Boy (Paperback)

By Jonathan Evison
$17.99
ISBN: 9781616209230
Availability: Available at One of Our Locations
Published: Algonquin Books - March 19th, 2019
Flamer By Mike Curato, Mike Curato (Illustrator) Cover Image

Flamer (Paperback)

By Mike Curato, Mike Curato (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781250756145
Availability: Available at One of Our Locations
Published: Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks - September 1st, 2020
Out of Darkness By Ashley Hope Pérez Cover Image

Out of Darkness (Paperback)

By Ashley Hope Pérez
$12.99
ISBN: 9780823445035
Availability: Available at One of Our Locations
Published: Holiday House - September 10th, 2019
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) By Jesse Andrews Cover Image

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) (Paperback)

By Jesse Andrews
$11.99
ISBN: 9781419719608
Availability: Available at One of Our Locations
Published: Amulet Books - April 21st, 2015
This Book Is Gay By Juno Dawson, David Levithan (Introduction by) Cover Image

This Book Is Gay (Paperback)

By Juno Dawson, David Levithan (Introduction by)
$12.99
ISBN: 9781728254326
Availability: Available at One of Our Locations
Published: Sourcebooks Fire - September 7th, 2021
The Hate U Give: A Printz Honor Winner By Angie Thomas, Amandla Stenberg (Foreword by) Cover Image

The Hate U Give: A Printz Honor Winner (Paperback)

By Angie Thomas, Amandla Stenberg (Foreword by)
$16.99
ISBN: 9780062498540
Availability: Available at One of Our Locations
Published: Balzer + Bray - May 3rd, 2022
Staff Pick Badge
The Bluest Eye (Vintage International) By Toni Morrison Cover Image

The Bluest Eye (Vintage International) (Paperback)

By Toni Morrison
$16.00
ISBN: 9780307278449
Availability: Available at One of Our Locations
Published: Vintage - May 8th, 2007