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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 Nguyen, 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.
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 Nguyen, 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.
294 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2025
72 people are currently reading
4628 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Hope Pérez
9 books304 followersWhen I’m not reading, writing, or teaching, I hang out with my sons, Liam Miguel and Ethan Andrés. In the scraps of time that remain, I also like to run (I did the Houston Marathon in 2007 and the Chicago Marathon in 2009), bake (but let’s don’t revive the “Cookie Girl” nickname, please), watch movies, and collage.
My novels are WHAT CAN'T WAIT, THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY, and OUT OF DARKNESS, a 2016 Printz honor book and named one of BOOKLIST's "50 Best YA Books of All Time." THE NEW YORK TIMES called it a "layered tale of color lines, love and struggle." OUT OF DARKNESS has been banned and removed in many school districts as a result of coordinated attacks against youth access to diverse books. Find out more: https://linktr.ee/ashleyhopeperez
My novels are WHAT CAN'T WAIT, THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY, and OUT OF DARKNESS, a 2016 Printz honor book and named one of BOOKLIST's "50 Best YA Books of All Time." THE NEW YORK TIMES called it a "layered tale of color lines, love and struggle." OUT OF DARKNESS has been banned and removed in many school districts as a result of coordinated attacks against youth access to diverse books. Find out more: https://linktr.ee/ashleyhopeperez
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
January 21, 2026
In a Nutshell: A YA anthology that focusses on the power of books and the impact of banning them. Mostly nonfiction with entries in the form of essays, comics, and poems. OwnVoices. Inclusive, informative, incisive and inspiring. Most of the write-ups are great; some are also a bit disturbing. Definitely recommended, and not just to the YA audience.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t think I need to offer any introduction on why banning books is a ridiculous notion. Even progressive societies opt for book banning, and worse, books are banned for the silliest of reasons. As such, the next generation must understand the futility of such actions and necessity of standing up for everyone’s right to read what they want. Of all book-related social topics, this is the most relevant issue today. Several shocking stats connected to book challenges and bans in the USA are contained in this anthology, and I dare say, the figures are even worse now. (I speak of the USA only because this anthology is written in the US context and aimed at US readers. India is no less when it comes to book bans. But because of our abysmal, almost non-existent public/school library system, we feel the brunt differently.)
This anthology, aimed at YA readers, contains eighteen pieces exploring book bans on a personal and societal level. We hear from YA writers whose books have been targeted, from members of the LGBTQIA+ community who saw themselves in books and tried to pay it forward, and from activists trying to make a difference. In many ways, this is an OwnVoices work because every contributor is representative of minority voices in some way or the other. Many are Americans of BIPOC ethnicity such as Mexican, Vietnamese, and Indian. There are also American writers from the Native Nations.
As one of the contributing authors wrote, “Being a banned author is having your life’s work reduced to a count of profanities or a particular scene.” Many of the contributors have faced book challenges and bans and hence their voices contain a genuineness and hurt that cannot be pretended. Editor Ashley Hope Pérez also has a banned book under her belt, so she knows first-hand the experience of such ad-hoc and unjustified censorship. Her introductory writeup and her concluding note are as powerful as expected. I have hardly been as impressed with the editor of any anthology.
The format of the pieces is quite diverse as its authors. The length of the entries also varies, going from 2 pages to 22 pages. Most of the entries are nonfiction, mainly essays but also some poems, manifestos, graphic comics, and epistolary works. This mixed-media approach also creates an interesting heterogeneity of styles while reading. However, there are a couple of fictional entries as well. I wish the fictional pieces had been marked as such. I didn’t even realise that one article was fictional as it was written in first person and seemed so true to life. Only when I looked up the author online did I learn that she had not written about her lived experiences. This could be slightly misleading to readers, especially as the anthology is dominantly nonfiction.
The topics in these entries speak about banned books from various angles, including childhood experiences, queerness and identity, safe sex, assaults, PCOS, and a lot more. So if you think that the write-ups might feel monotonous after a while, you are wrong. As the authors infuse a sense of their own struggles into these works, each essay feels like a piece of themselves inserted into this collection with love and care, sometimes even with passion and rebellion.
There is a lot of content even beyond the eighteen guest author articles. There are lists of banned books based on topics, FAQs about book bans and challenges, ideas for taking action against bans, lists of ridiculous reasons books have been banned, and a lot more. These appear as informative interludes after every guest piece.
The author biographies are presented just before their write-up, a decision I love as it is much easier to know the credentials of the writer if their intro is right next to their work. The illustrated portraits of the authors are a bonus.
This book would easily earn 5 stars for its intent. Evaluating the content objectively, most of the essays deliver to or above par. A couple of the entries could have clicked better for me had they not been so aggressive in tone. To some extent, I understand this anger as a legitimate reaction to oppression and suppression. However, I feel that yelling a point makes it lose its efficacy. The heartfelt, calm-headed yet impassioned essays resonate much better.
As always, I rated the entries individually. For once, I even rated the poems, not for their poetic attributes but for their voice and message. Of the eighteen pieces, a whopping thirteen reached/crossed the 4-star mark. Most of the rest earned 3-3.5 stars. So this ends up a high performing collection. Here are my top favourites with 4.5+ stars:
It goes without saying that this collection should be a must-read for every young adult (and even adult) reader in the USA and beyond. The sanctity of the freedom to be you (and to write/read what you want) and the importance of learning history that has been swept under the carpet cannot be denied. The right to be seen and heard in fiction belongs to everyone and not just to white majoritarians. I hope this collection spreads awareness not just about the fundamental flaws of book banning but also about actions that can be taken at an individual and communal level to stop such bans and ensure fair and just representation, both of minority voices and of past injustices.
While I have no intention of censoring a book about book banning, I do want to advocate some restraint and caution to sensitive readers. A couple of the essays contain highly disturbing events. Their being actual facts and not fiction makes the emotional impact worse. (I wish trigger warnings had been provided for these entries, such as the one that had an attempted sexual assault and the school shooting.) Also, the language isn't always polite, though the cuss words are mostly direct quotes from abusive messages received by the authors. So if you are in a delicate headspace, wait until a stronger time or for a supportive buddy reader before you tackle the book.
Much, much recommended as long as you go in prepared for an educational but also alarming read. We need to arm ourselves and our teens for a tough future, and such books provide the right ammunition.
4.1 stars, based on the average of my rating for each article. (If you are familiar with my ratings, you know that an average that goes to 4 stars and beyond is outstanding for an anthology.)
My thanks to Hear Our Voices Book Tours and Holiday House for a complimentary copy of 'Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights'. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t think I need to offer any introduction on why banning books is a ridiculous notion. Even progressive societies opt for book banning, and worse, books are banned for the silliest of reasons. As such, the next generation must understand the futility of such actions and necessity of standing up for everyone’s right to read what they want. Of all book-related social topics, this is the most relevant issue today. Several shocking stats connected to book challenges and bans in the USA are contained in this anthology, and I dare say, the figures are even worse now. (I speak of the USA only because this anthology is written in the US context and aimed at US readers. India is no less when it comes to book bans. But because of our abysmal, almost non-existent public/school library system, we feel the brunt differently.)
This anthology, aimed at YA readers, contains eighteen pieces exploring book bans on a personal and societal level. We hear from YA writers whose books have been targeted, from members of the LGBTQIA+ community who saw themselves in books and tried to pay it forward, and from activists trying to make a difference. In many ways, this is an OwnVoices work because every contributor is representative of minority voices in some way or the other. Many are Americans of BIPOC ethnicity such as Mexican, Vietnamese, and Indian. There are also American writers from the Native Nations.
As one of the contributing authors wrote, “Being a banned author is having your life’s work reduced to a count of profanities or a particular scene.” Many of the contributors have faced book challenges and bans and hence their voices contain a genuineness and hurt that cannot be pretended. Editor Ashley Hope Pérez also has a banned book under her belt, so she knows first-hand the experience of such ad-hoc and unjustified censorship. Her introductory writeup and her concluding note are as powerful as expected. I have hardly been as impressed with the editor of any anthology.
The format of the pieces is quite diverse as its authors. The length of the entries also varies, going from 2 pages to 22 pages. Most of the entries are nonfiction, mainly essays but also some poems, manifestos, graphic comics, and epistolary works. This mixed-media approach also creates an interesting heterogeneity of styles while reading. However, there are a couple of fictional entries as well. I wish the fictional pieces had been marked as such. I didn’t even realise that one article was fictional as it was written in first person and seemed so true to life. Only when I looked up the author online did I learn that she had not written about her lived experiences. This could be slightly misleading to readers, especially as the anthology is dominantly nonfiction.
The topics in these entries speak about banned books from various angles, including childhood experiences, queerness and identity, safe sex, assaults, PCOS, and a lot more. So if you think that the write-ups might feel monotonous after a while, you are wrong. As the authors infuse a sense of their own struggles into these works, each essay feels like a piece of themselves inserted into this collection with love and care, sometimes even with passion and rebellion.
There is a lot of content even beyond the eighteen guest author articles. There are lists of banned books based on topics, FAQs about book bans and challenges, ideas for taking action against bans, lists of ridiculous reasons books have been banned, and a lot more. These appear as informative interludes after every guest piece.
The author biographies are presented just before their write-up, a decision I love as it is much easier to know the credentials of the writer if their intro is right next to their work. The illustrated portraits of the authors are a bonus.
This book would easily earn 5 stars for its intent. Evaluating the content objectively, most of the essays deliver to or above par. A couple of the entries could have clicked better for me had they not been so aggressive in tone. To some extent, I understand this anger as a legitimate reaction to oppression and suppression. However, I feel that yelling a point makes it lose its efficacy. The heartfelt, calm-headed yet impassioned essays resonate much better.
As always, I rated the entries individually. For once, I even rated the poems, not for their poetic attributes but for their voice and message. Of the eighteen pieces, a whopping thirteen reached/crossed the 4-star mark. Most of the rest earned 3-3.5 stars. So this ends up a high performing collection. Here are my top favourites with 4.5+ stars:
📚 I Made the Most Banned Book in America – Maia Kobabe: A graphic comic memoir with several shocking statistics on book bans in the USA. “Make sure librarians feel the love stronger than the hate.” – all my love for this sentiment! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📚 The Things, the Things That Happened, the Things That Happened to Me – Elana K. Arnold: This personal essay made me feel disgusted… not with the author but on behalf of the author. A very disturbing piece, so maybe it needs to come with a content advisory. At the same time, I wish for young girls to read it for self-protection and awareness, and for young boys to read it to learn what not to do. “As long as there have been women, there have been ways to punish them for being women” – 100% right! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
📚 Dancing with Haters – Ashley Hope Pérez: Probably one of the cleverest and most beautiful poems I have ever read. Yup, I said “poem” and I called it clever and even gave it 5 stars. That’s how impressed this poetryphobe is with this poem. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📚 Mature Themes – MariNaomi: A heartfelt open letter about the power of books and their role in saving lives. This bibliophile was touched! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📚 Read Banned Books – Traci Sorell: Erasure of history is a norm. Books are what let us know what our ancestors did wrong and what we need to avoid. Those who ban books basically want the wrongs to continue. Proven well by this acrostic poem plus essay. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
📚 Christopher Lau: Unban Coolies and YouTube Activism – Ashley Hope Pérez and Debbie Fong: A graphic comic about youth who do what we adults don’t – take concrete action instead of being keyboard warriors. All my love and blessings to such youngsters! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
📚 Getting to Know Your Hate Mail – Ashley Hope Pérez: If I could live my life with even 10% of the coolness and humour that this inspiring lady has, I would be a happy woman. What a fabulous little write-up this was! I am going to use its lessons to handle trolls better. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📚 Imagining the Unimaginable – Ellen Hopkins: Mainly a fiction-in-verse about a historical adoption story, but also containing a note about the author’s personal experience as an adoptive child. I am not sure if youngsters would enjoy this piece, not just because most of it is a lengthy verse poem but also because it is historical and they might not be able to relate to the era. (Do kids today even know who Bing Crosby is?) But I loved it, so I hope they will too. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
Honorary mentions with 4 stars:
🌈 Wings of Pages and Words – Robin Stevenson: An author’s experience about being the writer of queer fiction and nonfiction in the USA. Not a pretty picture. 😕
🌈 O-Town Blues – Brendan Kiely: A disturbing epistolary story that is probably the most realistic depiction of many USians today.
🌈 Standing at the Center – Kyle Lukoff: A thought-provoking piece about being a banned author in the USA and how it messes with your head.
🌈 Our Whole Radical Anatomy – Kelly Jensen: So many thought-provoking sentiments in this essay. This one – “It takes effort to see yourself as worthy of living” – really broke me.
🌈 Unstoppable Readers: The Vandegrift Banned Book Club – Ashley Hope Pérez and Debbie Fong: An inspiring graphic comic about two young girls making a difference in their little community by discussing banned books.
It goes without saying that this collection should be a must-read for every young adult (and even adult) reader in the USA and beyond. The sanctity of the freedom to be you (and to write/read what you want) and the importance of learning history that has been swept under the carpet cannot be denied. The right to be seen and heard in fiction belongs to everyone and not just to white majoritarians. I hope this collection spreads awareness not just about the fundamental flaws of book banning but also about actions that can be taken at an individual and communal level to stop such bans and ensure fair and just representation, both of minority voices and of past injustices.
While I have no intention of censoring a book about book banning, I do want to advocate some restraint and caution to sensitive readers. A couple of the essays contain highly disturbing events. Their being actual facts and not fiction makes the emotional impact worse. (I wish trigger warnings had been provided for these entries, such as the one that had an attempted sexual assault and the school shooting.) Also, the language isn't always polite, though the cuss words are mostly direct quotes from abusive messages received by the authors. So if you are in a delicate headspace, wait until a stronger time or for a supportive buddy reader before you tackle the book.
Much, much recommended as long as you go in prepared for an educational but also alarming read. We need to arm ourselves and our teens for a tough future, and such books provide the right ammunition.
4.1 stars, based on the average of my rating for each article. (If you are familiar with my ratings, you know that an average that goes to 4 stars and beyond is outstanding for an anthology.)
My thanks to Hear Our Voices Book Tours and Holiday House for a complimentary copy of 'Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights'. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
June 8, 2025
A powerful and diverse collection of stories, essays, poems, comics, and information on how book bans are affecting authors, schools, teachers and communities. If you want to know what the authors of frequently challenged books have to say about it, this is a good place to start! I am biased, because I have a comic in this book, but it's a very strong collection.
March 8, 2025
I had the joy of having the editor of this anthology as a professor twice in college so this book put her passion for reading on display. This is an excellent resource to find hope for educators and readers amidst the wave of book banning.
June 2, 2025
Ashley Hope Pérez, author of the often-banned Out of Darkness, brings together other authors and artists to share a moving collection of stories, essays, and poems that highlight the dangers of book banning. Some of the chapters are fictional short stories (Padma Venkatraman & Brendan Kiely were my favs), some were about their experiences (Trung Le Nguyen & Kyle Lukoff) and others shared facts and the dangers of banning books (Maia Kobabe). But what I liked best were the informational breaks between chapters with book recommendations and solid sound bites to use if someone wants to ban books. As a teen librarian, I diligently work to have a strong collection for my community, and the info found in this anthology is a great resource for those who wish to fight for the freedom to read.
January 1, 2026
This should be required reading for anyone trying to ban books. One of the most interesting things about people who oppose the books, they most often haven’t even read it and don’t fully understand the content. Such an important read to start off my 2026!
February 2, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A very informative and important book for our current times. I appreciate that this issue is being highlighted. This collection as a whole was very a enjoyable, if sometimes desperately sad, read. As a person with a chronic illness, Kelly Jensen's "Our Whole Radical Anatomy" was my personal favorite work, but they are all very strong.
A very informative and important book for our current times. I appreciate that this issue is being highlighted. This collection as a whole was very a enjoyable, if sometimes desperately sad, read. As a person with a chronic illness, Kelly Jensen's "Our Whole Radical Anatomy" was my personal favorite work, but they are all very strong.
January 3, 2026
Thanks to netgalley for the arc of this book. It was interesting to hear many author's perspectives on Banned Books. All the authors in this book have books that were banned. Every person/committee that believes a book(s) should be banned first should read THIS book! Very informative and thought provoking.
January 20, 2025
It makes me beyond sad a book like this has to exist in our world, but I'm glad it does. This is an anthology of many authors who have had their books banned. Some write about their own personal experience, and other write pertinent stories about the current climate. There are a number of book recommendations for YA readers, and they even include actionable steps as to how young people can try to fight back on the book challenges. This book also does a great job of explaining the differences between challenged books and banned books, and the common ways books get banned.
Because it's an anthology, it was easy to pick up and read for a little bit in between chores around the house. There is a common thread throughout each section, but they don't necessarily flow together. I highly recommend reading this book, especially to teenagers who need to know more about steps they can take to help save the books.
I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Because it's an anthology, it was easy to pick up and read for a little bit in between chores around the house. There is a common thread throughout each section, but they don't necessarily flow together. I highly recommend reading this book, especially to teenagers who need to know more about steps they can take to help save the books.
I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2025
"Book Banning is a form of violence. Just like taking someone's language, cutting hair, forbidden dances, and erasing cultures."-Isabel Quintero
Banned together is an anthology of Sixteen authors describe their personal experiences with book banning. Illustrations by Debbie Fong. Their stories are told through their experiences in a multitude of different formats, which include verse, comic strips, graphics, short stories, etc. They provide recommendations that young adults can take to combat book banning and provide a plethora of book recommendations for readers to devour. The authors provide readers with the knowledge and inspiration to take what they learn from this book to read banned books across a wide range of topics, such as LGBTQ and racial disparities, and to take action to bring these topics to the attention of their community. The book provides readers resources on how to learn about and access targeted books. Very well-written and timely important. This book is an important call to action for fighting against book bans.
Banned together is an anthology of Sixteen authors describe their personal experiences with book banning. Illustrations by Debbie Fong. Their stories are told through their experiences in a multitude of different formats, which include verse, comic strips, graphics, short stories, etc. They provide recommendations that young adults can take to combat book banning and provide a plethora of book recommendations for readers to devour. The authors provide readers with the knowledge and inspiration to take what they learn from this book to read banned books across a wide range of topics, such as LGBTQ and racial disparities, and to take action to bring these topics to the attention of their community. The book provides readers resources on how to learn about and access targeted books. Very well-written and timely important. This book is an important call to action for fighting against book bans.
January 13, 2025
Incredibly powerful as well as easy to read and full of facts, book ideas and so much more. A necessary read for all that is easy to get through and appropriate for all-late elementary and beyond!
January 7, 2026
It’s sad a book like this had to be created. But since it had to be I am glad it was. I would like to start by saying thank you for the ARC. This book was so beautifully done. Aimed for younger readers but definitely something adults can enjoy to. It dives into several author stories of how their life stories are being banned from library shelves and how they and their fellow readers are standing behind them to help. This book gives stories from authors of poetry, children’s books, graphic novels, autobiographical stories and so much more and how their stories of racism, bigotry, navigation thru life as a trans person and more are being ripped from shelves claiming it “hurts our children”. This book tells the reader how they can help keep these books from being banned and keep them in the hands of people that need these stories.
June 11, 2025
A mix of memoir, graphic novels, and short stories brings together this powerful book. I was ready to cry reading almost every story. Different authors from different backgrounds come together to showcase messages about book banning and why it’s so important to keep our libraries and books safe. I love this book so much and think it’s so important in today’s political climate. There’s a lot to learn and understand.
January 10, 2026
Banned Together addresses the topics of censorship and book banning through the lenses of various well-known, diverse authors and illustrators. Each entry is delivered in a different formats: fiction, memoir, poetry, etc., and they all encourage teens to fight back against book bans.
I particularly liked when teens are given information on the Miller Test for Obscenity from Miller v. California in which texts are evaluated for obscenity to determine if they are unprotected by the First Amendment. For a text to be considered obscene, it must lack serious literary, artistic, scientific, or political value, and this knowledge is incredibly supportive of making all books available to students so that they can make decisions for what is best for them.
Included in this anthology are Ellen Hopkins, Trung Le Nguyen, and Nikki Grimes.
I particularly liked when teens are given information on the Miller Test for Obscenity from Miller v. California in which texts are evaluated for obscenity to determine if they are unprotected by the First Amendment. For a text to be considered obscene, it must lack serious literary, artistic, scientific, or political value, and this knowledge is incredibly supportive of making all books available to students so that they can make decisions for what is best for them.
Included in this anthology are Ellen Hopkins, Trung Le Nguyen, and Nikki Grimes.
January 3, 2026
A wonderful book about the importance of literature and how literature can help us. This book gives very valid reasoning about the banning process and what we can do to fight it. This is a very important book for every reader to read.
October 7, 2025
Really interesting story with multiple perspectives on book banning and how it can impact different people's lives.
October 29, 2024
A book like this shouldn’t have to exist, but unfortunately needs to. This is powerful collection of essays, fiction, poetry, comics, and information from a range of award-winning YA authors who have all had books challenged or banned.
I won’t write anything in this review that these authors haven’t already said better than I could. As a teacher these are powerful words which both teens and adults need to read and understand. The pieces in this collection reveal the insidious and ignorant goals of those who try to get books banned, and the authors here are quick to point out the inaccuracies, contradictions and harmful consequences of book challenges. It’s a measured and yet deeply emotional response to the hysterics plaguing school board and local government meetings.
I’m Australian and we have yet to see the waves of book challenges that America is facing, and this book is upsetting. It’s meant to be upsetting, to confront us with the realities that young people face and the dangers of not being able to read similar experiences of people who have endured the same. Young people need to read stories that are real and relevant, to show them that the world is a crazy, scary place and to teach them the tools to deal with that. No sanitised approach is going to do that. It’s upsetting to read that book banners want to erase history, as if by covering up racism, abuse, assault, violence, genocide and protest, they can pretend these things never happen. To tell young adults that everything is perfect in the world is to lie to them. To deny diversity, neurodivergence, and queerness is to harm young adults searching for the voices who share what they feel and experience – and sometimes this can save their lives.
An important element of this book is the lists of great banned books you should be reading, and links to access free resources to fight back against book banners. I hope that anyone reading this collection goes in search of these books and supports the authors.
A few extracts which stood out to me:
“Young people are often asked to accept at face value whatever adults say is the truth…they have forgotten that young people like you are capable of critical thought and leadership.” – Isabel Quintero
“I’d hoped that we had moved beyond the flimsy sexual education discourse that reduces people to paper hearts, that considers a normal human urge pornographic, that treats as taboo an experience connected to the existence of every person on the planet.” – Kelly Jensen
“Regardless of their age, children are not property: they are people, and have rights of their own.” – Robin Stevenson
“It’s easy to see the absurdity of treating speaking up about harm as if it were the harm itself. But that’s exactly what book banners are doing when they insist that it is dangerous or damaging for students to read books addressing painful topics.” – Ashley Hope Perez
I won’t write anything in this review that these authors haven’t already said better than I could. As a teacher these are powerful words which both teens and adults need to read and understand. The pieces in this collection reveal the insidious and ignorant goals of those who try to get books banned, and the authors here are quick to point out the inaccuracies, contradictions and harmful consequences of book challenges. It’s a measured and yet deeply emotional response to the hysterics plaguing school board and local government meetings.
I’m Australian and we have yet to see the waves of book challenges that America is facing, and this book is upsetting. It’s meant to be upsetting, to confront us with the realities that young people face and the dangers of not being able to read similar experiences of people who have endured the same. Young people need to read stories that are real and relevant, to show them that the world is a crazy, scary place and to teach them the tools to deal with that. No sanitised approach is going to do that. It’s upsetting to read that book banners want to erase history, as if by covering up racism, abuse, assault, violence, genocide and protest, they can pretend these things never happen. To tell young adults that everything is perfect in the world is to lie to them. To deny diversity, neurodivergence, and queerness is to harm young adults searching for the voices who share what they feel and experience – and sometimes this can save their lives.
An important element of this book is the lists of great banned books you should be reading, and links to access free resources to fight back against book banners. I hope that anyone reading this collection goes in search of these books and supports the authors.
A few extracts which stood out to me:
“Young people are often asked to accept at face value whatever adults say is the truth…they have forgotten that young people like you are capable of critical thought and leadership.” – Isabel Quintero
“I’d hoped that we had moved beyond the flimsy sexual education discourse that reduces people to paper hearts, that considers a normal human urge pornographic, that treats as taboo an experience connected to the existence of every person on the planet.” – Kelly Jensen
“Regardless of their age, children are not property: they are people, and have rights of their own.” – Robin Stevenson
“It’s easy to see the absurdity of treating speaking up about harm as if it were the harm itself. But that’s exactly what book banners are doing when they insist that it is dangerous or damaging for students to read books addressing painful topics.” – Ashley Hope Perez
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February 24, 2025
Let me preface my review with the following statement - if there is ever to be any criticism regarding this set of anthologies, it is done solely by those who stand against us and want to ban books and hurt/alienate people. It would be a literal move to minimize the work these contributors put into these stories and should be fought against.
Moving on - this is the perfect little anthology showing a sign of the times. Whether it be personal anecdotes or stories derived off of experiences by banned authors and contributors, Banned Together lives us to its namesake by bringing banned authors and contributors together. (pardon me, for this one, as I seem to have lost the plot)
There are no criticisms from this reviewer. If anything, I would implore readers to take a closer look at the contributions from Padka Venkatraman, Kelly Jensen and Brendan Kiely. It is vital that people have access to information; once that information is taken away, as a form of limiting intellect, then we lose what helps us function as a society.
Banning books is political. Banning books is dangerous. Banning books is censorship.
Thank you, Netgalley and Holiday House, for this advanced copy to review. Thank you to the contributors for sharing your stories.
Moving on - this is the perfect little anthology showing a sign of the times. Whether it be personal anecdotes or stories derived off of experiences by banned authors and contributors, Banned Together lives us to its namesake by bringing banned authors and contributors together. (pardon me, for this one, as I seem to have lost the plot)
There are no criticisms from this reviewer. If anything, I would implore readers to take a closer look at the contributions from Padka Venkatraman, Kelly Jensen and Brendan Kiely. It is vital that people have access to information; once that information is taken away, as a form of limiting intellect, then we lose what helps us function as a society.
Banning books is political. Banning books is dangerous. Banning books is censorship.
Thank you, Netgalley and Holiday House, for this advanced copy to review. Thank you to the contributors for sharing your stories.
October 22, 2024
It warms my heart to see more books about book banning being published in a YA space. It wasn't until I became an adult and moved away that I learned the horrors of book banning so to see books being published about this topic is so beautiful. I enjoyed this anthology as it tackled various media formats (poetry, graphic novel, prose, etc.) that I thought was wise to include so readers can relate to the book even if they aren't huge fans of each media format. Discussions about book banning were evident and used as a tie in theme for each author's own experience on the topic whether that came from sexual assault, rape culture, power of diction, being a person of color, etc. This anthology is an incredible resource for those who want to do their part and help in the fight against book bans since it discusses who is behind book bans, why they are banning, what to do about it, along with the experience of a banned book author. Everyone should read this anthology no matter where they are in their life or what they know on the topic. It is an authentic and raw portrayal of how the power of words and literature can evoke empathy and resilience in a generation of readers.
February 17, 2025
t's really sad a book like this has to exist but I'm glad it does because it's so informative and has a lot of helpful references for teens who want to read books they feel are relatable for them. I also like that these authors are trying to fight back against the book banning community. I feel like no book should ever be banned simply because the subject matter makes a small group of people uncomfortable because what makes one person uncomfortable makes another person feel heard.
I liked that each author had their own way of talking about the struggles of book banning and how it's affected them and their careers. The book banning community does a lot of hurting others simply because they feel like they have to right to pick and choose what all children read instead of just their own children.
Props to Ashley Hope Perez and all the other authors who contributed to this book, I will always want to support any author who has had a book banned.
I liked that each author had their own way of talking about the struggles of book banning and how it's affected them and their careers. The book banning community does a lot of hurting others simply because they feel like they have to right to pick and choose what all children read instead of just their own children.
Props to Ashley Hope Perez and all the other authors who contributed to this book, I will always want to support any author who has had a book banned.
Read
July 15, 2025Banned Together is a phenomenal source for all readers. If you are looking for a book to not only give you information on what book bans are and the process of banning a book, but also something that offers thoughts from authors on what it is like to be the author of a banned book, this one is for you.
I really loved the advice on ways to combat these bans. I think Ashley Hope Pérez did a great job collecting different stories from authors that have first hand experience of the types of books banned and life experiences in which literature was their saving grace. This nonfiction truly shows the necessity of the exact books that they are banning in schools and public libraries. These book bans infringe upon our education system and our rights within a democracy. We should be fighting for our right to read whatever we please. We should be amplifying diverse voices. We should learn from our mistakes in the past.
I really loved the advice on ways to combat these bans. I think Ashley Hope Pérez did a great job collecting different stories from authors that have first hand experience of the types of books banned and life experiences in which literature was their saving grace. This nonfiction truly shows the necessity of the exact books that they are banning in schools and public libraries. These book bans infringe upon our education system and our rights within a democracy. We should be fighting for our right to read whatever we please. We should be amplifying diverse voices. We should learn from our mistakes in the past.
August 29, 2025
Wow! This book is packed with titles, websites, resources, biographies, and so much more! I follow Kelly Jensen, Book Riot, and love her advocacy skills. I saw Bill Konigsberg at an author talk and his story was one of the most heartbreaking ones. If you care about books, the right to read, teens/YA/human beings, especially if you are working in a library right now...this book is timely. I have only added more titles to my TBR; some I just haven't gotten around to yet, others that are new. P.S. Don't mess with librarians or library staff members. We know stuff.
March 26, 2025
I rated it a 4 because I had some trouble at the beginning navigating the book. The book is outstanding in its message. Heartbreaking at times. There’s lots of good information. I am a 72 yo woman and I think younger readers may be able to adapt to the layout and style of the book easier than I. Read it, encourage others to be aware of this problem. It’s horrible what a really small but vocal percentage of people can accomplish. It’s time for us to wake up and push back!
March 9, 2025
One of the best, most impactful books I’ve read this year. Ashley Hope Perez brings together some of the most talented authors creating literature today (primarily YA authors) who share their personal stories of why representation in books is so critical.
Highly, highly recommended for teen (and adult) book clubs. Or, read it on your own and tell your friends!
Highly, highly recommended for teen (and adult) book clubs. Or, read it on your own and tell your friends!
June 20, 2025
What a great anthology of banned book authors! I loved learning their personal journeys. I also loved that the book included resources for teens - so helpful! This is a must-read for young adults. Not only will they learn about banning books in general, but can be inspired to read stories about teen topics that relate to everyday life. Loved it.
April 29, 2025
This book offers a great discussion about the dangers of book banning as well as many useful suggestions about how to combat book bans in your own community/school/library system. Very worthwhile read, in my opinion!
March 17, 2025
So important. I’ll be getting a copy for my teenager.
Arc courtesy of NetGalley
Arc courtesy of NetGalley
April 17, 2025
Must read for everyone!
June 25, 2025
This book seriously stands out. The essays, poems, and stories provided our Forever Young Book Club with rich discussion. I love so many of the featured authors and the recommended book lists helped grow my TBR. Highly recommend for librarians, teachers, and book loving teens.
Stand Out Entries:
-Extraordinary Hazards- poem by Nikki Grimes
-Dancing with Hearts- poem by Ashley Hope Perez
-O-Town Blues- story by Brendan Kiely
-Word Warriors- story by Padma Venkatraman
“Stories that show them that others have shared the same pain and darkness and have come out on the other side, whole and healthy, are stories that inspire, encourage, and ultimately, save lives. As for those readers who haven’t borne such painful experiences themselves, these stories plant seeds of empathy and compassion.” -Nikki Grimes
Stand Out Entries:
-Extraordinary Hazards- poem by Nikki Grimes
-Dancing with Hearts- poem by Ashley Hope Perez
-O-Town Blues- story by Brendan Kiely
-Word Warriors- story by Padma Venkatraman
“Stories that show them that others have shared the same pain and darkness and have come out on the other side, whole and healthy, are stories that inspire, encourage, and ultimately, save lives. As for those readers who haven’t borne such painful experiences themselves, these stories plant seeds of empathy and compassion.” -Nikki Grimes
January 5, 2026
An important book about book banning in the US. It's mainly targeted for teens but I would recommend it to teachers, parents and even people planning to be parents one day. It can be a great conversation starter, and I love that.
This collection was interesting in so many ways. I found it valuable to hear from different authors of banned books in different forms. The editor did a great job of filling the gaps with more information, suggestions, and resources. I just wished there were trigger warnings for some of the pieces.
I liked that there were multiple narrators in the audiobook. Some of them I enjoyed listening to more than others, but the variety was a great choice, in my opinion.
Thanks to Netgalley and Recorded Books for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
This collection was interesting in so many ways. I found it valuable to hear from different authors of banned books in different forms. The editor did a great job of filling the gaps with more information, suggestions, and resources. I just wished there were trigger warnings for some of the pieces.
I liked that there were multiple narrators in the audiobook. Some of them I enjoyed listening to more than others, but the variety was a great choice, in my opinion.
Thanks to Netgalley and Recorded Books for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
April 13, 2025
Such an important book (and I had the pleasure of hearing Ashley talk about it). I'll be honest--parts of it were more interesting than other parts, but for someone who is new to book banning and wants to understand the authors, the book banners, the impact of books, how to fight, and so much more, this book is a must. I've focused on book banning and banned books in most of the grad library classes I taught and am knowledgeable of the situation, but I still found this book interesting. It's definitely a must read for librarians and students who care about books. Wouldn't hurt a lot of parents to read it also.
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