September 26th – October 2nd is Banned Books Week.  This year’s theme is “Books Unite Us!”, definitely a theme that we here at the library can get behind!  Banned Books Week promotes awareness of censorship issues and highlights the efforts of libraries, bookstores, teachers, and community members who speak out for readers everywhere.

Many of the classics that we all remember reading in high school English class have been through a challenge or two.  In fact, in CPL’s Classics Book Group (held online via Goodreads), we have read a few of them – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and our upcoming November title, The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

More recently challenged titles might surprise you – books like The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult, The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas, and Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell.  Graphic novels have come under fire too, including Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Habibi by Craig Thompson

So, when choosing your next book, check out our displays in the library and consider picking up a banned book – celebrate your freedom to read!