MHL is joining the American Library Association in celebrating Banned Books Week from September 18-24 this year. Sometimes “Banned Books Week” can be confusing to hear, so to be clear–we aren’t banning any books here! Instead, we’re highlighting titles that have been challenged or banned in other places, and celebrating our freedom to read these books here. Check out our Banned Books Week display near the reference desk, and register for our Banned Book Week “book tasting” events where you can try little samples of some popular books that have been challenged.
- Book Tasting: Frequently Challenged Teen Books (presented for adults), Monday, September 26 at 7pm
- Book Tasting: Frequently Challenged Teen Books (presented for teens), Wednesday, September 28 at 7pm
- Book Tasting: Frequently Challenged Classics (presented for adults), Monday, October 3 at 7pm
All boys aren't blue : a memoir-manifesto
by
A first book by the prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist shares personal essays that chronicle his childhood, adolescence and college years as a Black queer youth, exploring subjects ranging from gender identity and toxic masculinity to structural marginalization and Black joy.
A first book by the prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist shares personal essays that chronicle his childhood, adolescence and college years as a Black queer youth, exploring subjects ranging from gender identity and toxic masculinity to structural marginalization and Black joy.
The diary of a young girl
by
The autobiographical reminiscences of a young Jewish girl coming of age during World War II describes her life in hiding from the Nazis and offers a poignant study of the tragedy of the Holocaust.
The autobiographical reminiscences of a young Jewish girl coming of age during World War II describes her life in hiding from the Nazis and offers a poignant study of the tragedy of the Holocaust.
Fahrenheit 451
by
A totalitarian regime has ordered all books to be destroyed, but one of the book burners, Guy Montag, suddenly realizes their merit.
A totalitarian regime has ordered all books to be destroyed, but one of the book burners, Guy Montag, suddenly realizes their merit.
The fellowship of the ring : being the first part of The lord of the rings
by
In anticipation of the new film The Hobbit, opening in December 2012, comes a reissue of the first book in The Lord of the Rings series.
In anticipation of the new film The Hobbit, opening in December 2012, comes a reissue of the first book in The Lord of the Rings series.
Gender queer : a memoir
In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia's intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity--what it means and how to think about it--for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.
Go tell it on the mountain
by
While his family struggles with guilt, bitterness, and spiritual issues, John Grimes experiences a religious conversion in the Temple of the Fire Baptised.
While his family struggles with guilt, bitterness, and spiritual issues, John Grimes experiences a religious conversion in the Temple of the Fire Baptised.
The handmaid's tale
by
A chilling look at the near future presents the story of Offred, a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, once the United States, an oppressive world where women are no longer allowed to read and are valued only as long as they are viable for reproduction.
A chilling look at the near future presents the story of Offred, a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, once the United States, an oppressive world where women are no longer allowed to read and are valued only as long as they are viable for reproduction.
Her body and other parties : stories
by
Contains short stories about the realities of women's lives and the violence visited upon their bodies.
Contains short stories about the realities of women's lives and the violence visited upon their bodies.
Maus : a survivor's tale
by
The author-illustrator traces his father's imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp through a series of disarming and unusual cartoons arranged to tell the story as a novel.
The author-illustrator traces his father's imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp through a series of disarming and unusual cartoons arranged to tell the story as a novel.
Nineteen minutes
by
In the aftermath of a horrific small-town school shooting, lawyer Jordan McAfee finds himself defending a youth who desperately needs someone on his side, while intrepid detective Patrick DuCharme works with a primary witness in the daughter of the superior court judge assigned to the case. By the author of The Tenth Circle.
In the aftermath of a horrific small-town school shooting, lawyer Jordan McAfee finds himself defending a youth who desperately needs someone on his side, while intrepid detective Patrick DuCharme works with a primary witness in the daughter of the superior court judge assigned to the case. By the author of The Tenth Circle.
One hundred years of solitude
by
A celebration of the endless variety of life in the mythical village of Macondo chronicles the story of the Buendia family, set against the background of the evolution and eventual decadence of the small South American town.
A celebration of the endless variety of life in the mythical village of Macondo chronicles the story of the Buendia family, set against the background of the evolution and eventual decadence of the small South American town.
Out of darkness
by
Loosely based on a school explosion that took place in Texas in 1937, tells the story of two teenagers--Naomi, who is Mexican, and Wash, who is black--and their dealings with race, segregation, love, and the forces that destroy people.
Loosely based on a school explosion that took place in Texas in 1937, tells the story of two teenagers--Naomi, who is Mexican, and Wash, who is black--and their dealings with race, segregation, love, and the forces that destroy people.
The painted drum
by
Discovering a cache of valuable Native American artifacts while appraising a family estate in New Hampshire, Faye Travers investigates the history of a ceremonial drum, which possesses spiritual powers and changes the lives of people who encounter it. By the author of Love Medicine.
Discovering a cache of valuable Native American artifacts while appraising a family estate in New Hampshire, Faye Travers investigates the history of a ceremonial drum, which possesses spiritual powers and changes the lives of people who encounter it. By the author of Love Medicine.
The satanic verses
by
Gibreel Farishta, a legendary Indian movie star, and Saladin Chamcha, the man of a thousand voices, fall earthward from a bombed jet toward the sea, singing rival verses in an eternal wrestling match between good and evil.
Gibreel Farishta, a legendary Indian movie star, and Saladin Chamcha, the man of a thousand voices, fall earthward from a bombed jet toward the sea, singing rival verses in an eternal wrestling match between good and evil.
Squire
by
Hiding her status as a girl from conquered lands while training as a Squire on her quest to become a Knight, the only path to true citizenship, Aiza navigates friendships and rivalries until she discovers the military's endgame.
Hiding her status as a girl from conquered lands while training as a Squire on her quest to become a Knight, the only path to true citizenship, Aiza navigates friendships and rivalries until she discovers the military's endgame.
This book is gay
by
A British author of teen fiction offers basic information about the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience, including terms, religious issues, coming out, and sex acts, for people of all orientations, including the merely curious.
A British author of teen fiction offers basic information about the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience, including terms, religious issues, coming out, and sex acts, for people of all orientations, including the merely curious.