Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/01/2025 *Starred Review* In response to record-breaking book challenges, Pérez’s anthology brings together essays, comics, poetry, and more from over a dozen authors whose books have been challenged and sometimes outright banned. Authors including Maia Kobabe, Kyle Lukoff, and Nikki Grimes explain not only the challenges their books have faced but why they wrote their books and the needs fulfilled by those books being on library shelves. Powerfully, they also address the overall effect book bans, challenges, and general vitriol from those targeting their books have on them personally. Interspersed among the authors’ contributions are statistics about book banning, brief lists of titles, and concrete advice for supporting both authors of banned books and the libraries being targeted. Many authors here emphasize that the frequently targeted books share common themes and topics: racism, LGBTQIA+ experiences, bodily autonomy and sexual health, and other subjects that some people wrongly believe teens are unable to handle. Serving as as a manifesto against book banning delivered by the authors whose livelihoods are on the line, this collection movingly reminds readers of the power they have against censorship. The authors’ encouraging, candid voices teach readers how to stand up to book bans by supporting challenged titles in communities and schools and helping the community see the value in being open to learning about issues they may fear or not understand. Powerful reading for a crucial moment. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.