Today’s featured book is FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury, a dystopian novel about a society where books are outlawed and burned to prevent people from encountering challenging ideas. Ironically, the novel itself has faced challenges and censorship over the years.
Freedom to Read Project
@freedomreadproject.bsky.social
Parent-led nonprofit dedicated to protecting access to information in our schools and public libraries. www.freedomtoreadproject.org
Today’s book is ANNE FRANK’S DIARY: THE GRAPHIC ADAPTATION. The graphic adaptation brings Anne's experiences hiding from the Nazis during the Holocaust to a new generation of readers. The book has faced challenges over sexual content & its visual depictions of passages from Anne’s diary.
What can Frederick Douglass, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, and The Handmaid’s Tale teach us about censorship? Our latest article explores how writers have long warned us about efforts to control information, restrict ideas, and silence voices. freedomtoreadproject.substack.com/p/they-told-...
They Told Us What Censorship Looks Like. We Should Listen.
There is a reason dystopian novels so often begin with control over information.
freedomtoreadproject.substack.com
Perfect for banned books week!
Want to fight book bans but aren’t sure where to start? “Turning the Page: An Advocate’s Guide to the Freedom to Read” gives you the information and tools you need to move from concern to action. Download your FREE copy today: www.freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_...
Today’s featured book is THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas, which follows 16-year-old Starr Carter after she witnesses a police officer fatally shoot her childhood friend. The book has been challenged for profanity, violence, drug references, and its discussions of racism and policing.
Should one person control every Texas library? We don't think so. Our latest Substack post. @penamerica.bsky.social @uabookbans.bsky.social txfreadomfighters.substack.com/p/should-one...
Should one person control every Texas reader?
We don’t think so...
txfreadomfighters.substack.com
Banned Books Week continues! Today’s featured book is ALL BOYS AREN’T BLUE by George M. Johnson, a memoir about growing up Black and queer and finding your identity. The book has been frequently challenged for its discussions of sexuality, sexual experiences, and LGBTQ+ identity.
Banned Books Week is here! Every day this week, we’ll spotlight a banned or challenged book AND share a simple action you can take to help protect the freedom to read.
At a time when access to information is increasingly under threat, independent journalists are doing essential work investigating censorship, tracking book bans, and telling stories that might otherwise go uncovered. How and why to support: bookriot.com/how-and-why-...
How and Why to Support Independent Media: Book Censorship News, October 2, 2026
Maintaining a robust media landscape requires understanding how and why to support independent media.
bookriot.com
Who pays the price when the state takes book decisions away from local communities? Florida’s public-school students and families. Our latest article looks at whose voices are being elevated, what parents actually choose & why local control matters. freedomtoreadproject.substack.com/p/who-pays-t...
Who Pays the Price When the State Takes Book Decisions Away from Local Communities?
Last week, Florida Commissioner of Education Henry Mack sent a seven-page memorandum to every school district superintendent and charter school leader in the state.
freedomtoreadproject.substack.com
ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY has been introducing young readers to the Logan family & the realities of racism in 1930s Mississippi for nearly 50 years. Through Cassie’s eyes, readers encounter injustice, courage, family, dignity, and the determination to stand up for yourself & the people you love.
Banned Books Week is coming! Oct. 4–10, we’re celebrating the freedom to read and shining a light on censorship in schools and libraries. Follow along for challenged books, resources, and ways to turn awareness into action. #BannedBooksWeek #FreedomToRead #ReadFreely
We were thrilled to hear Judy Blume speak at our event last week! Her reminder: Keep speaking out because someone is always hearing it for the first time. The event is over, but the work isn’t. Take action at nobookbans.org. Keep showing up. Keep speaking up. #FreedomToRead #NoBookBans
Reading for pleasure benefits brain health, cognition, and well-being. Yet book restrictions and funding challenges continue limiting access. If we want lifelong readers, we need to protect their freedom to read. freedomtoreadproject.substack.com/p/reading-is...
Reading Is Good for Our Brains. So Why Are We Making Books Harder to Access?
For years, those who defend the freedom to read have argued that access to books matters.
freedomtoreadproject.substack.com
TODAY is the day! If you’ve been looking for a way to make a difference in the fight for the freedom to read, don’t miss “Show Up, Speak Up: Vote for the Freedom to Read.”
The freedom to read movement is stronger when we work together, and advocacy can be fun too! “Show Up, Speak Up: Vote for the Freedom to Read” is a chance to connect with fellow book lovers and advocates from across the country, celebrate the freedom to read, and turn that energy into action.
Haven’t had time to take action for the freedom to read? This is your chance. We know life is busy. Maybe you’ve been following the headlines, worrying about book bans, and meaning to contact your representatives or get more involved, but you just haven’t gotten around to it.
Show up. Speak up. Stand up for the freedom to read. Join freedom to read advocates from across the country on Thursday, September 24 at 2 p.m. ET for “Show Up, Speak Up: Vote for the Freedom to Read,” a FREE virtual event celebrating books, authors, readers, and the power of civic engagement.
This new report from Book Riot takes a look at the past five years of censorship and the ongoing fight for the freedom to read. We’re proud that two members of the Freedom to Read Project team contributed to the report, sharing insight from our work on the ground. bookriot.com/book-censors...
“We Need To Tell The Story”: Literary Advocates Nationwide Reflect On Five Years of Relentless Attacks on the Freedom to Read
Advocates for the freedom to read across the country share their wins, challenges, and opportunities as the work enters year six.
bookriot.com
Feeling overwhelmed by threats to the freedom to read? There are things you can do right now. Show up. Organize. Demand good policies. Support librarians. Follow the legal battles. You don’t have to do everything. Pick your piece and start there. freedomtoreadproject.substack.com/p/what-can-i...
What Can I Do Now to Protect Our Schools and Libraries From Threats to the Freedom to Read?
For the past five years, we have watched threats to the freedom to read evolve.
freedomtoreadproject.substack.com
MILO IMAGINES THE WORLD is a beautiful picture book about imagination, empathy, and the assumptions we make about other people. Challenges have cited its depiction of an incarcerated parent and an illustration in which Milo imagines two women getting married.
Want to fight book bans but aren’t sure where to start? “Turning the Page: An Advocate’s Guide to the Freedom to Read” gives you the information and tools you need to move from concern to action. Download your FREE copy today: www.freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_...
Book banning can be confusing, especially when terms like “challenge,” “removal,” “parental rights,” and “First Amendment” get thrown into the same conversation. So we’re answering five of the most common questions about book bans. Knowledge is one of our best tools against censorship.
Register now to be a part of this fun event! You don’t have to plan to stay for the full two hours. We’ll have a special community call-to-action every thirty minutes during the event!
Join us 9/24 for Show Up, Speak Up: Vote for the Freedom to Read - a virtual variety show featuring a star-studded lineup of freedom to read champions celebrating books, authors, and readers. Let’s make our voices heard, all at once in this collective call to action. tinyurl.com/ShowUpSpeakUp
When librarians are fired for defending books and the freedom to read, they’re fighting back in court and winning. These cases show why standing up for intellectual freedom matters. bookriot.com/librarians-s...
Librarians Suing Over Wrongful Termination for Defending Books Are Winning: Book Censorship News, September 11, 2026
Librarians who've been fired for not banning books and sued are winning settlements in their cases.
bookriot.com
The Librarians won an Emmy. But the fight it documents is far from over. Book bans, censorship & attacks on librarians continue across the country. Our latest article looks at why this moment deserves celebration & why we can’t stop paying attention. freedomtoreadproject.substack.com/p/the-librar...
The Librarians Won an Emmy. The Fight It Documents Is Far From Over.
This weekend, The Librarians won the Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, a well-deserved recognition for a film that has helped bring the reality of modern book censorship to audienc...
freedomtoreadproject.substack.com
ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL is funny, messy, irreverent, and deeply human. It tackles friendship, grief, illness, and growing up with humor and honesty. Difficult stories belong on shelves, too. Not every book is for every reader. That’s what choice is for. #FreedomToRead #BannedBooks
Supporting the freedom to read doesn’t have to cost a thing. You don’t need to make a donation or have hours of free time to make a difference. Small actions. Zero dollars. Real impact. The freedom to read belongs to all of us, and protecting it can start with something small today. #FreedomToRead
Too often, protecting young people is used as a reason to limit what they can read. But books give teens a safe place to encounter difficult realities, explore unfamiliar experiences, and better understand the world around them. Young people don't need to be shielded from every complicated story.
Looking for a deeper understanding of book censorship? This Book Riot roundup revisits 14 important pieces exploring book bans, censorship tactics, and the ongoing fight for intellectual freedom. bookriot.com/14-book-cens... #FreedomToRead #BookBans
14+ Book Censorship Posts to Revisit: Book Censorship News, September 4, 2026
From building a group that defends the right to read to exploring what's meant by "book censorship," catch up on past book censorship posts.
bookriot.com