Rogue Librarians

We were so excited to interview Bella Higgin, the author of  Belle Morte  and  Revelations . We talked about many features of her books, including how Bella chose to focus on vampires, portray them in this way, write from these particular perspectives, write for a young adult audience, and plot her books. To find more information about Bella Higgin, please visit: Instagram:  instagram.com/authorbe...

We discuss ⁠⁠ The Librarian of Basra⁠: A True Story from Iraq  by Jeanette Winter, which was the 96th most challenged or banned book from 2010 to 2019. First published in 2005, this picture book is based on the true story of Alia Muhammad Baker's experiences during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It won an ALA Notable Children's Book Award in 2006. We discuss our opinions of the book's characters, t...

We discuss ⁠⁠ The Librarian of Basra⁠: A True Story from Iraq  by Jeanette Winter, which was the 96th most challenged or banned book from 2010 to 2019. First published in 2005, this picture book is based on the true story of Alia Muhammad Baker's experiences during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It won an ALA Notable Children's Book Award in 2006. In this episode, we discuss why  The Librarian of B...

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 Annual Conference, The Giver , her experiences as the ALA president, the Unite Against Book Bans camp...

We do a close reading of ⁠⁠ The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian ⁠ by Sherman Alexie, which was the eighth-most-challenged book in 2022 and the most frequently challenged book from 2010 to 2019. First published in 2007, this semi-autobiographical novel won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, appeared on several lists for best books for young adults, and won the Odysse...

We discuss ⁠⁠ The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian ⁠ by Sherman Alexie, which was the eighth-most-challenged book in 2022 and the most frequently challenged book from 2010 to 2019. First published in 2007, this semi-autobiographical novel won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, appeared on several lists for best books for young adults, and won the Odyssey Award for be...

We do a close reading of  ⁠⁠All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto⁠  by George M. Johnson, which was the third-most-challenged book in 2021. First published in 2020, this memoir has received multiple starred reviews, was included on the American Library Association Rainbow List, and was adapted into a short film in 2021. We discuss our opinions of the book's characters, themes, and significance....

We discuss  ⁠All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto  by George M. Johnson, which was the third-most-challenged book in 2021. First published in 2020, this memoir has received multiple starred reviews, was included on the American Library Association Rainbow List, and was adapted into a short film in 2021. In this episode, we discuss why  All Boys Aren't Blue  has been banned. We also offer our a...

We do a close reading of  Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez. First published in 2015,  Out of Darkness  received a 2016 Printz Honor for excellence in young adult literature and won the 2016 Tomás Rivera Book Award and the 2016 Américas Book Award.  Out of Darkness  was not challenged until 2021, the same year it became the fourth-most-challenged book in the country. We discuss our opinions of...

In this special episode, we interview Ashley Hope Pérez, the author of Out of Darkness. First published in 2015, Out of Darkness received a 2016 Printz Honor for excellence in young adult literature and won the 2016 Tomás Rivera Book Award and the 2016 Américas Book Award. Out of Darkness was not challenged until 2021, the same year it became the fourth-most-challenged book in the country. In the...

In this bonus episode, we discuss current and proposed legislation involving banned books. We mention different forms of censorship; examples of bills and laws that restrict books in schools and public libraries; and ways that we can fight censorship. It is essential that we oppose these types of laws and contact our elected officials. You can find more information about censorship and organizatio...

We do a close reading of  Drama   by Raina Telgemeier, which was the seventh-most-banned book between 2010 and 2019. Drama  is notable because it was one of the first graphic novels to include gay characters.  We discuss our opinions of Drama 's characters, themes, and significance. Please see Episode 7 for a discussion of why the book has been banned recently. Thanks to Chris...

We discuss  Drama  by Raina Telgemeier, which was the seventh-most-banned book between 2010 and 2019. First published in 2012, this graphic novel won the Stonewall Book Award in 2013, in addition to receiving many starred reviews and honors. Drama is notable because it was one of the first graphic novels to include gay characters.  In this episode, we discuss why Drama has been bann...

We do a close reading of The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman, which made the news after a Tennessee school board voted to remove it from the curriculum in January 2022. We discuss our opinions of the graphic memoir's characters, themes, and significance. Please see Episode 5 for a discussion of why the book has been banned recently. Thanks to Chris for our music and to Lizzie fo...

We discuss The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman. First serialized from 1980-1991, Maus recently made the news after a Tennessee school board voted to prevent it from being taught in the district’s classrooms in January 2022. Maus has won several awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, the Harvey Award, and the Eisner Award.  In this episode, we discuss why Spiegelman's graphic...

We do a close reading of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas , which was the fifth most frequently challenged book in America in 2021. We discuss our opinions of the novel's characters, themes, and significance. Please see Episode 3 for a discussion of why the book has been banned recently. A note: we wanted to correct a couple of details that we mentioned in the episode. Maya, one of Starr's friends,...

We discuss The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas , which was the fifth most frequently challenged book in America in 2021. First published in 2017, the book was a New York Times bestseller and the recipient of several awards, including the Michael L. Printz Award and the William C. Morris Award.  In this episode, we discuss why Thomas's novel has been banned recently. We also offer our assessment o...

We do a close reading of Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer . We discuss our opinions of the graphic memoir's characterization, themes, and significance. Please see Episode 1 for a discussion of why the book has been banned recently. Trigger warning: we mentioned the high suicide rate for trans teens again from 32:00 to 32:15. A note: the quotation we mentioned from the Washington Post was from an Op-Ed b...

We discuss Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe , which was the most frequently challenged book in America in 2021. After it was published in 2019, the American Library Association (ALA) named Gender Queer an Alex Award Winner and a Stonewall Honor Book.  In this episode, we discuss why Kobabe's memoir has been challenged or banned recently. We also offer our assessment of its pros and cons. Please li...

Since 2021, an unprecedented number of Young Adult books, especially ones with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC characters, have been removed from libraries across the country. In the Rogue Librarians podcast, three teacher-librarians discuss YA books that have been banned in recent years. They discuss each selected book in two episodes. The first episode illuminates why the book has been banned and why they thin...