More Than 50 Authors Join PEN America, We Need Diverse Books, and the Florida Freedom to Read Project, in Call to Pinellas County, FL School Officials to Drop Review of 87 Book Titles
Kasey Meehan, director, Freedom to Read project at PEN America, said: “These books by celebrated authors allow students to see themselves in works of fiction or to gain an… More
Against Retribution: An Interview with Daniel Pirkel
In this interview, Daniel Pirkel speaks with PEN America's Prison and Justice Writing Program about unnecessary policies that censor the work of incarcerated writers, and advocates for restorative justice… More
PEN America Rejects Move by Huntington Beach, CA Government to Consider a Legal Study to Restrict Books from Minors
Elana K Arnold, one of the most frequently banned authors in the country in the first half of this school year, spoke, urging a rejection of the proposal. “When… More
Missouri School Board’s Decision to Retain Maus is a Positive Move But Removing Six Other Books is Unfortunate, Says PEN America
“While Maus will thankfully remain on bookshelves, there is no reasonable basis for blocking student access to the other six books. These new bans are an unfortunate – and… More
Frequently Banned Books Featuring Transgender Stories
In national efforts to ban books and restrict content on LGBTQ+ characters and themes, stories on transgender individuals and characters are commonly challenged and banned, making up about 9%… More
Book Bans Are a Fact of Life for Incarcerated People. They Shouldn’t Be. We Can All Fight Back
Tell the New York City Board to Corrections Not to Restrict Book Deliveries to Prisoners By Moira Marquis In Texas, Kwaneta* is denied a copy of Good Housekeeping magazine because mailroom… More
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel Responds to Remarks by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that Book Bans Are a ‘Hoax’
If we take Gov. Ron DeSantis at his word that he is simply aiming to protect students from porn and sexualized texts, then the approaches and methods being legislated… More
Sweeping Ban on Certain Topics for Library Books in League City, TX has “Harmful Implications”
Jonathan Friedman, director of Free Expression and Education programs at PEN America, issued the following comments: "Restricting the purchase and circulation of library materials by government edict is anathema to… More
Letter to Duval County, FL Schools from PEN America and We Need Diverse Books— Signed by 70 Authors—Calls for Return of 176 Book Titles Pulled from Classroom Libraries
(NEW YORK)—In a letter sent to Duval County Public Schools in Florida, PEN America and We Need Diverse Books, along with 70 authors, questioned the removal of 176 book… More
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