Rogue Librarians

Join us for our discussion with Melissa Kantor about her newest book, Biology Lessons.  Melissa wrote the book in response to the Dobbes Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade.  Below are a few links to things discussed in the podcast.   Supreme Court Case Roe v Wade Supreme Court Case Dobbes v Jackson Women’s Health Organization    Here is a link to a documentary about the original Jane Co...

In this episode, we discuss The Family Book by Todd Parr.  We’ve combined our usual 2 episode format since the book is so short.   Here are the sources referenced in our Banned Bits segment. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Briefs Members of the Media, May 09, 2025 - statement on Carla Hayden is at minute 27:30 Fired librarian of Congress on losing history during Trump 2.0 | GBH News Rooted LDF De...

Milk & Honey Part 2:  In this episode, we discuss Rupi Kaur’s beautiful and emotional work, choosing poems to illustrate the different sections of the book as well as the many themes and motifs that run through the poems.   While doing so, we digress quite a bit, as we do.  Here are some of the books, music, and television we related to Kaur’s work.  Blog:  Discover Rupi Kaur’s Poems: A Deep D...

milk and honey Part 1:  Why It’s Banned   In this episode we discover why Rupi Kaur’s book of poetry, milk and honey , consistently makes lists of banned books. Kaur self-published milk and honey in November of 2014 and it was later picked up by publisher Andrews McMeel .  According to their web site, the book spent more than three years on the New York Times bestseller list.   It’s been published...

Hold on, Sam Helmick is coming.  In this episode of Rogue Librarians, we speak with Sam Helmick, president-elect of the American Library Association, for a second time.  We explore the many challenges facing libraries, the upcoming ALA Annual Conference, and ways you can advocate for your library. Here are links to some things we talk about in the interview: Stand Up For Libraries : an ALA program...

In this episode, we do a close reading of Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Mist and Fury .  We discuss our personal histories with romance novels, the evolution of romantic tropes, and the implications of freedom and control in relationships as depicted in the book. We explore themes such as patriarchy, agency, empowerment, consent, and sexuality within the context of the story. 

In this episode, we discuss Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Mist and Fury . In addition to discussing why the book has been banned, we touch on some history of the Romance Novel, and the new hybrid genre Romantasy.    Today’s Banned Bit, comes to us from School Library Journal in their article Librarians and Allies Must Act to Secure the Future of Libraries and Intellectual Freedom | ” The resources we...

In this episode, we delve into part two of our discussion on Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. We share some school bus hijinx and the transformative power of love. The  conversation highlights themes of bullying, body image, and the importance of consent in young relationships, all while emphasizing the emotional depth and relatability of the characters' experiences. 

In this episode, we discuss Rainbow Rowell’s book Eleanor & Park , why it’s banned, and the controversy over Korean-American representation in the novel.  Our banned bit today is about the Department of Education’s Press Release entitled, “U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden’s Book Ban Hoax.”   Other articles referenced during our discussion include:  “ The importance of representation,” b...

In this episode we do a close reading of Fahrenheit 451, tracing Montag’s journey from book burner to hunted dissident and reader.  We had so much fun digging into the nuance of Bradbury’s timeless classic.  We hope you enjoy our conversation.

In this episode we discuss Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. We discuss when and why it has been banned, its historical significance, and why we think it’s worth reading.  We explore the benefits of reading challenging literature for adolescents, the historical context of the book's reception, and the irony of its censorship.  Today’s Banned Bit:  “How teens benefit from being able to read 'disturbin...

Show Notes: In this conversation, Sam Helmick discusses the upcoming Lib Learn X conference, the evolving role of AI in libraries, and the importance of libraries as community anchor institutions.  Links: Info on LibLearnX 2025 Sam Helmick’s Socials Blue Sky:  @samhelmic.bsky.social Instagram and Twitter:  @GeometricRabbit

In this episode of the Rogue Librarians we do a close reading and discussion of  the graphic memoir 'Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic,' by Alison Bechdel.  We explore personal reflections on death, the complexities of family relationships, and the themes of sexuality and identity as portrayed in the book. We highlight significant scenes and the emotional depth of Bechdel's storytelling, emphasizing t...

Fun Home Part 1: Why It's Banned In this episode of the Rogue Librarians we discuss the graphic memoir 'Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic,' by Alison Bechdel.  We look at why the book has been banned and discuss the pros and cons.  For a full discussion of the book, listen to the next episode.  Our new segment, Banned Bits : News Bits from the Ban-o-sphere discusses the article  “Re-inventing the book...

In this engaging conversation, Bethanie Finger discusses her journey as a writer and librarian, sharing insights into her book 'More Than Life,' the first book in her debut trilogy. Bethanie discusses her writing process, particularly the extensive research involved in creating historical fantasy worlds. She delves into the themes of class structures, gender roles, and the influence of mythology o...

In this episode of the Rogue Librarians we discuss The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, along with special guest Simon. The book spent over a year on the bestseller list, and has continued to find readers decades after its publication in 1999. We discuss favorite quotes, scenes, and ideas presented in the book, including the importance of community, the way mental health is viewed...

In this episode of the Rogue Librarians we discuss The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, along with special guest Simon.  We delve into why the book has remained one of the most banned and challenged books on the ALA lists.   We added a new segment where we give a little recent info on the state of book banning.  We discussed the article. “ Not even Little Free Libraries are safe fr...

In this episode of Rogue Librarians, we discuss the importance of voting to combat the ongoing issue of book banning in the United States. The conversation covers recent legislative developments, state-specific ballot measures affecting libraries, and the significance of local elections in combating censorship.  We provide information on the congressional resolution condemning book bans Discuss se...

We had so much fun talking with author Nadine Pinede about her debut YA novel-in-verse, When the Mapou Sings . Nadine is a poet, author, editor, translator, and education consultant. The daughter of Haitian immigrants, Nadine is the first Rhodes scholar of Haitian descent and earned her doctorate in Philosophy of Education. When the Mapou Sings will be published by Candlewick Press on December 3rd...

In this special bonus episode, we explore various books that address censorship and the importance of fighting for the freedom to read. We emphasize how reading banned books affects personal growth and societal awareness and discuss the ongoing challenges of censorship in contemporary culture. Books discussed include: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller (Author) Banned Boo...

In honor of Banned Books Week (September 22-28, 2024), join us in celebrating the freedom to read and taking action to support librarians, teachers, and authors. In this episode, we share some recommendations from the ALA (American Library Association) and our plans for our third season. Some of the resources mentioned in this episode: Banned Books Week: https://bannedbooksweek.org Some of the ALA...

We were thrilled to interview librarian and author Amanda Jones. Amanda Jones has been an educator for twenty-three years. She has served as president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians and won numerous awards for her work in school libraries, including School Library Journal Librarian of the Year. A sought-after keynote speaker, Amanda is a frequent volunteer for state and national...

We were thrilled to interview Gayle Forman about her new novel,  Not Nothing . Award-winning author and journalist Gayle Forman has written several bestselling novels, including those in the Just One Day series, Where She Went , and the #1 New York Times bestseller If I Stay , which has been translated into more than forty languages and was adapted into a major motion picture. Her first middle gra...

We discuss  ⁠Crank⁠  by Ellen Hopkins, which was a  New York Times  bestseller and was first published in 2004.  Crank  was also 38th on the ALA's list of the 100 most challenged books from 2010 to 2019, and it was number 4 on the top 10 list in 2010 and number 10 in 2022. In this episode, we discuss our opinions of the book's characters, themes, and significance. Please listen to our twenty-seven...

We were delighted to be interviewed by Tricia Friedman on her wonderful podcast,  Be a Better Ally . We're sharing that episode, "We're Not One Thing," here as well. Please learn more about Be a Better Ally at allyed.org , and listen and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts! Be a Better Ally's "We're Not One Thing" Episode Notes: The conversation revolves a...