Texas is now ranked third in the nation for book bans, trailing Iowa and Florida in a frightening national trend. In 2023, Texas passed House Bill 900 (HB 900), which prohibits school libraries from possessing books that are “sexually explicit” or with controversial themes. In January 2024, the legislation faced significant legal challenges, with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that key parts are likely unconstitutional.
The American Library Association (ALA) has documented a national surge in book challenges, reporting 4,240 unique book titles challenged in 2023 alone—a 65% increase from 2022. Almost half of these challenged books feature marginalized voices, including stories by and about racial minorities and LGBTQ+ individuals.
You can make a difference by reading these reported books. Every banned book you read is an act of resistance.
Books Under Fire Locally
Even here in San Antonio, students are being denied access to these books. These are just a few titles that have been removed from NEISD library shelves. Add these books to your reading lists!
- The American Spirit: Meeting the Challenge of September 11 by Editors of One Nation
- The Distance Between Us: A Memoir by Reyna Grande
- 300 Years of San Antonio and Bexar County by Claudia Guerra
- Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out – Susan Kuklin
- The Visual Dictionary of the Civil War by John E. Stanchak
- Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda by Jean-Philippe Stassen
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
- Beethoven Was One-sixteenth Black: and Other Stories by Nadine Gordimer
- It Doesn’t Have To Be Awkward: Dealing with Relationships, Consent, and Other Hard-to-Talk About Stuff by Drew and Paulina Pinsky
Join the Fight Against Censorship
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – Files lawsuits and supports legislation to block book bans across the country.
- EveryLibrary – Partners with local activists and organizations nationwide to provide resources for fighting censorship.
- PEN America – Documents and reports on book banning incidents, providing crucial data for understanding the scope of the crisis.
- Texas Freedom to Read Project – This parent-led organization defends the rights of all Texans, especially public school students, to freely read and access information. They collaborate with local residents to combat censorship across Texas.
- The Texas Library Association (TLA) Launched by the Texas Library Association (TLA), this grassroots coalition amplifies the voices of librarians, educators, parents, students, authors, and others who oppose book bans.
What You Can Do During Banned Books Week
- Attend local school board meetings to voice support for diverse library collections
- Contact your state representatives to express concerns about book banning legislation
- Support your local libraries through donations, volunteering, or simply using their services
- Purchase and read books that have been banned to show there’s a demand for diverse literature
The preservation of intellectual freedom depends on our community participation. When we actively support the right to read, libraries and schools are better equipped to resist censorship pressures and maintain collections that serve all members of their communities.
Do you want to read more banned books? Read PEN America’s full list of banned books.
Resist today by reading a banned book!
