*sigh* Alas, Banned Books Week continues to be more relevant than ever before. In today’s newsletter, we’ll be looking at books that have been banned and a couple that might be in the near future. You — and everyone else — deserve to read whatever you like, just remember that!
Autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.
Bookish Goods
Superhero Toy Earrings by StramJamJewelry
These little guys are the perfect accessory for conventions, Halloween parties, or, if you’re brave, work meetings! $6
New Releases
Clementine Book Two by Tillie Walden
The second part of a trilogy, this graphic novel follows Clementine as she tries to adjust to life on an island run by a mysterious person named Morro (not a good sign!). Needless to say, all is not what it appears to be. How will Clementine react when everything hits the fan?
Let Me Out by Emmett Nahil and George Williams
As the town outcasts (not to mention the most visible queer kids), Mitch and his friends become convenient targets when the local pastor’s wife is murdered. Inspired by the Satanic Panic of the ’70s and ’80s, the scariest thing about Let Me Out is not the threat of demonic possession but the all-too-recognizable human villains whipping up fear and bigotry.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Today’s Riot Rec theme is: banned books III! Yes, I’ve done this theme twice before (both last October, probably), but since book bans don’t seem to be slowing down any, I think it’s still important to spotlight them.
This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
Often banned for its queer and “adult” content, the award-winning This One Summer is a coming-of-age story that follows best friends Rose and Windy during a pivotal summer vacation. When real life gets a little too real, the girls will have to rely on each other to see it through.
Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Anne Frank and David Polonsky, Adapted by Ari Folman
This one recently made headlines when a middle-school teacher was fired for showing it to her class, but it’s hardly the only time it’s been banned. Reasons given for the bans include objections to its allegedly inappropriate sexual content and its allegedly inaccurate depiction of the Holocaust — both of which are an obvious smokescreen for homophobes and antisemites.
If you are anti-book ban, you are far from alone, and there are plenty of things you can do to help make your community safer and more inclusive for all readers!
~Eileen