Happy National Library Week! We are sharing a song by Dharmika, an artist and fellow advocate, called "I'll Read That Next." You can find "I'll Read That Next" on Spotify and other streaming platforms: https://open.spotify.com/track/0XBI080NU6Sz9pNJYy1zIF. To find Dharmika, please visit her social media accounts @dharmikamusic: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dharmikamusic TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dharmikamusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dharmikamusic Additionally, this week, the ALA released its list of the top 10 most challenged books in 2023. You can fin ..read more

We were so excited to interview F.T. Lukens about their new book, Otherworldly, which comes out April 2, 2024. F.T. is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction, including the novels Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After, and In Deeper Waters. In the interview, we discussed how F.T. created a queer normative world and incorporated particular myths and ideas, portrayed the characters and relationships in certain ways, and explored concepts like faith, skepticism, and agency. We really enjoyed talking with them. To learn more about F.T. Lukens, please visit:  their we ..read more

Thanks to Heather for joining us again to discuss ⁠Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.⁠ by Judy Blume, which was first published in 1970. Blume's popular novel has frequently been challenged since then; in the 1990s, it was the 60th most challenged book during that decade. In this episode, we share our favorite scenes and book covers and discuss why the book was meaningful to us. Please listen to the twenty-third episode for our discussion of why this book has been banned. Thanks to Chris for our music, to Heather and Lizzie for their assistance, to Dorothy for our audio editing, and to our ..read more

We were so excited to interview R.A. Spratt, the bestselling author of many books for children, including the Friday Barnes, The Peski Kids, and The Adventures of Nanny Piggins series. She is also the host of a popular podcast, Bedtime Stories with R.A. Spratt. Her new book, Hamlet Is Not Ok, was released in the United States on March 12, 2024; it was released in Australia in 2023.  In the interview, we discussed how R.A. Spratt became a writer, chose to write about Hamlet, decided to portray the characters and discuss mental illness in certain ways ..read more

We discuss Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume, which was first published in 1970. Blume's popular novel has frequently been challenged since then; in the 1990s, it was the 60th most challenged book during that decade. It has also been included on multiple lists of the best novels for children. In this episode, we discuss why Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. has been banned. We also offer our assessment of its pros and cons. Please listen to our twenty-third episode for a close reading of the book. Some of the sources mentioned in this episode: https://www.booksontrial.co ..read more

We discuss ⁠This Book Is Gay⁠ by Juno Dawson, which was the tenth-most-challenged book in 2022. First published in 2014 and revised in 2021, This Book Is Gay was included on the ALA's Over the Rainbow Project book list in 2016. In this episode, we share our favorite chapters and discuss why the book was meaningful to us. Please listen to the twentieth episode for our discussion of why this book has been banned. Thanks to Chris for our music, to Dorothy for our audio editing, and to our patrons for their financial support! Please visit our website for a⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠transcript ..read more

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Emily Drabinski. Emily is the 2023-2024 American Library Association president and Associate Professor at the Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. She talked with us about the upcoming Library Learning Experience conference, some of her experiences as president, the ALA’s efforts to fight censorship, and the importance of investing in libraries and other public institutions. To find more information about Emily Drabinski, please visit: Her website: www.emilydrabinski.com⁠ Instagram: in ..read more

We discuss Jerry Craft's ⁠New Kid⁠, as well as ⁠Class Act⁠ and ⁠School Trip, which have been challenged and banned in some schools and libraries. First published in 2019, New Kid is the only graphic novel to win the John Newbery Medal, and it is the only book in history to win the Newbery Medal, the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature, and the Coretta Scott King Author Award. We discuss our opinions of New Kid's characters, themes, and significance. Please listen to the 19th episode for our interview with Jerry Craft. We loved talking with him abo ..read more

We were thrilled to interview Elana K. Arnold, the bestselling and award-winning author of many books for children and teens. Her newest novel, The Blood Years, was released in October 2023. In the interview, we discussed how she knew it was the right time to write this story about the Holocaust, how it was based on her grandmother's life, how she chose the title, and how she writes novels in general. To learn more about Elana K. Arnold, please visit her website: elanakarnold.com. Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather for running our Twitter page for the past year, Lizzie for helpin ..read more

In honor of Banned Books Week (October 1-7, 2023), we are re-releasing a few of our most popular episodes. Check out the American Library Association's programs for Banned Books Week! This bonus episode first aired in May. We will release new episodes beginning in mid-October. Thanks for listening! We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada. Lessa is the 2022-2023 American Library Association president and adult services assistant manager at the Palos Verdes Library District in Rolling Hills Estates, California. She talked with us about the 2023 ALA ..read more