When books are banned, it often makes for big news, especially to the community of readers, writers, and teachers. However, some stories fly a bit under the radar, especially when one of our own is a potential target for hate and sometimes worse. The Texas State Board of Education passed a policy in 2023 regarding types of books that should not be made available to certain students.
In Houston, Texas, there were some who wanted to fight back. They believe that books that make us uncomfortable are also those that challenge us for good reason. They are aware that fighting the government is difficult and fighting far-right individuals can even be dangerous. So, one person in that community has made it her calling to supply certain banned books to students who are interested.
In the process, she and her students recognize that the adult involved is swimming with the sharks. Their response is to protect her and to discuss the books they now have access to. They want to understand why these books are labeled as “bad” and determine for themselves if they agree or not.
As a writer, this kind of thing scares me. It excites me as well, since I realize that I have a chance to spread the word about what happens in these little pockets. I would encourage everyone to read the full story here, and to see how you feel about it. I’d love to see comments as well! In case the link above gets moved or expires, you can search for the store under the title:
“A secret shelf of banned books thrives in a Texas school, under the nose of censors.”
by subscriber and guest contributor Janet Evown
Interested in writing for the Annloupress.com blog? It’s a great way to get your name out there for your own writing or social media needs. We currently need articles related to books, book reviews, and book news. We are open to other blog post possibilities including short stories, how-to-guides that are related to reading or writing, etc. We offer free e-books, a newsletter subscription, and sometimes other one-time gifts to contributors. Contact us if interested!
