Season 2, Episode 10: The Books They Don't Want You To Read...Banned Books Week

Marisa and Mary are back with a new episode of The Book Jam! We have a special guest today, Samatha Lee, she is Head of Reference Services at the Enfield Public Library AND serves as chair of the CT Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee. This makes Sam, the perfect guest for today's topic: we are talking about the books 'they don’t want you to read' because it is Banned Books Week. Listen and find out what is Banned Books Week, what is a challenge versus a ban, and of course hear us talk about our favorite banned books. These books cover big topics like racism, black lives matter, homophobia, sexual assault, and #metoo movement. Check out the Books Mentioned below to add even more books to your To Be Read pile. Marisa’s book: All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brenda Kiely. Teen, Grades 7+. Published by Atheneum, and Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, September 2015. Mary’s book: Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan. Teen, Grades 7+. Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, August 2013. Samantha’s book: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. High School, Grades 9+. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, October 1999. Books we talked about this episode: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth Rainbow Boys by David Levithan Both Can Be True by Jules Machias (Marisa’s unnamed reference to this book plot) Better Nate Than Never by Tim Federle Middle School’s a Drag by Greg Howard Dear Martin by Nic Stone Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, Emily Carroll (illustrator) Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee Monstress by Marjorie Lui Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 by Stephenie Meyer, Young Kim (illustrator) It's Perfectly Normal: A Book about Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell Jack of Hearts by A.C. Rosen Caleb Roehrig’s works. Camp  by Lev A.C. Rosen Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu Judy Blume’s works (She has the distinction of being one of the most banned writers in the U.S).