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Following an announcement from earlier this year, Authors Against Book Bans (AABB) was officially launched on June 26th. Comprising writers, illustrators, and creators from children’s and adult literature sectors, AABB aims to unite authors nationally and locally in support of grassroots efforts against book bans and challenges across the United States.

Author and AABB national leadership team member Maggie Tokuda-Hall shared in the press release, “We know that book bans are rising exponentially across the country. From Idaho and Utah to California and New York City, challenges are specifically targeting BIPOC and LGBTQ+ authors.”

Additonally, David Levithan, a member of AABB’s national leadership team, emphasized the importance of defending the freedom to read, “Authors understand the profound impact of books. Preserving the freedom to read and choose books for ourselves and our families is crucial for the vitality of our communities. It’s time for authors to stand together in solidarity on this issue.”

With 1,500 members spanning every state, AABB pledges to offer support and encouragement to educators, librarians, parents, and students confronting censorship. They also advocate legislatively and collaborate with established organizations like PEN America and We Need Diverse Books.

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Levithan continued, sharing that part of AABB’s strategy is to aligning with grassroots leaders, “We’re building an ‘author army’ to support those at the forefront of this fight. Our goal is to boost morale among challenged authors, educators, librarians, parents, and students by letting them know they are not alone.”

The official launch of AABB coincided with the American Library Association’s 2024 annual conference in San Diego, which ran from June 27th -July 2nd and included the Rally for the Right to Read.

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An avid book reader and proud library card holder, Angela is new to the world of e-Readers. She has a background in education, emergency response, fitness, loves to be in nature, traveling and exploring. With an honours science degree in anthropology, Angela also studied writing after graduation. She has contributed work to The London Free Press, The Gazette, The Londoner, Best Version Media, Lifeliner, and Citymedia.ca.