Rogue Librarians

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...

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 why  Crank  has been banned, as well as its historical context. We also offer our assessment of its...

We were so excited to interview Rachel Lynn Solomon about her new novel,  Past Present Future . Rachel is the New York Times bestselling author of Today Tonight Tomorrow , The Ex Talk , and other romantic comedies for teens and adults. Originally from Seattle, she’s currently navigating expat life in Amsterdam, where she’s on a mission to try as many Dutch sweets as possible.  In the interview, we...

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Cindy Hohl. Cindy Hohl is the 2023-2024 President-Elect of the American Library Association. Her inauguration is on July 2, 2024, at the end of the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition. She is a member of the Santee Sioux Nation and works as the director of policy analysis and operational support at the Kansas City Public Library. Cindy spoke w...

We were so excited to interview Lyn Miller-Lachmann about her new novel, ⁠⁠ Eyes O ⁠⁠pen . Lyn is an educator, an editor, and an author of young adult and middle grade novels, including Torch , winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and Moonwalking . Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, she enjoys traveling to new places and lived part-time in Lisbon, Portugal, for many years. She live...

We were so excited to interview K.A. Cobell about her debut novel,  ⁠ Looking for Smoke ⁠ , which comes out June 4, 2024. K.A. is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she spends her time writing books, chasing her kids through the never-ending rain, and scouring the inlet beaches for sand dollars and hermit crabs. In the interview, we disc...

We discuss  ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Flamer⁠  by Mike Curato, which was first published in 2020. This graphic novel received a Lambda Literary Award, which recognizes excellent LGBTQ+ literature, as well as several starred reviews.  Flamer  was fifth on the ALA's list of the most challenged books in 2023 and fourth in 2022. In this episode, we discuss our opinions of the book's characters, themes, and significance. P...

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://w...

We discuss  ⁠ Flamer  by Mike Curato, which was first published in 2020. This graphic novel received a Lambda Literary Award, which recognizes excellent LGBTQ+ literature, as well as several starred reviews.  Flamer  was fifth on the ALA's list of the most challenged books in 2023 and fourth in 2022. In this episode, we discuss why  Flamer  has been banned. We also offer our assessment of its pros...

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 char...

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 t...