Hey, Massachusetts! Help tell our legislators they should pass An Act Regarding Free Expression to protect libraries, schools, and authors from book bans by sending them a postcard! Instructions on how to do this and where to get postcards here: www.massfreedomtoread.org/act @massaabb.bsky.social

Can you believe I’m still going to be talking about banned books in March 2026?! Yes, because the problem isn’t going to go away at the end of Banned Books Week. This will be an amazing event!

Last week, PEN America released its fourth annual report on the state of book banning and censorship in America, and I learned that Last Night at the Telegraph Club was the fourth most banned book in schools during the 2024-25 school year. How do I feel about it? www.malindalo.com/blog/2025/10...

I was interviewed recently for a #BannedBooksWeek event I'm helping out with in my capacity as co-leader for @massaabb.bsky.social by @worcestermagazine.bsky.social Here's the link to the article I'm quoted in: www.worcestermag.com/story/entert...

"Last Night at the Telegraph Club" by @malindalo.bsky.social is one of the 21 books banned from all South Carolina public schools. She responds: "That is what reading gives us: the freedom to imagine different possibilities." Read more here: scdailygazette.com/2025/05/08/w...

Just take a moment to really absorb these words from the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, in the United States of America: “As the deployment of troops and federal agents in Memphis intensifies…”

So, it may soon be entirely possible for "therapists" to practice an ineffective and homophobic therapy on minors under the protection of the 1st Amendment. Meanwhile, teachers will have no such free speech in their classrooms, and kids will have no access to books about queer people in libraries.

"It's not a badge of honor... What does it mean? It means that the fascists are winning — for now." - @malindalo.bsky.social

Last week, PEN America released its fourth annual report on the state of book banning and censorship in America, and I learned that Last Night at the Telegraph Club was the fourth most banned book in schools during the 2024-25 school year. How do I feel about it? www.malindalo.com/blog/2025/10...

It's Banned Books Week! It's time for the MA legislature to pass a Freedom to Read bill that protects librarians & educators from harassment, and protects authors, creators, booksellers & publishers from economic harm. I support An Act Regarding Free Expression (H.3594/S.2328). #MassFreedomToRead

I've noticed more and more lately that people do not have events listed online anywhere. Like, how do you expect people to go to them if they can't find the info except buried on some social media account that doesn't show you things in order? Update your websites!!

I've basically given into tech and now post photos with everything, add music to still pictures, and am constantly thinking about how I could shoot video. However, I'm still loyal to my newsletter first! Subscribe here if you want to get my newsletter on Tuesday: www.malindalo.com/newsletter

THIS: "my role as a writer is to state things as clearly as I possibly can, to make them in such a way that they haunt, to state truths and to reinforce the animating notion of my politics—which is that all humanity is equal and is worthy of that." —Ta-Nehisi Coates www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/o...

What was the most #bannedbook in U.S. schools in the 2024-25 school year? Topping the list, after being banned in 23 school districts, is a 1962 novel that Time magazine named one of 100 best books of all time in 2010. These are the 15 most-banned books in America: pen.org/banned-books...

Listen, obviously, Massachusetts is pretty awesome, but that doesn't mean we're completely immune to all of the broader cultural forces. 46 titles have been challenged or removed from shelves in Mass from 2022-24. That's exactly 46 too many. Here's a list of all too familiar titles

You would not believe how many hot takes I am not posting today please clap

Another Judge Chips Away at Library Patron First Amendment Rights: bookriot.com/parnell-vs-e...

I’m very happy to see this story about the launch of @pubprosabb.bsky.social in PW especially this quote: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

More on that Florida book banning case — in the NYT it quotes the judge as saying, “The good news is I need not decide the difficult government-speech issue to resolve the case. Either way, the First Amendment offers Plaintiffs no protection.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/b...

The start of the below thread was deleted because we made an error. The judge sided with the District that they could viewpoint censor as they saw fit, but did not make an official ruling in support of their argument that they could do it because our libraries are “government speech.”

The student was asking so that she could go and tell her fellow students why they should care! She was doing a good thing.

Last night a college student asked me why college students should care about book bans and I told her that book bans are a First Amendment issue: on the same continuum as grad student Rumeyza Ozturk being detained for writing an op-ed in the student paper, and of Jimmy Kimmel being suspended.

This is a very bad ruling for all of us who value the First Amendment.

Says author @malindalo.bsky.social: "Book banners want you to think that innocent eight-year-olds are being assaulted by sexually explicit material — which is just false..." Read more: pen.org/press-releas...

PEN America has a new report out on banned books, and LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB was the fourth most banned book in the 2024-25 school year. This actually surprised me, but I think it's partly because all the usual suspects have already been banned. When books get banned, they don't return.

Last night at our #MassFreedomToRead event, we were asked how school districts find books to ban. The answers to this have evolved over the years, but in 2025, ”AI” is increasingly involved. Read this story from @heykellyjensen.bsky.social about what’s happening in TX: bookriot.com/leander-sb-13/

It’s hard to find a pullquote that conveys both the ludicrous position this university has taken, and the seriousness of this present moment in America. >> Scholars are now being directly asked to lie to the public. <<

Tonight! Join us @portersqbooks.bsky.social in Cambridge at 7PM for a presentation & workshop in support of Mass's An Act Regarding Free Expression. RSVPs (which are very helpful) and more info here:

Happy paperback birthday to AT MIDNIGHT! I have a short story in here about a girl being turned into a log by a witch — I swear it’s surprisingly sexy! Please enjoy 🧙‍♀️

Good thread here on the implications and ramifications of the Anthropic settlement.

Boston area folks who care about the freedom to read: Tomorrow, Tuesday 9/30 at 7 pm, come to @portersqbooks.bsky.social Cambridge for a workshop on how YOU can support legislation to protect libraries, schools, and authors in Massachusetts portersquarebooks.com/event/2025-0... #bannedbooks

Just a reminder that the September Be the Change is actually on Tuesday 9/30 instead of tomorrow. @malindalo.bsky.social @beaconpress.bsky.social @authorsabb.bsky.social & others present on censorship & pending legislation in Mass! 7PM. portersquarebooks.com/event/2025-0...

this is so funny but also bleak that they’re even trying to get taylor fucking swift to work for free for “exposure”

I've never seen this video before today and wow, I just highly recommend it. Take a minute and take in the totally 80s splendor of this: the GI Joe doll, the shopping mall, the pegged jeans, the dykey punk haircut, the single earring, just watch it, you will not regret these 4 minutes

I’ve come to realize that every book I write is about being forced to leave home. So maybe I need to change my tagline from “my brand is lesbians” to “my brand is exile.” It’s just not nearly as fun-sounding 😥

Many publishers have been backing up their authors, including especially Penguin Random House which has filed multiple lawsuits fighting book bans in several states. Other publishers like S&S and Hachette have joined these lawsuits too.

A follow up to this: Much of the discourse on book banning focuses on schools, libraries, going to school board meetings, pushing elected officials to enact policies about book banning. All good! But one thing glaringly absent is recognition that authors’ first amendment rights are getting attacked.

I wish people cared about the first amendment rights of authors and artists who are getting their works banned in schools and libraries across the USA as much as they care about the rights of white male comedians to be on national TV

For the past few months I've been volunteering with massfreedomtoread.org, a coalition of authors, publishers, libraries, parents, etc. in Massachusetts trying to pass a Freedom to Read law in the Bay State. You'd think we would've passed this by now, but nope.

Lawn Boy is one of the most banned books in America. Has been for years.

While it’s sad that people have come to expect censorship in states like Florida, it’s also worrying that some people feel so confident that it could never happen in their state. It can happen anywhere. Pay attention and speak out.

I enjoyed this post on what exactly is literary fiction, written by a publishing professional. Especially this part: “What writers mean by literary: ‘I am smart’” which made me laugh. (warning it’s on substack) devonhalliday.substack.com/p/my-literar...

🧵 on how book challenges and bans have affected Massachusetts, a blue state. Book bans are not only a red state thing! And if you're in Mass and are concerned about the erosion of our First Amendment rights here, please join massfreedomtoread.org

🧵 on how book challenges and bans have affected Massachusetts, a blue state. Book bans are not only a red state thing! And if you're in Mass and are concerned about the erosion of our First Amendment rights here, please join massfreedomtoread.org

Yes, books have been challenged and banned in Massachusetts! Here is a list: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

At next week's event you'll also hear from @danaalisonlevy.bsky.social @ellyswartzbooks.bsky.social @beaconpress.bsky.social @authorsabb.bsky.social and Mass Freedom To Read (www.massfreedomtoread.org). If you've ever felt helpless about book bans due to living in a blue state, come to this event!

Massachusetts/Boston folks: One week from today, next Tuesday 9/30 at 7 pm, I’ll be at @portersqbooks.bsky.social in Cambridge to talk about how YOU can fight book banning and advocate for the passage of a Freedom to Read bill in MA. Please join us! portersquarebooks.com/event/2025-0...

I am so excited for this book! BSG continues to be one of my favorite series of all time and Mo Ryan is a brilliant critic and reporter. Can't wait!

Massachusetts/Boston folks: One week from today, next Tuesday 9/30 at 7 pm, I’ll be at @portersqbooks.bsky.social in Cambridge to talk about how YOU can fight book banning and advocate for the passage of a Freedom to Read bill in MA. Please join us! portersquarebooks.com/event/2025-0...

We recently revealed our January 2026 special guests, as well as our commencement speaker @malindalo.bsky.social! Check out their bios on our website: www.lasell.edu/graduate-stu...