Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
Books are disappearing from shelves across the country. What does this mean for authors, illustrators, and—most crucially—for young readers?
This bold collection of fiction, memoir, poetry, graphic narratives, essays, and other genres explores book bans through various lenses, and empowers teens to fight back. From moving personal accounts to clever comebacks aimed at censorship, fifteen legendary YA authors and illustrators confront the high-stakes question of what is lost when books are kept from teens.
Contributors include Elana K. Arnold, Nikki Grimes, Ellen Hopkins, Kelly Jensen, Brendan Kiely, Maia Kobabe, Bill Konigsberg, Kyle Lukoff, MariNaomi, Trung Lê Nguy?n, Ashley Hope Pérez, Isabel Quintero, Traci Sorell, Robin Stevenson, and Padma Venkatraman; the collection is a star-studded must-read that packs strength and power into every last word.
Striking illustrations from Ignatz-nominated artist Debbie Fong pair perfectly with the searing, impactful narrative. Resources include tips from the Vandegrift Banned Book Club and other teen activists, as well as extensive recommended book lists, a How to Start Your Own Little Free Library flier, and more.
Frequently asked questions
Is Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book includes personal stories about being groomed, sexually abused, and assaulted, which are described as disturbing but not overly graphic. It addresses the impact of violence and censorship on literature. The book includes disturbing personal stories about grooming and sexual abuse, which may be considered scary for some readers, though they are not overly graphic.
Does Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights have violence?
The book includes personal stories about being groomed, sexually abused, and assaulted, which are described as disturbing but not overly graphic. It addresses the impact of violence and censorship on literature.
Does Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights have scary content?
The book includes disturbing personal stories about grooming and sexual abuse, which may be considered scary for some readers, though they are not overly graphic.
Does Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights have religious themes?
No religious content or themes are detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights have racial/cultural content?
The anthology features narratives that address racism and the experiences of authors from diverse racial backgrounds. One contributor discusses the racism they encountered growing up, highlighting the importance of representation in literature.
Does Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights have profanity?
The book contains occasional mild profanity such as 'crap,' 'chickens--t,' 'badass,' 'goddam,' and 'hell.' This is noted in the context of discussions about censorship and the challenges faced by authors.
Does Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights have climate change?
No climate-related themes or discussions are present in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights have sexual identity?
The anthology contains discussions of sexual abuse and personal experiences related to sexuality, including a mention of a story where a girl is shot after a racist attack. These themes are approached with sensitivity.
Does Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights have gender roles?
No explicit themes related to traditional gender roles or modern feminism are detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.
Does Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights have lgbtq+ themes?
The anthology includes contributions from LGBTQ+ authors and discusses themes related to LGBTQ+ experiences, including a mention of a nonbinary/queer contributor. The book aims to highlight the importance of diverse voices in literature and addresses issues of censorship affecting LGBTQ+ literature.
