This is a great collection of Essays from different types of authors with one thing in common: their books are banned. It’s a shame that we have to have a book like this, but hopefully this book, letting the author’s get their stories out will help show just how stupid book bans are.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House, for this advanced copy to review.

It’s sad to see that book banning is an increasingly prominent issue. Banned Together is a collection from various authors who have experienced book banning. In sharing their experiences, many of the contributors have highlighted the powerful impact of literature and the consequences of its censorship. I particularly liked the resources shared throughout the book, including the titles of different texts that have been banned for exploring particular issues.

4.25⭐️

This is truly a crucial moment! It brilliantly weaves together the inspiring stories of individuals and communities who are passionately striving to preserve our literary heritage. Their efforts highlight the importance of keeping our books alive, ensuring that the stories, knowledge, and culture they represent continue to enrich our lives. Through their dedication, we gain insight into the challenges they face and the creative solutions they implement, reminding us all of the value of literature in shaping our society.

I didn't expect this book could be that resourceful. I am living in Indonesia and I don't know much about book banning or censorship that happened in the US. But by reading this book, it gave me new perspective on how reader or people who love reading as much as I am response to the phenomena of book banning.

I requested this for consideration for Book Riot's All the Books podcast for its release date. After sampling several books out this week, I decided to go with a different book for my review.

It's not often that one sees a title with starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal, but a new book intended for high school students achieved just that. Dedicated to "brave readers everywhere who persist when cowards try to erase stories and communities from libraries," BANNED TOGETHER is edited by Ashley Hope Pérez and illustrated by Debbie Fong. In order to chronicle "Our Fight for Readers' Rights," Pérez has compiled contributions (essays, poetry, drawings) from sixteen authors like Ellen Hopkins, Kyle Lukoff, and Nikki Grimes whose work has been challenged or banned. Also included is a short graphic novel type story about The Vandegrift Banned Book Club in Leander, Texas. Booklist says, "this collection movingly reminds readers of the power they have against censorship" Check out a copy today.

Another tool for restricting information is to limit library funding as evidenced in a recent executive order intent on dismantling "the only federal agency dedicated to sustaining the entire museum and library ecosystem in the United States." Please see the American Libraries Association page of FAQs about the recent executive order impacting IMLS, The Institute of Museum and Library Services. The ALA suggests several actions to take now. More information is available through news stories such as those found at The Conversation, the Associated Press, and NPR or from other advocacy groups like EveryLibrary.

ALA link: https://www.ala.org/faq-executive-order-targeting-imls

This was a fantastic and powerful read. This anthology is filled with various genres (i.e. memoir, poetry, essays, fiction, illustatrations/graphics) that discuss book bans and encourages to fight back against the bans. This is such a great resource and perfect for all ages. It's an important read. I love that the book includes a list of banned books and other resources.

Books like this are more important than ever. I will purchase a copy for my teenage son, along with several of the recs in this book.

I really loved this book. All of the stories were really well done, and I loved how each author took their own spin on censorship and book banning. Some of the stories were really heartwrenching, while others were a bit more lighthearted, and I think the balance was well done. Definitely recommend.

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this book. This is a collection of writings from various authors whose works have been banned or pulled from shelves recently. It would have been a 5-star recommendation except for the unnecessarily graphic and tone-deaf story from Elana Arnold. I had to go take a walk as I was angry at being subjected to that. Other than that, the stories were heartfelt and encouraging. I would definitely recommend the book.

This book really shines when highlighting other books that share more about specific, typically banned, topics. Due to the format I received the book in (as a NetGalley ARC), there were portions of the book that were difficult to read.

With book banning on the rise in the U.S. it is important now more than ever to be educated on the history, who is currently leading the charge and why. This book provides all of that and more.

I love the format in which there is a little biography about each contributor before their contributed piece. Each has something valuable to offer. This book is a must read and should be in every classroom and shared with every parent.

Banned Together is a wonderful anthology of narratives addressing the issue of book banning - mainly focussed on the US.

It introduced me to a number of authors I did not know - whose books I will now seek out - and was deeply informative regarding the ongoing issue of book banning. The variety of pieces made the book entertaining.

Highly recommend.

I’ve never read an anthology like this one before. As I read, I felt energized by the resources, from book lists to tips for pushing back against book bans to creating an oasis of banned books to share with others.

Some authors share personal stories about facing book bans or hate-filled emails in response to their work. Others share stories about formative events in their lives that led to them writing the stories they have for teens. They share the hope that their words will reach teenagers who have questions or who’ve faced similar challenges and that they’ll encourage readers.

A few authors share short stories showing the emotional impact that book bans have on people or what might drive someone to try to control what books are available to read. Some appear in prose, others in poetry, and others in graphic novel panels.

The format of the anthology is engaging and energizing. I found myself adding so many books to my reading list. I loved celebrating the books mentioned that I’m already familiar with. Reading helped me think through some of my questions surrounding my own content notes here and how they might be weaponized against authors and readers.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for ways to support authors of banned books. It offers great resources for fighting book bans and expanding allyship, too.

This is a FANTASTIC anthology aimed at YA readers that was written by a diverse group of authors, many of whom have had their own books banned. The point of this book is to educate and empower youth about what book banning is, examples of books that frequently get challenged or banned and provide inspiration for ways they can stand up against book banning. It is relatable, easy to understand and incredibly heartfelt and important. I wish every school and library would have a copy of this on their shelves and that it makes its way into many young reader's hands! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I say I'd adopt this book for my classroom, but it probably wouldn't be allowed. The irony. This essay anthology (with a few fictional pieces and poems thrown in) deals with the book banning issue we're facing. Head-on, it levels with kids why books are being banned and why that's not okay. It was informative, straightforward, and usually good writing. As an anthology, a few of the pieces were duller, but still, it's full of valuable information aimed at teens as to how they can join the fight on censorship.

“As for those readers who haven’t borne such painful experiences themselves, these stories plant seeds of empathy and compassion two things our world is sorely lacking, these days.” 🌱🤍

a special thank you to Net Galley and Holiday House Books for allowing me access to an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Banned Together: Authors and Allies on the Fight for Readers’ Rights ed. by Ashley Hope Pérez & illustrated by Debbie Fong!! it’s an absolute privilege to receive an ARC & i’m so honored to be able to share a honest review in exchange. i’m beyond grateful to read an ARC so relevant to my own identity.

📚 publication date: march 4th, 2025

review: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (03/01/25)
a powerful & crucial piece to read during the current U.S. political state. remember literature is, and always will be, political. stay educated, stay curious, and always be kind.

yes, the message on the value of books may get repetitive but each perspective adds to the argument. also the book is full of countless amazing books recommendations on topics like race, censorship, bodies and more!

the target placed on books, especially those relating to LGBTQ+ and POC experiences, only adds to damaging false narratives & seeks to eliminate critical thinking. if these experiences aren’t “appropriate” for young audiences, then is my own queer and indian-american young adult identity inappropriate for myself? if these experiences are not valued, then am i allowed to value any of my own?

as stated in the book, “…most important thing adults can do for young people is to allow them to experience their youth and to have the resources that let them thrive.” it is a privilege to have access to the education and diversity of experiences that i do now.

Banned Together is a young adult anthology with something for everyone - comics, essays, and poems. What weaves these pieces together is the theme of book banning and the negative impact it has on readers who most need to see themselves represented in books. I found the book a bit hard to read in digital format as it was hard to view some of the illustrations so I would recommend this one in print. I love that two of the essays referenced the Miller Test and explained the requirements for deeming a book to be "offensive". I also enjoyed reading about book banning from so many impacted perspectives.

Thanks to Holiday House, Peachtree, Pixel+Ink, and NetGalley for a review copy of Banned Together.

An anthology with writings by authors whose books have been challenged. There is a little bit of everything here: graphic renderings, lots of lists, information about how to fight censorship, true stories, and some fiction. I was hoping for a bit more fiction. I'm not sure if this will find a wide audience among teens, but I'm sure every library will buy copies of this for their shelves.

Banned together focuses on banned books and highlights the importance of reading about topics that have been deemed controversial versus banning them and pretending they don't exist. It is an anthology of authors telling how and why their books have been banned. Ashley Hope Perez who compiled these stores into this book got the idea after one of her own books became one of the most banned books in the U.S. It focuses on topics such as LGBTQ+ rights, grooming, abortion, black history in America, being trans and more. I especially love that after each story, the author includes a list of similar books on the same topic/recommended reading.

Thank you to all the author's who came together to write Banned Together and for partnering with NetGalley. I was able to get an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Arrives in stores March 2nd 2025