Write to a Banned Author: A Banned Books Week Event

Harry Potter. The Diary of a Young Girl. Maus. The Wizard of Oz. The Hate U Give. These books all have something in common: They've been banned. While you can still get your own copies in bookstores, these books have been stricken from reading lists, removed from school libraries, and sometimes even removed from public libraries. There's a laundry list of reasons why people demand to ban books: Violence, racism, LGBT+ content, magic, and so many more. So many great stories are challenged and banned each year for misunderstandings that would be alleviated if they'd have been read instead of judged from the cover. This may seem depressing, but luckily, you have the freedom to make your own choice about what you want to read!

Every September, librarians around the world celebrate Banned Books Week - celebrating the freedom to read and the stories that mean so much to us!

This year, we'll be sending various banned authors letters of our appreciation. These authors include Raina Telgemeier, Ellen Hopkins, Sherman Alexie, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Acevedo, Tui T. Sutherland, Dav Pilkey, Holly Black, and Jacqueline Woodson.

To join in on the fun and write your own letter, please come to the West Wyandotte Public Library's Young Adult section (across from the circulation desk, by the elevator).