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Book Résumés help teachers, librarians, parents, and community members defend books from censorship. They detail each title's significance and educational value and are easy to share with administrators, book review committees, elected officials, and board members.

Bookmark this page! Thousands of library books face censorship, so new book résumés are added on a regular basis.

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A new free resource to support librarians, educators, parents, students, and other community advocates in their efforts to keep frequently challenged books on shelves.

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Use these book resumes to protect the freedom to read and fight against book bans in your area.

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One of the best ways to fight censorship is to call it out as it happens.

To report an incident, please fill out the form below. NCAC staff will be in contact if we are able to provide assistance or support. Please provide details of your situation and its context. Try to be as clear and factual as possible, as this will help us review your case quickly.
Your communication is private and confidential. We will not share your information with anyone or take any actions without your permission.

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Have you experienced censorship? Has your right to freedom of speech and expression been threatened? One of the best ways to fight censorship is to call it out as it happens. To report an incident, please fill out the form below. NCAC staff will be in contact if we are able to provide assistance or support.

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Know Your Rights | Protesters’ Rights | ACLU

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The First Amendment protects your right to assemble and express your views through protest. However, police and other government officials are allowed to place certain narrow restrictions on the exercise of speech rights. Make sure you’re prepared by brushing up on your rights before heading out int…

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What is censorship? Censorship is whenever some people succeed in imposing their political or moral values on others by suppressing words, images, or ideas that they find offensive.

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Dear Scholastic,

We are writing to express our concern with your proposed solution to the issue of banned books at your book fairs.

As a community of diverse humans who value the lived experience of others, we take serious issue with the opt-in/opt-out option you have provided schools, as well as your decision to segregate so-called "diverse" books. Your solution threatens the experience of students for two reasons. First, it gives schools the choice of taking the cowardly road of silencing experience. Second, it labels certain stories as other and therefore less important.

Mirrors let us see ourselves. Windows let us see different identities. Books do the same. They allow us to see that we matter and the teach us about reality beyond our lives. When kids don't have a balance of windows and mirrors in their reading lives, their growth as engaged citizen is seriously threatened.

We want you to get rid of the "opt out" option and incorporate all books you have labeled "diverse" into the other bookshelves. Add additional, not separate, shelves. A history shelf would include all books about the past. If someone wanted to find a Civil Rights figure, they would find it there. A shelf about growing up would include all experiences. Someone should expect to find immigrant stories there.

Are you aware of the effects of not being seen? How would you feel if you had to go to a separate shelf to see yourself? Actions take courage. We ask you to be brave for the sake of every young child.

Thank you for your attention to this matter,

ITDS Fourth Graders

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4th Graders Challenge Book Bans and Scholastic - D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice

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Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS' 4th grade teaching team led students through a unit on book banning this fall, which culminated in a letter to Scholastic expressing concern about the way that books are categorized at their book fairs.

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The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

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FIRE has created this Leader Moderation Guide to prepare leaders for their role as moderator and to give them the tools to diffuse tensions in conversation.

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Every year, the American Library Association compiles data on censorship attempts in libraries around the United States based on reports from the field and media coverage.

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Youth Censorship Database

NCAC's Youth Free Expression Program and Kids' Right to Read Project database of K-12 student censorship incidents includes book challenges in schools and libraries, as well as censorship of student art, journalism, and other types of student expression in schools.

Using the Map: The map can be filtered by Reason (the reason given for attempting to challenge the expression), Type (what sort of expression was challenged), Year (since 2018), Institution (the type of school or library), Challenger (who initiated the challenge), and State (location of challenge). Each datapoint includes additional information and links to incident reports. Data will be updated regularly. Report a censorship incident here.

Disclaimer: Please note that this data is not comprehensive. The data is drawn from reports to NCAC and its partner organizations, as well as from media coverage. Many, if not most, incidents of censorship go unreported. Our tracking has grown more robust over time, but records from earlier years are less complete. The American Library Association has averaged reports of 395 cases per year since 2001 and suggests that over 80% of cases cannot be tracked.

If you have further questions about the data or methodology, send us a note at [email protected] .

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NCAC's Youth Free Expression Program and Kids' Right to Read Project database of K-12 student censorship incidents includes book challenges in schools and libraries, as well as censorship of student art, journalism, and other types of student expression in schools.

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We should trust individuals to make their own decisions. Raise your voice for everyone’s freedom to read. #UniteAgainstBookBans

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EMAIL YOUR REPS: Don't Ban Books in the United States

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Proposed censorship measures in several states could deny your right to read some books in our Nation's libraries and lead to librarians facing criminal charges for the books on the shelves.

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Is your library experiencing attempts to ban books or other resources? Report censorship to ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom and help defend the freedom to read at your library. Challenge reports are confidential and help us stay aware of current attempts to censor library materials.

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How can you and your community unite against book bans? We've put together this action toolkit to help you get started.

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+ Own your expertise

Know what you are an expert in and why - but don't limit yourself. Consider the metaphors that your experience and knowledge suggest.

+ Stay current

Follow the news - both general and specific to your areas of specialty. If you write about Haiti, read the Haitian press. If you write about pop culture, read the media that cover it.

+ The perfect is the enemy of the good

In other words: write fast. You may have only a few hours to get your piece in before the moment is gone. But also...

+ Cultivate a flexible mind

Remember that a good idea may have more than one news hook, indeed if the idea is important enough it can have many. So keep an eye out for surprising connections and new news hooks - the opportunity may come around again.

+ Use plain language

Jargon serves a purpose, but it is rarely useful in public debate, and can obfuscate - sorry, I mean cloud - your argument. Speak to your reader in straight talk.

+ Respect your reader

Never underestimate your reader's intelligence, or overestimate her level of information. Recognize that your average reader is not an expert in your topic, and that the onus is on you to capture her attention - and make the argument compel.

Questions to ask yourself when writing

+ Why should we readers trust you?

Are you authoritative on your topic? Are you accountable to what you say you know? Can you provide evidence of your expertise? You don't need to have a famous name, a big title, or a fancy degree - but you do need to be well positioned to speak on your topic, and able to convey it.

+ Can you back up what you say?

Is your argument based on evidence - solid material and logical building blocks that will be acknowledged as credible even by those who may disagree with your interpretation?

+ What's new?

Is your argument different, particularly original in the way it is delivered, or is it backed up by substantially new information or reporting? What is compelling about its contribution to the conversation?

+ So what?

Why should everyone else - including those of us who are not experts in your area - care?

+ What's the difference between being "right" and being "effective"?

Does your language tend to write off the people who would disagree with you, or do you employ empathy and respect in the pursuit of changing minds?

+ How will your ideas and arguments contribute to the conversation, and be helpful to your audience?

Do you see your knowledge and experience in terms of its potential value to others?

Structure

*Note: this structure is not a rule! This is just one way of approaching it.

+ Lede (Around a news hook)

A lede is what sets the scene and grabs your reader's attention - it is your introduction. A news hook is what makes your piece timely, and often is part of the lede. More Information on ledes and news hooks is below.

+ Thesis

Statement of argument - either explicit or implied

+ Argument

Based on evidence (such as stats, news, reports from credible organizations, expert quotes, scholarship, history, first-hand experience)

+ 1st Point

+ 2nd Point

+ 3rd Point

Note: In a simple, declarative op-ed ("policy X is bad; here's why") , this may be straightforward. In a more complex commentary, the 3rd point may expand on the bigger picture-historical context, global/geographic picture, mythological underpinnings, etc.-or may offer an explanation for a mystery that underpins the argument- eg., why a bad policy continues, in spite of its failures.

+ "To Be Sure" paragraph

In which you pre-empt your potential critics by acknowledging any flaws in your argument, and address any obvious counter-arguments.

+ Conclusion (often circling back to your lede)

Ledes and News Hooks: Catching Attention

A lede is what sets the scene and grabs your reader's attention - it is your introduction. A news hook is what makes your piece timely, and often is part of the lede. Be bold, but incontrovertible. Tell an anecdote, if it illustrates your point. Use humor, if appropriate. Use clean sentences. A few possibilities (from real op-eds):

+ Use the News

This Wednesday evening Frances Newton, 40, will be put to death for the murders of her husband and two children 18 years ago...

+ Tell a dramatic anecdote

Ten years ago, I asked Bosnian civilians under siege in Sarjevo where they would go if they could escape...

+ Reference popular culture

The marketing campaign shows real women, rather than anorectic teenagers, in white bras and panties posing next to the slogan "New Dove Firming. As tested on real curves"...

+ Turn conventional wisdom on end

Sex and the City's main characters are witty, glamorous, independent and sexually liberated - in short, who wouldn't want to be them? Me, for one.

+ Use wit and irony to point out a contradiction

So now we know what "noble cause" Cindy Sheehan's son died for in Iraq: Sharia. It's a good thing W stands for women, or I'd be worried.

+ Use an anniversary

Fifty years after the Supreme Court banned school segregation, the battle over the racial composition of America' s schools continues in courtrooms across the country.

+ Cite a major new study

According to a new nation-wide poll, 60% of women have cheated on their husbands at least once.

+ Get Personal

College admissions officers around the country will be reading my applications this month, essays in which I describe personal aspirations, academic goals -- even, in one case, a budding passion for the sitar. What they won't know is that I actually graduated from college more than a year ago, and that the names attached to these essays are those of my duplicitous clients.

+ Q: Where should I submit?

A: See a list of contact and submission information for major outlets here. Keep in mind that outlets come in a wide variety of flavors; don't limit yourself to one or two publications only. Major outlets such as The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal are obviously very selective when it comes to op-ed pieces, so instead of reaching only for those, take a moment to think about where your ideas will be of greatest contribution and will have the greatest odds of being published. Remember, certain submissions work better for certain outlets, so be sure to research and understand your target publisher before submitting. If you decide to aim for The Wall Street Journal or New York Times first - great. It's good to aim high. But don't stop there. Have a plan B, C and D ready, in case The Times doesn't bite. You may have better odds at a smaller or local publication or an industry publication that specializes on your topic. And creating a track record of success at smaller outlets can eventually increase your odds at larger outlets.

+ Q: How long should I wait to hear back from an editor? (What do I do if I don't hear back from an editor?)

A: If you have plenty of time (that is, if your idea is evergreen or, e.g., pegged to a holiday a month away) you might give an editor a week or more before you check in. However, if your idea has a very short shelf life (pegged to breaking news or a news hook that will only be good for a few days) you need to check in fairly quickly - with 48 hours, or perhaps even within 24 hours. The trick is to be appropriate, not demanding. You might write a follow up email telling the editor you are checking in on the status of the op-ed you submitted, and hope they are interested in running it; however since the news hook is timely if you don't hear from him/her by the end of the day (week, whatever), you will assume they have passed and you'll be submitting your op-ed elsewhere. The key is to be polite and not presumptuous - remember that editors are busy and juggling lots of ideas at once - you are not the center of their universe, but if your idea is timely and good for their readers, they will appreciate you checking in.

+ Q: Can I submit to multiple outlets at the same time?

A: Most national newspapers will not consider your piece if you submit to more than one paper at the same time.

+ Q: Can you help me pitch/submit?

A: At The OpEd Project we do everything we can to make it easy for you to succeed - but we don't do it for you. In fact, we think the lack of women and other under-represented experts submitting on their own is part of the problem. Check out more tips and resources above, as well as our " How to Pitch" page. More importantly, consider attending one of our core seminars or continuing workshops for in-person guidance and individual feedback. OpEd Project alums are also eligible to be matched with a high level Mentor-Editor, after they complete a core seminar. In these cases you may ask your Mentor-Editor for feedback and advice on your pitch. In some cases Mentor-Editors may, at their discretion, suggest specific editors or outlets they think would be interested in a particular op-ed; but alums should not expect this.

+ Q. How often can I submit?

A: As often as you want. Many outlets will not publish the same author more than once every few months. Also remember, for most op-ed pieces there exists a brief but strong window during which editors would be interested in the topic you discuss. Continuously submitting a piece regarding, say, US and Middle Eastern policies across the spectrum of outlets might not be the best idea, especially if you aren't getting responses from editors. Plan submissions carefully pegged to specific news hook. Listen carefully to the feedback (including silence from the editors - which can signal something you're submitting is too far off base).

+ Q. How often can I submit to the same person?

A: As often as you like-provided you have a good, timely idea that would appeal to that editor/outlet. You don't want to pepper an editor with bad ideas, and thereby earn a reputation as someone who is not useful/generative. However, if you have had a successful experience with an editor, the best strategy may be to continue your conversation with that editor, try to pitch as many good ideas as possible, learn as much as possible about what s/he is looking for in an op-ed, and see if you can collaborate on additional pieces.

+ Q. My piece wasn't accepted. What now?"

A: First off, relax. Even the best, most experienced writers receive rejections constantly. "No" is devastating when you think it is the end of a conversation. It's no big deal when you realize it can be the beginning of a conversation that leads to "yes." So: take rejection as information, and run with it. Consider why your piece wasn't accepted and focus on improving those areas. If the editor responded to you personally, thank him/her - and see if you can find out what would have made your piece more valuable, and whether there are other ideas they would be interested in hearing from you on in the future.

+ Q. What is the actual submission ratio of men and women?

A: One of the best hard data points on this comes from a 5-month tracking done by the Washington Post in 2008, in which they found that 90% of submissions to the op-ed page during that period came from men, and 88% of their bylines were male. The data was reported in the Post, under late ombudswoman Deborah Howell, in May 2008. In addition, The OpEd Project has collected estimates from editors/outlets of various sizes. Most of them report a range of 80-90% submissions by men, with the higher ratios mostly applying to the more prestigious outlets. At smaller outlets, the ratios seem a bit better. For example, Josh Burket, Op-Ed Editor at the Christian Science Monitor estimates that women are under 20% of those submitting. The San Francisco Chronicle's Deputy Editorial Page Editor Lois Kazakoff found, in an unscientific survey, that during a weeklong period in June 2008, 8 out of 25 publishable submissions came from women, or 32 percent. However, she also added that The Chronicle is generally in line with the lower percentages of published pieces by women found in other studies. NOTE: Except in the case of the Washington Post survey, we are relying on editors' impressions. It would be helpful and probably motivational if outlets/editors did a periodic survey to find out who is submitting, in terms of men, women - and perhaps other things as well. That would help editors to know if and how much they might want to reach out to different groups of potential under-represented thought leaders.

For live feedback on your op-ed drafts and pitches, join us for our weekly Ask A Journalist office hours. One of our master editors will live-edit a few drafts (chosen from among those you submit) and will answer your questions in real-time.

To go deeper and explore your voice and how it can change the world, come to one of our workshops. You will emerge with an op-ed draft, access to our national network of journalist mentors for individual follow-up, and a clearer idea of your potential impact on the world.

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Op-Ed Writing: Tips and Tricks - The OpEd Project

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Know what you are an expert in and why - but don't limit yourself. Consider the metaphors that your experience and knowledge suggest. Follow the news - both general and specific to your areas of specialty. If you write about Haiti, read the Haitian press.

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That's why we need people like you to submit letters to the editors of your local papers to help us get the word out against book bans across the country. We made it easy with this tool!
You can submit our randomized pre-written letters to the editor, but it is always best if you write your own. Here are some prompts to help!

What books are you worried about your children losing access to?

Why is your community's library important to you?

How do you see this book ban impacting your children's education?

Why were the books being banned important to your upbringing/education?

What experiences are you afraid of children missing out on if this book ban goes into effect?

When you think about the libraries closing, what do you think the biggest loss to your community would be?

How do you feel your freedoms are being impacted by losing the ability to choose what your children can read?

What do you believe the place in history will be for communities that ban books?

Has losing access to books/Would losing access to books shape the way your children grow up thinking about democracy?

Spread the Word!
Sign in if you'd like new recruits to be credited to you.

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Submit a letter to the editor against book bans to your local paper

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Local politicians take notice when people take the time to speak up about important community issues like book bans.

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A Template for Talking with School and Library Boards About Book Bans: Book Censorship News, August 5, 2022

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How to talk at a school or library board meeting, with sample script and shareable graphics. That + this week’s book censorship news.

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Book Challenges In Your Library: Tips for librarians facing harassment and threats

Book challenges are happening at an unprecedented rate, as documented in PEN America's 2022 Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools report. The challenges to books in schools and libraries reflect a growing national campaign by community and parent groups, and even some elected officials, who are demanding book removals, as well as changes to library policies and procedures. This campaign has resulted in online harassment, threats, and even physical intimidation and attacks against librarians and library personnel.

This guidance is intended to equip librarians with strategies to navigate online abuse. While this resource acknowledges the ways that online abuse can move offline, it is primarily focused on digital safety. For a discussion of physical safety in libraries, see: "We Need to Talk About Library Security" and Creating Safer Libraries . If you're looking for helpful resources on physical safety, check out: Front Line Defenders Workbook on Security and CPJ's Journalist Security Guide (especially chapter 9); Although these resources were designed for journalists and activists, the basics of physical safety are broadly applicable.

IDENTIFY

Naming the abuse you're experiencing online will help you determine how to respond to, navigate, and communicate about it. Common abusive tactics include: hateful speech (for eg, calling people "groomers" or "pedophiles"); threats of physical or sexual violence; impersonation accounts; doxxing; nonconsensual intimate imagery; sexual harassment; and cyber mobs. For more information on these and other types of online abuse, see PEN America's Field Manual: Identifying Abusive Tactics Online .

DOCUMENT

Documenting the online abuse you experience creates a record of what's happening, which is critical if you decide to engage law enforcement or pursue legal action, and can be helpful in conversations with allies and managers. It allows you to collect information about harassers and track patterns of abuse and escalations of harmful behavior. Take a screenshot, save direct links to any social media messages, and save any emails, voicemails, or texts (including platform, handle/email address, date, time, etc.). NOTE: If you use an online platform's tools to report online abuse and the abusive content gets removed before you've documented it, you lose evidence.

› For more information, see: PEN America's Field Manual: Documenting Online Abuse

ASSESS SAFETY

You are the best judge of whether online abuse has made you concerned about your physical safety and/or that of your family or colleagues. If you have received a direct or veiled threat of physical or sexual violence-or if you are facing physical intimidation or are concerned about physical attacks-consider informing your employer, contacting security at your library or school district, and/or engaging local law enforcement. It can also help to contact trusted friends and family, a lawyer, and/or a nonprofit organization that supports individuals facing abuse.

› For more information, including a list of relevant nonprofits, see PEN America's Field Manual: Assessing the Threat , Engaging Law Enforcement , and Online Harassment Resources .

NOTIFY AND COMMUNICATE

Consider alerting your manager, HR, or whomever you feel most comfortable speaking to at your library or school district about the online abuse you're being subjected to-and share documentation. While speaking about online abuse can elicit feelings of anxiety or fear, remember that abuse is intended to isolate - communicating with trusted allies can help.

› See PEN America's Field Manual: Talking to Employers and Professional Contacts.

BLOCK, MUTE, REPORT

Social media platforms have features that can help you navigate online abuse. You can block accounts (so they cannot communicate with or follow you). You can mute accounts or specific posts or words (so you don't have to see them). And you can also report abusive content to try to get a post taken down or an account suspended for violating platform rules.

› See PEN America's Field Manual: Blocking and Muting AND Reporting

BOLSTER YOUR CYBERSECURITY

Make a list of your top ten most sensitive online accounts (email, social media, banking, etc.) and safeguard them against hacking and impersonation by creating long complex passwords and setting up two-factor authentication. Using a password manager can help. It's also critically important to take some time to review and tighten the privacy and security settings on your social media accounts. For example, if you have your social media accounts set to be publicly visible to everyone, consider making your accounts more private, even just temporarily until the harassment has passed.

› See PEN America's Digital Safety Snacks and Field Manual: Password hygiene ; Securing accounts ; and Anti-doxing ; Citizen Lab's Security Planner ; and The Smart Girl's Guide to Privacy

REACH OUT

Online abuse can feel profoundly isolating and disempowering. Seeking support from friends and family and connecting with colleagues and other librarians can really help. Confronting abusive trolls head on can lead to escalations in harassment and is rarely productive. Speaking out against harassment and taking control of the narrative can be empowering, but it's important to familiarize yourself with the social media rules and expectations of your employer first.

› See PEN America's Field Manual: Talking to Friends and Family AND Deploying Supportive Cyber Communitie s, as well as Approaching Counterspeech .

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

Online abuse can elicit feelings of fear and shame. It can do real damage to mental and physical health and affects people differently depending on life experience, race, gender, background, etc. Remember: online abuse is not your fault and you are not alone. Resist the urge to ignore how you're feeling and try to carve out time for self-care.

› See PEN America's Field Manual: Advice from Psychologist and Practicing Self-Care

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A Tip Sheet for Librarians Facing Harassment

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Book challenges are happening at an unprecedented rate, as documented in PEN America's 2022 Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools report. The challenges to books in schools and libraries reflect a growing national campaign by community and parent groups, and even some elected officials, who are demanding book removals, as well as changes to library policies and procedures.

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PEN America released its list of the most-banned books of the 2024-2025 school year on Oct. 1. Which books made the list, and which are banned in California?

The organization focusing on free expression through literature released its annual list of book bannings, according to PEN America's website.

Public schools in the U.S. have banned almost 23,000 books since 2021, PEN America says. The books banned have predominantly been about race, racism, individuals of color, and LGBTQ+ topics.

The organization recorded 6,780 instances of book bans with nearly 4,000 titles. Florida was the state with the most book bans, with 2,304 cases of bans. Texas and Tennessee followed closely behind with over 1,500 banned titles each.

What are the most banned books in the U.S.?

The most banned book in the U.S is "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess. The 1962 book is the oldest of the 15 most-banned books in the country.

Two books in Sarah J. Maas's "A Court of Thorns and Roses" were also notable. The titles in the top spots also heavily leaned towards the Young Adult genre.

The 15 most banned books:

No. 1- "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess, 23 bans

No. 2- "Breathless" by Jennifer Niven. Tied at No. 2 with 20 bans.

No. 3- "Sold" by Patricia McCormick. Tied at No. 2 with 20 bans.

No 4- "Last Night at the Telegraph Club" by Malinda Lo, 19 bans

No. 5- "A Court of Mist and Fury" by Sarah J. Maas, 18 bans

No. 6- "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins. Tied with 17 bans.

No. 7- "Forever..." by Judy Blume. Tied with 17 bans.

No. 8- "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky. Tied with 17 bans.

No. 9- "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maguire. Tied with 17 bans.

No. 10- "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson. Tied at No. 10 with 16 bans.

No. 11- "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas. Tied at No. 10 with 16 bans.

No. 12- "Damsel" by Elana K. Arnold. Tied at No. 10 with 16 bans.

No. 13- "The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend" by Kody Keplinger. Tied at No. 10 with 16 bans.

No. 14- "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult. Tied at No. 10 with 16 bans

No. 15- "Storm and Fury" by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Tied at No.10 with 16 bans.

Does California have banned books?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1078 in 2023, banning book bans, according to news release from the governor's office.

Assemblymember Corey Jackson of Moreno Valley authored the bill, which prohibits school boards from "banning instructional materials or library books on the basis that they provide inclusive and diverse perspectives in compliance with state law," the release says.

In the California podcast episode " The Future of Education Depends on Democracy,: John Rogers, a professor at UCLA's School of Education and Information Studies, cited his study that found a mid-sized California district spent $1 million in staff time managing divisive community disputes and another district had a fourfold increase in public records requests, consuming thousands of hours of staff time.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or@ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.

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PEN America releases list of most banned books in the U.S.

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PEN America releases its most banned books of the 2024-25 school year.