Rogue Librarians

We were so excited to interview R.A. Spratt, the bestselling author of many books for children, including the  Friday Barnes ,  The Peski Kids , and  The Adventures of Nanny Piggins  series. She is also the host of a popular podcast,  Bedtime Stories with R.A. Spratt . Her new book,  Hamlet Is Not Ok , was released in the United States on March 12, 2024; it was released in Australia in 2023.  In t...

We 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. It has also been included on multiple lists of the best novels for children. In this episode, we discuss why Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. has been banned. W...

We discuss  ⁠ This Book Is Gay ⁠  by Juno Dawson, which was the tenth-most-challenged book in 2022. First published in 2014 and revised in 2021,  This Book Is Gay  was included on the ALA's Over the Rainbow Project book list in 2016. In this episode, we share our favorite chapters and discuss why the book was meaningful to us. Please listen to the twenty-first episode for our discussion of why thi...

We discuss This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson, which was the tenth-most-challenged book in 2022. First published in 2014 and revised in 2021, This Book Is Gay was included on the ALA's Over the Rainbow Project book list in 2016. In this episode, we discuss why This Book Is Gay has been banned. We also offer our assessment of its pros and cons. Please listen to our twenty-second episode for a close re...

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Emily Drabinski. Emily is the 2023-2024 American Library Association president and Associate Professor at the Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. She talked with us about the upcoming Library Learning Experience conference, some of her experiences as president, the ALA’s efforts to fight censorship, and the import...

In this bonus episode, we discuss the controversial "See You at the Library" event that was hosted by Brave Books and Kirk Cameron in August, as well as some efforts to make banned books more available. Some of the sources mentioned in this episode: https://thehill.com/opinion/education/4086179-six-reasons-why-moms-for-liberty-is-an-extremist-organization/ https://bookriot.com/book-fairs-will-see-...

We discuss Jerry Craft's  ⁠New Kid⁠ ,  as well as  ⁠Class Act⁠  and  ⁠School Trip , which have been challenged and banned in some schools and libraries. First published in 2019,  New Kid  is the only graphic novel to win the John Newbery Medal, and it is the only book in history to win the Newbery Medal, the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature, and the Coretta Scott King Author Award. We di...

We were thrilled to interview Elana K. Arnold, the bestselling and award-winning author of many books for children and teens. Her newest novel,  The Blood Years , was released in October 2023. In the interview, we discussed how she knew it was the right time to write this story about the Holocaust, how it was based on her grandmother's life, how she chose the title, and how she writes novels in ge...

It's our birthday! We released our first episode a year ago (10/17/22). In honor of that anniversary, we decided to re-release our first episode, which is also our most popular episode ever. We will be back with new episodes soon. In this episode, we discuss ⁠ Gender Queer ⁠ by ⁠Maia Kobabe⁠ , which was the most frequently challenged book in America in 2021 and 2022. After it was published in 2019...

In honor of Banned Books Week (October 1-7, 2023), we are re-releasing a few of our most popular episodes. Check out the American Library Association's programs for Banned Books Week! This bonus episode first aired in May. We will release new episodes beginning in mid-October. Thanks for listening! We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada. Lessa is the...

In honor of Banned Books Week (October 1-7, 2023), we are re-releasing a few of our most popular episodes. This episode (#9) first aired in February. We will release new episodes beginning in mid-October. Thanks for listening! Please check out the American Library Association's programs for Banned Books Week! In this special episode, we interview Ashley Hope Pérez, the author of ⁠ Out of Darkness....

In honor of Banned Books Week (October 1-7, 2023), we are re-releasing a few of our most popular episodes. This bonus episode first aired in February. We will release new episodes beginning in mid-October. Thanks for listening! Please check out the American Library Association's programs for Banned Books Week! In this bonus episode, we discuss current and proposed legislation involving banned book...

In this special episode, we interview Jerry Craft, the #1 New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of New Kid , Class Act , and School Trip . New Kid is the only graphic novel to win the John Newbery Medal, and it is the only book in history to win the Newbery Medal, the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature, and the Coretta Scott King Author Award. In the interview, we discuss why  New...

We discuss ⁠⁠ ⁠Looking for Alaska⁠  by John Green, which was the fifth-most-challenged book in 2022. First published in 2005, Green’s debut novel won the Michael L. Printz Award in 2006. A miniseries based on the book was released on Hulu in 2019. We discuss our opinions of the book's characters, themes, and significance. Please listen to the 17th episode for our discussion of why the book has bee...

We discuss ⁠⁠ Looking for Alaska  by John Green, which was the fifth-most-challenged book in 2022. First published in 2005, Green’s debut novel won the Michael L. Printz Award in 2006. A miniseries based on the book was released on Hulu in 2019. In this episode, we discuss why  Looking for Alaska  has been banned. We also offer our assessment of its pros and cons. Please listen to our eighteenth e...

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...