Banned Books

Catalog description

In this course, we will read books from the American Library Association’s 10 Most Challenged Books list and learn about some of the specific challenges as well as the ALA’s efforts to defend free speech. Since 2021, there has been a sharp spike in censorship attempts in libraries, and most do not come from parents or individual library users. The most common themes that were used as justifications for challenges in 2024 were LGBTQIA+ and race, racism, and social justice. By reading and discussing these books, and by considering them as creative acts and objects, we are fighting against censorship.