Rogue Librarians

In this, our last bonus episode for our banned books month extravaganza, we celebrate the freedom to read while discussing Kate Quinn’s The Astral Library , a magical library-centered novel that doubles as a love letter to libraries and the people who use them. We discuss the book’s sanctuary theme, the rules of the Astral Library, the tension around library boards, and why libraries matter as rea...

When you’re fighting censorship, the goal isn’t just to say “this is bad.” It’s to make sure kids can still find the books, the stories, and themselves.   In our conversation with authors Ashley Hope Pérez and Elana K. Arnold, we talk about how the anthology Banned Together helps librarians, teachers, readers, and writers stand up for the freedom to read—and build community along the way.  What ar...

Week, schmeek, we’re celebrating  Banned Books Month and our freedom to read throughout October.  This week we talk with author and poet Amber McBride about her novel in verse, The Leaving Room, which turns big questions about death, story, and spirit into something tender and human.  Our conversation ranges from books and storytelling to censorship and the comfort literature can offer young reade...

Join us as we kick off our celebration of banned books week and our freedom to read.   We welcomed  back our friend Sam Helmick, the immediate past president of the American Library Association, to discuss Susan Orlean’s marvelous book, The Library Book.    During our discussion, we brought up a few prior episodes of Rogue Librarians, including: Episode 17. The Librarian of Basra (Part 1: Why It&#...

In this episode we welcome back our friend, Rogue name Undine, for a close reading of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.  We decided to give this book the Sacred Reading treatment introduced to us by the incredible podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text .  We used the practice of Lectio Divinia and modeled our discussion after the “sacred reading” format used by Casper ter Kuile, Vanessa Zo...

Welcome to season 5 of The Rogue Librarians !  We are opening with a discussion of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale .  Published in 1986, this dystopian tale of a religious revolution in the U.S. only seems to get more relevant with time. In Part 1 we learn a little about the history of the book and of course, why it’s been banned.  We are joined by a special guest, Rogue name Undine, who bri...

Welcome to Season 5 of the Rogue Librarians.  We are excited to announce the starting line-up for the season. Upcoming books include: The Handmaid’s Tale , by Margaret Atwood Slaughterhouse 5, by Kurt Vonnegut Persepolis , by Marjane S I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez  For Banned Books Week we will release lots of special discussions during the month of October, including...

In this episode, we interview author Ray Stoeve about their latest book 'Worst Case Scenario' and discuss their work on trans and non-binary youth literature, including a valuable master list of books by and about trans characters. Join us as we explore the importance of diverse voices in literature and the resources available for advocating against censorship. You can find Ray on socials...

In this episode, Dorothy and Marian delve into Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye,' exploring themes of beauty, self-worth, racism, and societal pressures through a detailed analysis of the characters and narrative structure. Works Cited: “ Why ‘The Bluest Eye’ by Toni Morrison is a Must-Read: Unpacking Its Depth and Impact - Beyond Pop Culture ”  Join the conversation at therogelibrarian...

In this episode of Rogue Librarians, Marion and Dorothy return to the mic and dive into Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye—a frequently challenged and frequently misunderstood novel. This is Part One of their discussion, focused on the reasons the book has been banned and the context readers need before diving into the text itself. They provide historical and literary context for Morrison’s debut nove...

Join us for our silliest conversation yet, goodness knows we needed a good laugh.  Today we read and discuss two delightful picture books.   Ogilvy was written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by T.L. McBeth, and was published in 2019.  It received a starred review in Kirkus , and positive reviews in Publishers Weekly, Horn Book, and Booklist .   Worm Loves Worm, written by J.J. Austrian and i...

Join us for a fascinating and enlightening conversation with debut author Debby Show as she discusses her book, Paper Roses. The book explores Show’s real history and intimate truths as she grapples with the effects of generational trauma and with her experiences as the sister, and victim, of a rather infamous public figure. That said, this is not a book about her sister’s exploits; instead, it ex...

Today we talked to author and podcast host, Heather Hester.  Heather is the host of the podcast More Human. More Kind. and the author of Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen.   As a speaker, author, coach, and LGBTQ+ advocate, she helps parents, allies, and organizations move from fear to fierce, informed love with clarity, compassion, and courage. She...

"Stories bond us, but so does struggle" ~Sam Helmick In this episode of Rogue Librarians, we speak with Sam Helmick, President of the American Library Association.  This is our third conversation with Sam!  This time we are focusing on the upcoming Youth Media Awards and what this event means to children, librarians, and book lovers everywhere.  Below are all the pertinent links. Stream...

In this episode we do a close reading of the book I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban , by Malala Yousafzai. As always, we found the conversation enlightening and cathartic.  Learning about Pakistan’s history and the Pashtun people was fascinating.  We also found that the struggle between religious conservatives and those challenging traditiona...

First, we apologize for some sound issues we were having in this episode.  We’ve changed a few things and are learning as we go.  We hope to solve this problem before our next recording.  In this Part 1 episode we discuss the book I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban , by Malala Yousafzai.  In Part 1 we discuss why the book is banned, share some...

In Part 2 of Cemetery Boys we do a close reading of the book.  There are generally a few spoilers, but trust me, there is so much more to discover in the book! Cemetery Boys is a young adult urban fantasy novel written by Latinx American author Aiden Thomas. Published in 2020, this is  Thomas’s debut  novel.  It became the first book by a transgender author featuring a trans character to be on the...

In this Part 1 episode we discuss the book Cemetery Boys , by Aiden Thomas.  In Part 1 we discuss why the book is banned, share some context to help understand the book, and give our assessment of why it’s worth reading.  Cemetery Boys is a young adult urban fantasy novel written by Latinx American author Aiden Thomas. Published in 2020, this is  Thomas’s debut  novel.  It became the first book by...

In Part 2 of our discussion of 1984 by George Orwell, we were inspired by Harry Potter and the Sacred Text to use the sacred reading practice, Lectio Divinia. We modeled our discussion after the “sacred reading” format used by Casper ter Kuile, Vanessa Zoltan and Matthew Potts in their podcast . Here is the link to their webpage, which explains the process in more detail. Harry Potter and the Sacr...

We’re celebrating Banned Books Week by reading 1984 by George Orwell.  In Part 1, we discuss how this classic tale of censorship taken to the nth degree ended up being one of the most banned books of all time.  Here are a few links to articles mentioned in the episode.  Banned Bits references the article Baker County Library gives away copies of Orwell’s ‘1984’ as part of anti-censorship campaign...

It’s fall and we are ready to get in a spooky Halloween mood.  In this episode we interview the delightful duo Shannon Watters and Branden Boyer-White, co-creators of the YA Graphic Novel series Hollow.  The books are beautifully illustrated by Berenice Nelle and take place in Sleepy Hollow where a group of teens discover the secret of the Headless Horseman.  The first book, Hollow , was published...

In this episode we interview author Khadijah VanBrakle about her second book, My Perfect Family , which came out on August 26th.  Khadijah is a Muslim woman of color, born and raised in Canada to American parents. She writes coming-of-age stories featuring Black American Muslim teens.  Her debut novel, Fatima Tate Takes The Cake was published in 2023.  You can find Khadijah at her website, https:/...

In this special episode we interview freelance writer Kaila Yu on the publication of her first book, Fetishized:  A Reckoning With Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty .  Kaila has written for The New York Times , Los Angeles Times , Rolling Stone , CNN , Glamour , and more. Formerly, she was a model and the lead singer for the all–Asian American female rock band Nylon Pink. Below are links to some...

In this episode we discuss Patricia McCormick’s beautiful and heartbreaking Book, Sold .  The book is written in poetic vignettes and follows the story of Lakshme, a Nepalese girl who is sold into prostitution.  Join us as we discuss how McCormick brought her characters to life and humanized them despite their dehumanizing situation.  We took inspiration for our conversation from the  Book Resume...

In this episode we discuss why the book Sold , by Patricia McCormick, appears in ALA’s Top 10 most challenged books of 2024. Here are some links relevant to our conversation: About Patricia McCormick and the book Patricia McCormick’s Web page for the Sold Unite Against Banned Books.  Book Resume: Sold Information on why Sold has been banned.  Texas Freedom to Read Project.  Information on human tr...