Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers’ Rights

A dazzling YA anthology that spotlights the transformative power of books while equipping teens to fight for the freedom to read, featuring the voices of 15 diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators.

Books are disappearing from shelves across the country.

What does this mean for authors, illustrators, and--most crucially--for young readers?

This bold collection of fiction, memoir, poetry, graphic narratives, essays, and other genres explores book bans through various lenses, and empowers teens to fight back. From moving personal accounts to clever comebacks aimed at censorship, fifteen legendary YA authors and illustrators confront the high-stakes question of what is lost when books are kept from teens.

Contributors include Elana K. Arnold, Nikki Grimes, Ellen Hopkins, Kelly Jensen, Brendan Kiely, Maia Kobabe, Bill Konigsberg, Kyle Lukoff, MariNaomi, Trung Lê Nguyễn, Ashley Hope Pérez, Isabel Quintero, Traci Sorell, Robin Stevenson, and Padma Venkatraman; the collection is a star-studded must-read that packs strength and power into every last word.

Striking illustrations from Ignatz-nominated artist Debbie Fong pair perfectly with the searing, impactful narrative. Resources include tips from the Vandegrift Banned Book Club and other teen activists, as well as extensive recommended book lists, a How to Start Your Own Little Free Library flier, and more.

Ashley Hope Pérez grew up in Texas and is the author of three award-winning novels for young adults, including Out of Darkness, which received a Printz Honor and the Tomás Rivera Book Award--and was one of the top ten most banned books of 2021. Ashley is a former high school teacher and an assistant professor of world literatures at The Ohio State University. In 2023, Ashley was a part of PEN America’s lawsuit against Escambia County, Florida. She lives in Columbus with her two sons; find her online at www.ashleyperez.com.

Debbie Fong is an Ignatz-nominated cartoonist, illustrator, and author living in Brooklyn, NY. She is the author/illustrator of Next Stop, and the illustrator of What Can I Say? and How to Be a Person? by Catherine Newman. Debbie is the artist behind POMMO Press, an online shop where she sells colorful prints, stationery, and other fun goods. Find her online at www.debbiefong.com and @pommopress

• Fans of Gender Queer, The Magic Fish, and other graphic novels/narratives exploring freedom and identity
  
• Teen activists looking for resources on book bans and the freedom to read
  
• Librarians and educators who want to put work by banned creators back on their shelves
  
• Involved parents seeking firsthand information about book bans and their consequences