It seems like every few weeks we hear talk about new books being banned in the United States. Whether it’s an Iowa school district trying to remove over 3,000 books from schools or Utah’s governor signing a bill making it easier to ban Toni Morrison’s books the bluest eyes, it feels like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole between the censor and the censored. But what and who is pushing for these bans? What are people pursuing?
code switch We are starting a new monthly series in which we will delve into the many aspects of book banning. We’ll explore the ongoing battle, the statewide impact, and the kids who are fighting back. This week we begin our series with Mike Curato, author of Flamethrowerone of the most banned books in the country.
Curato tells us that he wrote Flamethrower As a way to help young queer kids, like he once was, better understand and accept themselves. It was immediately met with praise and accolades—until it wasn’t. book After getting caught up in the book ban in Texas, the story suddenly changes. Like many books discussing queer identity, Flamethrower It soon became the flashpoint in a long and messy culture war that sought to distort the very nature of the book.
We’ll also hear from NPR reporter Elizabeth Blair, who has been covering book bans across the United States.
