Stephen King is Not Coming to Save Us
Economically disadvantaged kids need their school libraries; this week’s book ban news
“Let them buy books” is not the answer
Because I’m a retired high school librarian, well-meaning social media acquaintances often share a quote from Stephen King: “Hey kids! This is your old friend Steve King telling you that if they ban a book in your school, haul your ass to the nearest bookstore or library ASAP and find out what they don’t want you to read.”
Their posts are followed in the comment section by expressions of solidarity against book bans, accusations of making porn available to kids, and snarky comments on King (‘Your books were better as movies!’). What I don’t see is a discussion of the school library or its purpose.
This saddens me. Too many well-meaning people suggest the solution to book bans in school libraries is to remove those libraries from the conversation. To do so shows disdain for its mission of serving all students.
What’s the mission?
I worked at Title I schools throughout my 35-year career as a public educator. The high school where I spent most of my time as a teacher librarian has a total minority enrollment of 96% and 84% of its students are economically disadvantaged. Most receive free breakfast and lunch. The staff runs clothes closets and a weekend backpack program, sending kids home with snacks and meals for their families to eat when school is not in session. They have a Thanksgiving dinner giveaway for the neediest and sponsor a Christmas gift drive. Teachers purchase graduation gowns for needy seniors.
While it’s hard for people removed from poverty to imagine, there are kids with no access to the public library, nevermind money to buy books. Parents work night and day. Public libraries may not be within walking distance; public transportation can range from abysmal to nonexistent. If these kids, years earlier, lost a library book, the resulting fine would include the cost of the book plus processing. Food insecure parents can’t prioritize paying that fine. The child is banned from checking out any more books. For so many reasons, kids need access to the full range of books their school libraries provide.
Let’s choose to accept it
So the fight for challenged books to remain in the school library is essential. As banned or removed titles have come up in news stories over the past few years, I haven’t needed to rely on memory to tell me why I selected them for my libraries. I regularly ‘booktalked’ them to classes. To prepare for these talks, I read the books and then wrote reviews. I decided to create a blog, School Library Lady, and post those reviews. This was primarily an organizational tool for me—by tagging each post with keywords, I could pull up any subject a teacher wanted discussed.
With titles I’d booktalked now so frequently censored, I look back at what I wrote because these essays show—in real time, without revision—my purpose in, and justification for, purchasing those books. Here on Substack, I the hope that giving people a window into a school librarian’s thought process will create understanding.
I’ve featured older books like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, still being removed after 25 years, to show how important it is to allow books that depict sexual assault. I include evidence of readers confirming that this novel saved their lives. I look at more recent books as well. Since Ta-Nehisi Coates’ latest book The Message includes a piece on the banning of his book Between the World and Me, I look back at my thoughts from 2016, at why I bought it, and why I was promoting it to students.
For each book I discuss, there are common justifications for its inclusion in the school library. Often, for nonfiction, it covers important aspects of American history. For all genres, it supports the school’s mission of providing for the needs of every student; it lets students know they are not alone in their traumas and tragedies; and it engenders empathy for others. Such parameters are what we should all be discussing when we’re deciding whether a book belongs in the school library. In the only place where a student might find it.
We should never succumb to book removal with the excuse that kids will find the book elsewhere.
Part 2: Library book challenge and ban news
Friends, I was going to link to some mainstream religion and cult stuff this week because I’m down to the last 24 hours of checking copy edits on my upcoming novel (Keep Sweet) and am in that mode. But—there’s a lot going on in the book censorship arena! So, let’s focus on that. I’m going to start with a great Substack to follow for those worried about book censorship (in schools or public libraries) in their state. I’m following with some end-of-the-year lists and then leaving other topics for last. However, all are worthy of your consideration. I hope you have the chance to view each one.
is a great Substack for those interested in the freedom to read. It’s particularly vital for those living in states where book banning is an issue. Jensen follows bills that come before state legislatures, so you can be aware of what’s happening and contact your representatives to oppose laws that would cancel books and criminalize librarians for having those books in the collection. She also lets you know if an anti-book-ban bill is up for a vote, so you can call your representative and express support for it. Here’s this week’s post:
The 11 Most Banned Books of the 2023-2024 School Year from PEN America
I’m guessing you are familiar with many of these titles. Details on each are in the linked article.
Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult, 98 bans
Looking for Alaska, by John Green, 97 bans (I discussed on Substack here.)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, 85 bans
Sold, by Patricia McCormick, 85 bans
Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher, 76 bans
Crank (Crank Series), by Ellen Hopkins, 76 bans
Identical, by Ellen Hopkins, 74 bans
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, 73 bans
The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, 67 bans
Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen, 66 bans
Tricks, by Ellen Hopkins, 66 bans
More Books Banned in 50 or More School Districts in the 2023-2024 School Year
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (I discussed this title in a Substack post here.)
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
The Most Popular Banned Books in Florida from Electric Lit.
’Most popular’ doesn’t mean ‘most frequently banned.’
Conceived and supported by Paul English and Joyce Linehan, in partnership with Bookshop.org and Electric Literature, Banned Books USA made over 900 banned and challenged titles available to all Florida residents. Anyone living in Florida could order a banned book for the cost of shipping via the Banned Books USA website, and as a result, nearly 1000 books were mailed to individuals from Pensacola to Key West.
Here are the most requested:
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders (Banned in the Palm Beach County School District)
Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Ari Folman (Banned in the Palm Beach County School District)
Beloved by Toni Morrison (Banned in the Escambia County School District)
The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez (Banned in the Miami-Dade School District School)
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story created by Nikole Hannah-Jones (Banned in the Escambia County School District)
The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country by Amanda Gorman (Banned in the Miami-Dade School District)
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe (Banned in the Manatee County School District)
And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson (Banned in the Escambia County School District)
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maass (Banned in the Clay County School District)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Banned in the Palm Beach County School District)
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold (Banned in the Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind)
A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities by Mady G (Banned in the Clay County School District)
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V. E. Schwab (Banned in the Clay County School District)
Censorship Trends For 2025, Part II from Book Riot (and Kelly Jensen, recommended above)
Looking to statewide book bans and restricted access to public libraries. Kelly Jensen also makes a point I’ve been discussing here (even today!) and in other venues:
This list is not comprehensive. Instead, it’s meant to highlight a small number of things to pay attention to and to take action on when they arise. It’s also a reminder that personally stocking up on banned books or giving them away as gifts, while nice, is not actually doing anything to help stop the attacks on the democratic institutions of public libraries and public schools.
Taking that personal action with the belief that it is a solution to book banning is to not only not understand what book censorship looks like right now, it’s playing right into the very mentality of those seeking to destroy these institutions of access. Books will never go away, even if many of the themes or topics in them may; books will simply be because the luxury item is only accessible by those with the privilege and wealth to get them. This ongoing fight has not stretched out nearly half a decade because of fears around getting the books at the bookstore or online. It’s stretched out because the people who need access most are those who are most marginalized and who most benefit from strong institutions that have public support. Handing Nana a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird for Christmas does nothing to help ensure the lower-class queer Brown kid in Idaho has access to books with characters like them…or access to any books, to classes that strengthen their literacy, to experts in various subject fields, or to actual factual information at all.
State anti-book-ban law leads some school districts to forsake grants to maintain local control from Yahoo News
Starting this year, public libraries in Illinois had a choice: adopt principles against book banning or give up state grants.
A number of school districts, many of them in deeply conservative areas of south and central Illinois, appear to have taken the latter option. Administrators at some of those districts acknowledged being concerned about giving up any measure of control on what books are allowed on their schools’ library shelves.
The state library grants are not large — about $850 for small districts. No district that opted out of applying for funding this year received more than $4,000 in grant money during the last fiscal year, according to state records.
New Jersey governor signs law blocking book bans From NBC News
The law follows nationwide attempts by conservative lawmakers and activists to limit publicly available books centered on LGBTQ issues or people of color.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, signed a law Monday prohibiting public schools and libraries from banning books and protecting librarians who obey state law.
Murphy’s signing of the Freedom to Read Act comes amid an ongoing push by conservative lawmakers and activists across the country to challenge books they consider inappropriate for minors, particularly those about LGBTQ issues and race. Lawmakers in at least 13 states this year have introduced legislation to disrupt library services or limit their materials, according to an NBC News tally.
“Across the nation, we have seen attempts to suppress and censor the stories and experiences of others,” Murphy said in a statement. “I’m proud to amplify the voices of our past and present, as there is no better way for our children to prepare for the future than to read freely.”
As children’s book bans soar, sales are down and librarians are afraid. Even in California from the Los Angeles Times
Teachers and librarians, facing threats and fearful of losing their jobs or even going to jail in states that have passed laws criminalizing certain works, are hesitating to put controversial books that include LGBTQ+ characters or discussions of racism on their shelves.
Publishers — which depend on schools and library purchases — report that sales of such books are down significantly, even when the works receive critical acclaim.
And authors have seen school visits canceled, leaving them without a crucial income stream.
Va. library survived battle over LGBTQ+ books. Now, it faces a new threat. From the Washington Post
This is a gift link, so you can click and read the entire article.
Samuels Public Library in Front Royal withstood a funding challenge in 2023 over its handling of LGBTQ-themed books and won big awards. Now, local supervisors want to take it over.
It’s hard to quote from this article because there are many elements, but here are some of the factors in play:
Recognized as Virginia’s Library of the Year and winner of a $500,000 Mellon Foundation grant, the library seemed to have emerged stronger than ever from a 2023 fight to defend LGBTQ+ books against a small but vocal community group that almost cost Samuels its county funding. The former library director resigned amid the pressure and the library wound up hiring a lawyer and public relations firm for crisis management.
Library president Melody Hotek was named trustee of the year by the Virginia Library Association and the Friends of Samuels was named top library booster group.
Lisa Varga, executive director of the Virginia Library Association, who has monitored library challenges around the state and the country, was named national 2024 librarian of the year by Library Journal.
Nevertheless:
Two members of the Warren County Board of Supervisors stunned library leaders by issuing a deeply critical report that portrays the nonprofit Samuels as feeding at the public trough without oversight or accountability.
The proposed solution: formation of a new library board, appointed by county supervisors, to take over library services. Samuels Public Library could apply to be a vendor for the county, or it could become a library booster organization, or — deprived of county funding — it could disband.
This article was followed by others with the news that the Warren County Board of Supervisors did, in fact, follow through with a hostile takeover.
Williamson County School Board Removes, Restricts Books in Libraries from Nashville Scene
'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' and 'Where the Crawdads Sing' have all effectively been banned.
The board also restricted access to the 1999 novel Speak for high school students, while the 2019 novel The Field Guide to the North American Teenager was restricted for high school juniors and seniors. Speak was previously present in WCS middle and high schools, while the four others were previously only in high schools.
Suburban Houston book bans trace to a complex web of influences, including an SBC pastor From Baptist News Global
How conservative influencers push their agenda into public school policy and how some, like Mike Huckebee, stand to make some money from the situation.
Gardner Edgerton will remove book with trans character from library after one mom complained from NPR
The complaint against "Lily and Dunkin" came from one Johnson County parent who has repeatedly challenged books she finds objectionable. A special committee overwhelmingly recommended to keep the book in circulation, but the school board voted this week to remove it anyway.
What an important Substack. Thank you!