I'm a #RebelReader. It's my right — your right — to read.

Between September 24 and 30, book stores, libraries, publishers, individuals, community groups, and others will celebrate #BannedBooksWeek, the freedom to read, to speak, to hear, and to be heard.

The right to read is under attack. The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) reports an increase of 17% in book censorship complaints. The Banned Books Week Coalition describes it as "alarming." The coalition continued, "Even more disturbing, while only 10% of the titles reported to OIF are normally removed from the institutions receiving the challenges, half of the most frequently challenged books were actually banned last year."

School librarian Steven Yates talks about how making reading possible for students at his school was what his job was all about. Even if what the students wanted to read was banned elsewhere or was something they were "not supposed to read."


Some haven't gotten the message that reading, ideas, are important. In 2016, there were 323 challenges reported to the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. The 10 most challenged books were:

1. This One Summer, written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
   This young adult graphic novel, winner of both a Printz and a Caldecott Honor Award, was restricted, relocated, and banned because it includes LGBT characters, drug use, and profanity, and it was considered sexually explicit with mature themes.
2. Drama, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
   Parents, librarians, and administrators banned this Stonewall Honor Award-winning graphic novel for young adults because it includes LGBT characters, was deemed sexually explicit, and was considered to have an offensive political viewpoint.
3. George, written by Alex Gino
   Despite winning a Stonewall Award and a Lambda Literary Award, administrators removed this children's novel because it includes a transgender child, and the "sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levels."
4. I Am Jazz, written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
   This children's picture book memoir was challenged and removed because it portrays a transgender child and because of language, sex education, and offensive viewpoints.
5. Two Boys Kissing, written by David Levithan
   Included on the National Book Award longlist and designated a Stonewall Honor Book, this young adult novel was challenged because its cover has an image of two boys kissing, and it was considered to include sexually explicit LGBT content.
6. Looking for Alaska, written by John Green
   This 2006 Printz Award winner is a young adult novel that was challenged and restricted for a sexually explicit scene that may lead a student to "sexual experimentation."
7. Big Hard Sex Criminals, written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky
   Considered to be sexually explicit by library staff and administrators, this compilation of adult comic books by two prolific award-winning artists was banned and challenged.
8. Make Something Up: Stories You Can't Unread, written by Chuck Palahniuk
   This collection of adult short stories, which received positive reviews from Newsweek and the New York Times, was challenged for profanity, sexual explicitness, and being "disgusting and all around offensive."
9. Little Bill (series), written by Bill Cosby and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood
   This children's book series was challenged because of criminal sexual allegations against the author.
10. Eleanor & Park, written by Rainbow Rowell
    One of seven New York Times Notable Children's Books and a Printz Honor recipient, this young adult novel was challenged for offensive language.

There are many ways to get involved. One of the most public is the Virtual Read-out. You can participate by creating a video about being a #RebelReader and why the freedom to read is important. Or, record yourself reading from a banned or challenged book.