With the surge in books being removed from libraries and schools across the state and the nation, the question that no one can seem to answer is, “Why are these books being pulled from the shelves?” “What are we so fearful of?” 

“Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance and the desperate weapon of fascists everywhere.”

– Laurie Halse Anderson

Author Laurie Halse Anderson, whose books have frequently faced challenges and bans, will discuss the connection between the books that are being pulled off the shelves and the “difficult” subject matter they contain.  

Anderson’s young adult novel Speak, a finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the Golden Kite Award (amongst others), has appeared on the American Library Association’s list of most challenged books since its publication in 1999. In it, Anderson tells the story of high school freshman, Melinda, who is raped at a party, is ostracized by her peers for contacting the police and eventually loses her voice.  

In her memoir Shout, Anderson writes of her own trauma of being raped when she was 13 years-old. This book has received starred reviews from several outlets and positive reviews from the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. Shout has also been banned frequently. 

Anderson is the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award-winning author of numerous books for young people. She is a New York Times bestselling author whose writing spans young readers, teens and adults. Combined, her books have sold more than eight million copies. 

Her novel Chains, the first in the Seeds of America trilogy of young adult historical novels, and The Impossible Knife of Memory were also National Book Award finalists. The American Library Association gave Anderson the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her significant contribution to young adult literature. She has been honored for her battles for intellectual freedom by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the National Council of teachers and of English. She is a member of the national leadership council for Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) and frequently speaks about sexual violence. 

Top Reads for Banned Books Week

More on Censorship

• American Library Association on banned & challenged books
• Utah’s Let Utah Read
• Lauren Aimonette Liang, associate professor and co-director of READ-U Program
• PEN America