SLJ

In our last round of reviews of banned classics, SLJ and NCTE cover two of Jane Austen's works, the timely Fahrenheit 451, and the heartbreaking I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

Teens signing up for the Books Unbanned program at Brooklyn and Seattle Public Libraries shared their reasons for wanting the library card, while some of their peers discussed the impact of blocked websites, and an expert panel in Pennsylvania discussed the harm caused by restricting access to books.

Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks have joined Penguin Random House and other plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the state of Iowa. 

The report released today examines more than 4,000 book bans in 52 public school districts in 23 states from July to December 2023. 

On Take Actions for Library Day, the American Library Association announced its "Reader. Voter. Ready." campaign to increase library advocacy and civic engagement in advance of the November 5 elections.

Emily Drabinski shares the impact of personal attacks and those on libraries across the country; librarians fear new, punitive laws; Alaska school book removal lawsuit goes to federal court; and more in Censorship News.

These YA novels pair a lyrical verse format with engaging narratives of teen girls coming of age.

Defending the Canon, reviews of classic lit by SLJ and NCTE—and James Patterson—grabbed readers' attention this week.

In the latest Adult Books for Teens roundup, find 10 titles published for adults with strong crossover appeal to teens.