Banned Together

Praise

“This stunning book is the antidote we need against the hate-based book banners bent on destroying our freedoms. Read it, share it, and lift your voice to support everyone’s right to read.” —Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Speak and Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Winner
 
“This brilliant collection of essays, poems, and stories encapsulates the tragic push by extremists to ban books in the United States, but also gives hope to those who believe in libraries and human rights. It has been said that books save lives, and this book proves just that. It is inherent that we push for the freedom to read, the first amendment, and the fact that libraries are for everyone.” —Amanda Jones, author of That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America

“What’s it like to be the author of a banned book? How does it feel to be accused of grooming and sexualizing children by strangers? This anthology gives voice to writers whose work and identities have been demonized and, in the process, makes an impassioned plea for allowing young people to read books that reflect the full range of human experience.” —Mike Hixenbaugh, author of They Came for the Schools: One Town’s Fight Over Race and Identity, and the New War for America’s Classrooms
 
“Banned Together is an insightful, moving, and important resource for teens and all readers who are fighting the alarming rise in censorship across the U.S. It is filled with hard-won wisdom from authors whose books have been banned and who have themselves been targeted by right-wing hate. Give this to every young person to better equip them to stand up for their rights and their communities.” —Malinda Lo, National Book Award Winner and New York Times-bestselling author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club
 
“Banned Together is a mighty and massive resource, one that will, with any luck, act as not only a text of defiance, but also a text of massive inspiration. A heart-lifting body of work that will echo for generations.” —Hanif Abdurraqib, Carnegie Award Medalist and MacArthur Fellow

“Powerful, necessary, and deeply honest, the stories, essays, poems and comics in Banned Together are beacons of hope, even more importantly, they are calls to action, compelling every reader to stand up and to get loud against the forces of hate and censorship on the rise in this nation. An incredibly insightful resource and road map, this dazzling anthology reminds us that the freedom to read is one we must fight for, relentlessly and together. I’m with the banned!” —Samira Ahmed, New York Times bestselling author of Internment and This Book Won’t Burn

“This book shines a beacon on banned books and encourages readers to discuss difficult topics, rather than pretend they don’t exist. Thank you to these incredible authors, who were brave and gracious enough to inform, to share their experiences, to let readers know they are not alone, that they are okay.” —Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy and The Unwanteds

“Some of the most important voices of our day are being silenced across America, but they’re proudly and vividly on display in this outstanding anthology full of knowledge, insight, and heart. Stories save lives, and one of the stories in this book could save yours.” —Ryan Estrada, Freeman Award-winning author of Banned Book Club and No Rules Tonight
 
“In our fight against book bans, here is my weapon of choice! This brilliant and powerful book provides hope and a rallying cry that empowers all readers to defend our right to read!” —Ellen Oh, award-winning author and founding member of We Need Diverse Books
 
“A beautifully inspiring reminder that unreasonably harsh censorship by extremists harms children and threatens our constitutional rights.” —Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor-winning author of The Surrender Tree and Young People’s Poet Laureate Emeritus
 
“The voices in Banned Together say ‘Hell no!’ to those who seek to erase them and their communities. With fear, ferocity, and love—yes, love—their words hold so much for so many.” —Dr. Debbie Reese, award-winning co-author of An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People