Small actions add up: read a challenged book, leave a public review, show up to one meeting, speak for one minute, or send one email. Each step builds momentum, visibility, and community and reminds decision-makers that people are paying attention.

According to PEN America, these were among the most frequently banned books last year. Banning books doesn’t protect readers; it silences voices and limits choice. The answer isn’t removal, but conversation and context. Get involved: find tools at FreedomToReadProject.org

Eight states have pre-filed and/or introduced really bad library and book censorship bills for the 2026 legislative session already. Here's what they are, what they'd do, and how you can and should push back–whether you live in these states or not. buttondown.com/wellsourced/...

We updated our censorship attempts tracking for the first time since Winter Break today. All activity is tied to two people and one special interest group in Clay, Nassau, Santa Rosa, Polk, and Escambia. Decisions posted for Clay & Nassau, still waiting on Polk PRRs. www.fftrp.org/florida_cens...

New Hampshire! They're coming for your right to read again! This time around, let's see if we can stop it in committee. Contact your State Senators!

At least eight states have deeply concerning anti-library, anti-literature bills on the docket for their legislative sessions so far. Here's what they are and what you can and should do at this point about them–whether or not you live in these states. *WE* save us. buttondown.com/wellsourced/...

The Senate companion to Bankson’s Book Ban Bill (HB 1119) dropped this afternoon right before the filing deadline. It was filed by Senator McClain under the number SB 1692 (same number as last year). Here’s coverage out this morning on the House version: www.tampabay.com/news/educati...

Want to be a stronger defender of the freedom to read in 2026? Book Riot’s practical guide breaks down how to show up, speak up, and protect access to books in your community with real tips anyone can use. bookriot.com/how-to-defen... #FreedomToRead #StopBookBans #LiteracyAdvocacy

"I’m a Wyoming teenager, and legislators are trying to ban the book I’m reading" www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/gues...

Just finished a great book with your child and want to keep the conversation going? Our guide shows you how to make a zine together: an easy, creative way to celebrate what you read, reflect on favorite moments & make something meaningful as a family. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/how_to_make_...

On January 6, 2026, the ACLU of Utah, along with law firms Parr Brown Gee & Loveless and Spencer Fane, LLC, filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Utah's Sensitive Materials Law. Read all about it here: www.acluutah.org/press-releas... and follow us for updates as we follow this case.

Censorship is personal. PEN America just released new Snapshots of Censorship, showing how individual scholars are impacted by efforts to restrict academic freedom and freedom of expression. Read these stories here: https://pen.org/blog-series/snapshots-of-censorship/

Loveless is a compassionate, affirming story about identity, friendship, and self-discovery, especially for asexual and aromantic teens. Banning it doesn’t protect kids; it erases representation and silences real experiences. Let kids find the books that speak to them. #FreedomToRead #StopBookBans

BIG NEWS! Utah's chapter of the ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the state for its banning of 22 books from all public school students. This case could have massive implications nationwide. bookriot.com/utah-sued-ov...

Not sure how to start a conversation at a meeting or town hall? You don’t need perfect words, just curiosity and a willingness to connect. Conversations grow movements. Get more advocacy tips in our free workbook Turning the Page: www.freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_...

Books like Jerry Craft’s turn kids into readers and open doors they didn’t even know existed. That’s why access matters. When we protect the freedom to read, we protect curiosity, representation, and hope for every child. #FreedomToRead #LetKidsRead #BooksMatter #StopBookBans

Check out this great recap of the biggest censorship stories from 2025: bookriot.com/most-popular...

Feeling overwhelmed by book bans and censorship where you live? This pep talk offers encouragement, acknowledges the real challenges advocates face, and highlights the meaningful ways people are making a difference even when wins feel small. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/a_pep_talk_f...

Happy New Year from the Freedom to Read Project! 🎉📚 Thank you to every librarian, educator, parent, student, and advocate who stood up for access to books in 2025. Your voices and courage matter. Here’s to resilience, community, and a 2026 filled with curiosity, truth, and unbanned books.

Picoult’s THE STORYTELLER confronts history, justice, trauma, and moral choice, exactly the kind of empathetic, critical reading we need. Banning it doesn’t protect anyone; it silences Holocaust conversations & hard truths. Powerful stories help us reckon with the past & build a more just future.

Setting goals is an excellent way to jumpstart action. Are you ready for 2026? A new year is the perfect time to recommit to protecting access to books and standing up for intellectual freedom. Let’s make 2026 a year of courage, clarity, and collective action. 💛📖 #FreedomToRead #StopBookBans

What will you stand for in 2026? As censorship grows louder, our commitment to the freedom to read must grow stronger. Taking action doesn’t require perfection, just persistence. Show up, speak out, support readers. Let’s push back together with courage and community. #FreedomToRead #StopBookBans

Book banning is not the solution—talk to your kids about what they're reading and how you feel about it.

Excellent overview of everything that happened this year!

Are we to accept that the freedom to read is a states’ rights issue? Do we want our First Amendment freedoms to vary by location? The implications of SCOTUS declining to hear Llano reverberate across the country... www.freedomtoreadproject.org/are_we_to_ac...

John Green, Jodi Picoult Top PEN America's Banned Books List www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Banger of a piece from Suzette Baker and @librarianjones.com in TIME magazine: time.com/7341120/book...

Elizabeth Acevedo’s CLAP WHEN YOU LAND is a breathtaking novel-in-verse about grief, sisterhood, identity, and the courage it takes to rebuild after loss. It gives young readers a powerful mirror for complicated emotions & a window into lives & cultures they may not know, but absolutely should.

How is your local bookstore fighting book bans? action.everylibrary.org/11_ways_book...

Since we began tallying school book bans in 2021, thousands of books have been targeted repeatedly – as many as 147X for @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social’s Looking for Alaska and 142 for @jodipicoult.bsky.social’s Nineteen Minutes. These Are The Top 52 Banned Books Since 2021: pen.org/top-52-banne...

Guest author, Miranda Williamson, provides an eyewitness account of the recent library board meeting in Salado, TX where the board voted to uphold the reconsideration committee recommendation to retain “When Aidan Became a Brother” by @kylelukoff.bsky.social www.txftrp.org/salado_stand...

Parents have every right to guide their own child’s reading choices. What they don’t have the right to do is limit access for other people’s children. Protecting student rights doesn’t diminish parental rights. It honors the balance that keeps schools fair, inclusive & educational for every family.

“Some [teachers] complained about the effect of technology on students’ stamina for reading and interest in books. But more pointed toward the curriculum products their schools had purchased from major publishers.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u... #Education #Literacy #ReadingMatters

Nearly 600 new books pulled "for review" in one school district since July.

“This bill does not just respond to falling literacy scores. It pushes back against politically motivated censorship, restores professional standards in school libraries, & affirms that every child … has a constitutional guarantee to access to books, ideas, & opportunity, no matter their ZIP code.”

A Federal Right to Read Act has been reintroduced by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and U.S. Rep Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ). We’re thankful for this legislation. Our freedom to read and learn should not be a state’s rights issue! www.everylibrary.org/applaud_rein...

Honored to share a guest piece for Literary Activism today about the post-World War II boom in comics burnings. What made book burning so seductive to people in 1940s-50s America? That, plus this week's big roundup of book censorship news: bookriot.com/post-ww2-com...

Do you care about critical thinking, empathy, and the future of our democracy? Access to diverse books strengthens civic engagement and resists censorship that threatens democratic values. Restricting what we can read actually weakens our society. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/why_the_free...

Many states have passed Freedom to Read laws in an effort to protect against viewpoint-based censorship, but citizens cannot assume that means they are safe from book bans. Example: In Redlands, CA the School Board restricted The Bluest Eye and removed PUSH this week: edsource.org/updates/redl...

***IMPORTANT THREAD***** If you are anywhere near York County, South Carolina, PLEASE show up to their board meeting tomorrow. It is, of course and intentionally, at NOON tomorrow at For Mill Library. Here's York County Library's background, yes, still ongoing: bookriot.com/whats-happen...

FRONT DESK by Kelly Yang is a culturally rich and empowering book. Mia Tang shows young readers that their stories matter, that they can advocate for themselves, help others, and create change. That’s exactly the kind of message we should be putting into kids’ hands, not pulling off shelves.

Want to empower young readers? Help them leave reviews for banned books! Reviews boost visibility, support authors, and remind the world that kids want access to diverse stories. When kids speak up, they help push back against censorship and lift up the stories that matter most. 💛📖

"The government has no place telling people what they can and cannot read.” PEN America decries Supreme Court decision on book ban case https://pen.org/press-release/pen-america-decries-supreme-court-decision-on-book-ban-case/ #censorship #bannedbooks

Being offended by a book doesn’t make it dangerous, and it definitely doesn’t make it ban-worthy. When we ban books because they offend us personally, we take away someone else’s window into the world. One person’s discomfort should never decide what an entire community is allowed to read.

To our incredible community: thank you. Every donation, every share, every comment, every time you speak up for students & educators. YOU make this movement stronger. Your support fuels our trainings, keeps our resources free & ensures that families are never fighting censorship alone.

How to Support the Freedom to Read/Anti-Book Censorship Work Through Your Holiday Giving. Y'all, this post was a fun one to write and to highlight so many organizations doing *great* work. bookriot.com/gifting-with...

Every time you donate, you’re helping someone find their voice in the fight against book bans. This video highlights exactly what your support makes possible: tools, training, and real protection for students and educators. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/donate-ftrp

Ever heard of a “phantom book challenge”? It’s censorship without a complaint, when books are blocked before they even hit the shelf because someone fears they might be challenged. Read more in our latest article: www.freedomtoreadproject.org/the_phantom_...

Meet Caleb, age 10, and already a powerful voice for the freedom to read. When even young readers can explain why stories matter, it’s a reminder that the fight against censorship isn’t abstract, it’s about real kids. Help us continue our mission: www.freedomtoreadproject.org/donate-ftrp

Your donations don’t just fight book bans, they fund FREE tools that empower entire communities. If you’ve used our tools, or you believe in the power of informed advocacy, please consider giving today. Your support turns knowledge into action. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/donate-ftrp