Let’s Read: A Free Expression Halloween Party

Join PEN Utah and the Let Utah Read Coalition for a Free Expression Halloween Party! This family-friendly day will be full of food, fun, and spooky stories featuring New York Times best-selling author Shannon Hale to write postcards supporting the freedom to read!

In PEN’s report “Banned in the USA,” PEN found that from July 2022 to December 2022, there were 1,477 instances of individual books being banned, affecting 874 unique book titles by 848 different authors, illustrators, and translators.  30% of the unique titles banned were books about race, racism, or featured characters of color. Meanwhile, 26% of unique titles banned have LGBTQ+ characters or themes. This year, we celebrate Banned Book Month by showing that books aren’t scary. Write to your local representatives about why these books are important to your families and hear from the activists pushing back against censorship with free food and drinks, and a prize for the best costume (costumes optional).

REGISTER HERE

About Shannon Hale

Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of over forty books for all ages, including graphic novel memoirs Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever, and multiple award winners The Goose Girl, Book of a Thousand Days, and Newbery Honor recipient Princess Academy. One of her novels for the adult crowd, Austenland, was made into a movie starring Keri Russell. She co-writes books with her husband Dean Hale, like the Eisner-nominated graphic novel Rapunzel’s Revenge, books for DC Comics about young Wonder Woman, and best-selling illustrated chapter book series The Princess in Black. They live with their four children near Salt Lake City, Utah.

Partners