Rebuking President Trump, Congress votes to maintain most of the federal funding for libraries, museums, and archives.
www.everylibrary.org/congress2026... via @everylibrary.bsky.social
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The novel tells the story of Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl who yearns for blue eyes, a symbol of beauty shaped by racism. This seminal work on internalized racism & self worth continues to be challenged for its unflinching portrayal of race and trauma.
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
A powerful memoir composed of essays about growing up Black and queer in America. It speaks frankly about identity, family, trauma, love, and resilience. This book has topped lists of challenged titles for its honest portrayal of queer Black life.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
A critically acclaimed novel about a Black teenager who witnesses a police officer fatally shoot her friend. Explores racism, activism, and identity. Challenged in TX schools for language, but it sparks crucial conversations on racial justice.
This Black History Month, let’s honor the power of stories, especially those by Black authors that have been challenged or banned in Texas schools and beyond. Censorship erases voices and lived experiences, but your choice to read and uplift these books keeps those voices alive.
#blackhistorymonth
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
#alexpretti #bannedbooks #1984
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is just as relevant today as it was nearly 60 years ago. We must continue his fight to end racial injustice and discrimination, and his urging for Americans to live up to their ideals of equality, freedom, and unity.
Texas A&M’s decision to remove Plato from a philosophy course is just another example of Texas restricting access to ideas and texts officials deem inappropriate, proving book bans aren’t really about protecting children.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/u...
This decision is an assault on both our constitutional and parental rights. While book banners claimed they sought only to remove specific books from school libraries, these actions suggest a broader effort to impose their moral standards on the wider community.
www.reuters.com/world/us-sup...
Several Texas school districts have turned to AI to review their library collections and ensure they are compliant with SB 13.
Who do you trust more: ChatGPT or a real life librarian?
www.statesman.com/politics/art...
Fantastic news for Texans!
Texas law requiring bookstores to rate titles for sexual content ruled unconstitutional www.expressnews.com/politics/art...
New Braunfels ISD is closing its MS and HS libraries’ doors to students while they review their entire 50,000+ collection to ensure the district is in compliance with SB 13.
And right-wing Republican lawmakers cheer…🤬
bookriot.com/new-braunfel...
A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger – Two worlds collide as a Lipan Apache girl & a shape-shifting creature join forces to save both realms.
Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith – A teen discovers that a haunted house attraction built on harmful Native stereotypes hides deeper truths about history & prejudice.
We Still Belong by Christine Day – A middle school girl navigates questions of identity and belonging as she celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day and connects with her community.
Looking for a book to celebrate? Try:
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger – A Lipan Apache teen uses her ability to summon animal ghosts to solve her cousin’s mysterious murder in a world where Indigenous legends are real.
Today we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, honoring the strength and contributions of Indigenous communities in the United States and across the Americas.
It's clear the majority of book challenges in Fort Bend ISD were not a result of a child or a parent stumbling across material that may be inappropriate.
While 2024 was a rough year for books in Fort Bend ISD, things are looking up: there has been 0 book challenges in 2025.
📚70% of book challenges were made by a single individual.
📚93% of the books challenged were NOT read by the challenger (data was unavailable for the remaining 7%).
📚100% of the books challenged referenced BookLooks.org - the now defunct website started by former Moms for Liberty members.
📚100% of MS book challenges resulted in a ban.
📚Of the 54 books that were challenged at the HS level:
30 were removed
22 were retained
2 were restricted (parental permission required)
As Banned Books Week 2025 comes to a close, we decided to share a quick analysis of the 54 books challenged in Fort Bend ISD since 2022. 6 of those books were found in both MS & HS libraries.
📚94% of the challenges occurred in 2024.
#bannedbooks #bannedbooksweek #fortbendisd #fbisd
Promotional poster for Banned Books Week 2025, featuring a map of Texas filled with book covers, titled 'State of School Book Bans - Texas '25'. Includes logos for PEN America and Texas Freedom to Read.
Graphic showing book bans in the 2024-2025 school year, with 26% of U.S. bans occurring in Texas school districts. Includes an image of stacked books with various titles, some showing signs of wear. Logo of PEN America displayed in the top right corner.
An informational graphic about Texas House Bill 900, detailing its introduction, focus on restrictive content around sex-related standards in schools, and the vague definition of "sexually-explicit" leading to many books being removed from school libraries. The background features an image of the Texas State Capitol building. Logos for PEN America and Texas Freedom to Read are present in the upper right corner.
Infographic titled 'Most banned books in Texas by district' listing various books including 'Homegoing' by Yaa Gyasi, 'More Happy Than Not' by Adam Silvera, 'Nineteen Minutes' by Jodi Picoult, 'Sold' by Patricia McCormick, 'The Diary of Erin McVicker' by Erin McVicker, and 'A Clockwork Orange' by Anthony Burgess. Each book cover is displayed with a note that these are banned in 5 districts. Logo of PEN America and Texas Freedom to Read included at the top.
Book censorship in schools has reached a new apex, becoming a routine and expected part of school operations, particularly in states like Texas, which recorded 1,781 total bans in the 2024-25 school year.
Read more at: pen.org/report/the-n... #bannedbooksweek @txfreedomread.bsky.social
It's finally ready! October's most anticipated release, w/ the possible exception of The Life of a Showgirl, is The Book-Loving Texan's Guide to the November School Board Elections. If you hate book bans, read this to know who to vote for and who to campaign against! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
We believe that every person, of every age, of every race, of every gender, no matter who they love, or where they live, should have access to books that reflect and expand their worldview. #UniteAgainstBookBans #BannedBooksWeek
🚨 UPDATE 🚨
Boy Toy was banned in Fort Bend ISD in April 2025.
#bannedbooks #bannedbooksweek #boytoy #fortbendisd
🚨UPDATE 🚨
The Haters was banned in February 2025.
#bannedbooks #bannedbooksweek
