First, we apologize for some sound issues we were having in this episode. We’ve changed a few things and are learning as we go. We hope to solve this problem before our next recording.
In this Part 1 episode we discuss the book I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzai. In Part 1 we discuss why the book is banned, share some context to help understand the book, and give our assessment of why it’s worth reading. The book was published in the US and UK on Oct. 8, 2013, exactly one year after the author, Malala Yousafzai, was, as the title implies, shot by the Taliban in a direct assassination attempt. The memoir was co-written by journalist Christina Lamb. The book has been translated into more than 40 languages.
Today’s banned bit was a story published by the ALA entitled, “Court permanently blocks Trump’s executive order to dismantle federal agency for America’s libraries.”
We found information on why the book was challenged in the following articles:
‘The Color Purple’ and 30 Other Banned and Challenged Books You Should Be Watching - PEN America
These 176 Books Were Banned in Duval County, Florida - PEN America
The Complexities of I Am Malala Criticism: An Analysis, from Bookeys
Finally, we referenced these episodes of The Rogue Librarians, check them out!
In Part 2 of Cemetery Boys we do a close reading of the book. There are generally a few spoilers, but trust me, there is so much more to discover in the book! Cemetery Boys is a young adult urban fantasy novel written by Latinx American author Aiden Thomas. Published in 2020, this is Thomas’s debut novel. It became the first book by a transgender author featuring a trans character to be on the New York Times Bestseller List. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly, who also named it the best book of the year. As did NPR and Barnes and Noble.
Links mentioned in the podcast:
“Cemetery Boys: A whimsical celebration of Queer Latinidad,” published in OutWrite Newsmagazine
Rogue Librarians, Episode 70. Cemetery Boys (Part 1: Why It’s Banned)
We also found this fun playlist on Spotify called The Cemetery Boys Soundtrack. Enjoy!
In this Part 1 episode we discuss the book Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas. In Part 1 we discuss why the book is banned, share some context to help understand the book, and give our assessment of why it’s worth reading. Cemetery Boys is a young adult urban fantasy novel written by Latinx American author Aiden Thomas. Published in 2020, this is Thomas’s debut novel. It became the first book by a transgender author featuring a trans character to be on the New York Times Bestseller List. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly, who also named it the best book of the year. As did NPR and Barnes and Noble.
Today’s banned bit was about the ALA’s Webinar “How Faith Communities and Librarians Can Advocate for the Freedom to Read.” which took place on November 5, 2025.
We found information on why the book was challenged at the Port City Daily’s article “41 books will come off Pender County Schools shelves while they undergo review”, and on the book resume provided by publisher Swoon Reads.
We found this gem on The U.S. House of Representative’s web site in connection with a meeting, most likely in reference to “House Resolution 733. Expressing concern about the spreading problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States.”
If you’d like to read more about Aidan Thomas and the book, we referenced the following interviews:
'I’m more interested in what comes next': Aiden Thomas talks 'Cemetery Boys' and writing the trans Latinx identity, by Nivea Serrao on syfy.com
“Interview: Aiden Thomas, Author of Cemetery Boys,” by Alexx @ Enthralled Bookworm
Finally, we referenced Episode 67 of Rogue Librarians, Interview with Shannon Watters and Branden Boyer White. It’s a great episode, go listen to it!
In Part 2 of our discussion of 1984 by George Orwell, we were inspired by Harry Potter and the Sacred Text to use the sacred reading practice, Lectio Divinia. We modeled our discussion after the “sacred reading” format used by Casper ter Kuile, Vanessa Zoltan and Matthew Potts in their podcast. Here is the link to their webpage, which explains the process in more detail.
We highly recommend you give them a listen!
We’re celebrating Banned Books Week by reading 1984 by George Orwell. In Part 1, we discuss how this classic tale of censorship taken to the nth degree ended up being one of the most banned books of all time. Here are a few links to articles mentioned in the episode.
Banned Bits references the article Baker County Library gives away copies of Orwell’s ‘1984’ as part of anti-censorship campaign in the Baker City Herald.
When Was *1984* Banned? 7 Shocking Censorship Moments (2025) 📚 - Book Summary Review
Please stop comparing things to 1984, by Rachel Klein on electricliterature.com
It’s fall and we are ready to get in a spooky Halloween mood. In this episode we interview the delightful duo Shannon Watters and Branden Boyer-White, co-creators of the YA Graphic Novel series Hollow. The books are beautifully illustrated by Berenice Nelle and take place in Sleepy Hollow where a group of teens discover the secret of the Headless Horseman. The first book, Hollow, was published in 2022, and the second, Woman in White, on July 30, 2025.
Shannon Watters is the co-creator and co-writer of the award-winning hit comic book series Lumberjanes. She is also a former senior editor and the former head of the BOOM! Box line at BOOM! Studios, the imprint behind critically acclaimed comics and graphic novels like Giant Days, Lumberjanes, Fence, Goldie Vance, Heavy Vinyl, and many others.
Branden Boyer-White is an award-winning fiction writer whose work has appeared in print and online in numerous publications. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Arizona State University, and Hollow was her first venture into graphic storytelling. She re-reads The Legend of Sleepy Hollow every Halloween.
They can be found at their respective Instagram accounts @shanito and @bboyerwhite and at brandenboyerwhite.com and shannonwatters.com.
Shannon named the The Babysitters Club, by Ann M. Martin and Bone, a series of graphic novels by Jeff Smith, as early influences. Branden showed her spooky cred early citing Goosebumps by R.L. Stine as a major influence on her journey to becoming a writer.
Also mentioned in the interview are the Rabbit Ears Version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the novelist (and friend of the authors) Adrienne Celt.
In this episode we interview author Khadijah VanBrakle about her second book, My Perfect Family, which came out on August 26th. Khadijah is a Muslim woman of color, born and raised in Canada to American parents. She writes coming-of-age stories featuring Black American Muslim teens. Her debut novel, Fatima Tate Takes The Cake was published in 2023. You can find Khadijah at her website, https://www.khadijahvanbrakle.com/ and on Instagram and Threads @kadijahvanbrakle.
Below are links to some of the things we talk about in the episode:
Books
Are You There God It’s Me Margaret, by Judy Blume
Forever, by Judy Blume
Blubber, by Judy Blume
Speak. By Laurie Halse Anderson
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
You Truly Assumed, by Leila Sabreen
Allegedly, by Tiffany D. Jackson
Grown, by Tiffany D. Jackson
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
Black Boy Joy, 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood, edited by Kwame Mbalia
Independent Bookstores in Albuquerque
Rogue Librarians Episodes
Are You There God It’s Me Margaret. (Part 1: Why It’s Banned)
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (Part 2: Close Reading)
In this special episode we interview freelance writer Kaila Yu on the publication of her first book, Fetishized: A Reckoning With Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty. Kaila has written for The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, CNN, Glamour, and more. Formerly, she was a model and the lead singer for the all–Asian American female rock band Nylon Pink.
Below are links to some of the things we discuss in the interview:
Books
Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant
Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Article
The Children Of Porn Hub by Nicholas Kristof, an opinion piece published December 4, 2020 in The New York Times
Media
To learn more about Kaila Yu
In this episode we discuss Patricia McCormick’s beautiful and heartbreaking Book, Sold. The book is written in poetic vignettes and follows the story of Lakshme, a Nepalese girl who is sold into prostitution. Join us as we discuss how McCormick brought her characters to life and humanized them despite their dehumanizing situation. We took inspiration for our conversation from the Book Resume provided by Unite Against Banned Books. For a discussion of why the book has been banned, listen to “Sold Episode 1: Why It’s Banned.”
In this episode we discuss why the book Sold, by Patricia McCormick, appears in ALA’s Top 10 most challenged books of 2024.
Here are some links relevant to our conversation:
About Patricia McCormick and the book
Unite Against Banned Books. Book Resume:Sold
Information on why Sold has been banned.
Information on human trafficking
International Labor Organization. “50 million people worldwide in modern slavery”
International Justice Mission: “Sex Trafficking”
National Human Trafficking Hotline:
Phone: 888-373-7888
text: 233733.
Information on our Banned Bits Segment
Article from the Oregon Capital Chronical: “Oregon ‘freedom to read’ library bill heads to governor’s desk”
The article references Oregon Senate Bill 1098
Join us for our discussion with Melissa Kantor about her newest book, Biology Lessons. Melissa wrote the book in response to the Dobbes Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade. Below are a few links to things discussed in the podcast.
Supreme Court Case Roe v Wade
Supreme Court Case Dobbes v Jackson Women’s Health Organization
Here is a link to a documentary about the original Jane Collective in Chicago, it’s an HBO film called The Janes.
I could not find an active website for the revival group, We are Jane, but here is a link to their site on The Way Back Machine. I also found this NPR article from 2022.
Information on teens and REAL ID can be found on this TSA website.
Here is an article on the license plate trackers in Texas.Tracked across state lines: Texas sheriff's use of license plate data raises alarms
Finally, Melissa’s favorite books were:
It’s Okay If You Don’t Love Me, By Norma Klein
Forever, by Judy Blume
In this episode, we discuss The Family Book by Todd Parr. We’ve combined our usual 2 episode format since the book is so short.
Here are the sources referenced in our Banned Bits segment.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Briefs Members of the Media, May 09, 2025 - statement on Carla Hayden is at minute 27:30
Here are sources for the information on why The Family Book is banned
Milk & Honey Part 2:
In this episode, we discuss Rupi Kaur’s beautiful and emotional work, choosing poems to illustrate the different sections of the book as well as the many themes and motifs that run through the poems.
While doing so, we digress quite a bit, as we do. Here are some of the books, music, and television we related to Kaur’s work.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 5 episode 15, “I Was Made to Love You,” and episode 16, “The Body.”
milk and honey Part 1: Why It’s Banned
In this episode we discover why Rupi Kaur’s book of poetry, milk and honey, consistently makes lists of banned books. Kaur self-published milk and honey in November of 2014 and it was later picked up by publisher Andrews McMeel. According to their web site, the book spent more than three years on the New York Times bestseller list. It’s been published in over 40 languages and has sold over 6 million copies globally. The magazine, The New Republic, named Rupi Kaur the “writer of the decade.”
milk and honey has been targeted by book banners, particularly in Missouri and Texas, due to its exploration of themes like love, trauma, and sexual assault. Primarily, the book has been challenged in school libraries. Some parents and some officials claim concern about discussions of sexual assault in the book.
Our Banned Bits segment features the book Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers’ Rights, By Ashley Hope Perez, here is a link to our Bookshop.org store, and because that link wasn’t working I was writing this, here is one from Barnes & Noble.
Check out our interviews with two of the book’s contributors:
Rogue Librarians – Bonus: Alana K. Arnold , 11/21/23
Rogue Librarians – Out of Darkness: Interview With Ashley Hope Perez, 2/28/2023,
For More information on Rupi Kaur, you can visit her web site at rupikaur.com or check out her instagram @rupikaur_
Hold on, Sam Helmick is coming. In this episode of Rogue Librarians, we speak with Sam Helmick, president-elect of the American Library Association, for a second time. We explore the many challenges facing libraries, the upcoming ALA Annual Conference, and ways you can advocate for your library.
Here are links to some things we talk about in the interview:
Stand Up For Libraries: an ALA program where you can donate to support libraries.
Show Up For Libraries: an ALA web page that suggests ways to advocate for your local library.
Free People Read Freely Summit: an event that took place at the Library of Congress in September of 2024.
The Waking: a poem by Theodore Roethke
Literal: a poem by Ani DiFranco which you can find in her book Verses.
Hold On, I’m Coming: a song by Sam and Dave
Banned Together, edited by Ashley Hope Perez
Let them, by Mel Robbins
milk and honey, by Rupi Kaur
Sam Helmick’s contact information:
@geometric rabbit or @shelmick on Instagram
@samhelmick on Bluesky
@samhelmick on Facebook
“I wake to sleep and take my waking slow
I learn by going where I have to go”
~Theodore Roethke
In this episode, we do a close reading of Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Mist and Fury.
We discuss our personal histories with romance novels, the evolution of romantic tropes, and the implications of freedom and control in relationships as depicted in the book. We explore themes such as patriarchy, agency, empowerment, consent, and sexuality within the context of the story.
In this episode, we discuss Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Mist and Fury. In addition to discussing why the book has been banned, we touch on some history of the Romance Novel, and the new hybrid genre Romantasy.
Today’s Banned Bit, comes to us from School Library Journal in their article Librarians and Allies Must Act to Secure the Future of Libraries and Intellectual Freedom |”
The resources we reference in this episode include:
In this episode, we delve into part two of our discussion on Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. We share some school bus hijinx and the transformative power of love. The
conversation highlights themes of bullying, body image, and the importance of consent in young relationships, all while emphasizing the emotional depth and relatability of the characters' experiences.
In this episode, we discuss Rainbow Rowell’s book Eleanor & Park, why it’s banned, and the controversy over Korean-American representation in the novel.
Our banned bit today is about the Department of Education’s Press Release entitled, “U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden’s Book Ban Hoax.”
Other articles referenced during our discussion include:
“The importance of representation,” by Krystal Jagoo from Verywellmind.com
“Is 'Eleanor & Park' racist? Movie announcement renews criticism” by Saul Marquez from bookstacked.com
“What’s your opinion on Eleanor & Park”, Lisa Maxwell’s response to Ellen Oh.
In this episode we do a close reading of Fahrenheit 451, tracing Montag’s journey from book burner to hunted dissident and reader. We had so much fun digging into the nuance of Bradbury’s timeless classic. We hope you enjoy our conversation.