Publishers continue to challenge book restrictions across the country, and the latest is sure to be a page-turner: powerhouse publishers and The Authors Guild have joined forces to fight the state of Florida.
Penguin Random House, HarperCollins Publishers, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, Sourcebooks, The Authors Guild, authors Julia Alvarez, Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Jodi Picoult, and Angie Thomas, as well as two students and two parents, have joined in the lawsuit, per HarperCollins Publishers.
The publishers are fighting provisions in HB 1069, a law in the education sector intended to limit the availability of certain books in school libraries.
In a joint statement issued in an August 29 press release, Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks said, “As publishers dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and the right to read, the rise in book bans across the country continues to demand our collective action. Fighting unconstitutional legislation in Florida and across the country is an urgent priority. We are unwavering in our support for educators, librarians, students, authors, readers—everyone deserves access to books and stories that show different perspectives and viewpoints.”
How big are these publishers pushing against book restrictions?
To name a few, Penguin Random House is the largest publisher of trade books globally. HarperCollins Publishers is the second-biggest consumer book publisher in the world. Hachette Book Group (HBG) maintains its status as a top U.S. general-interest book publisher. Simon & Schuster is recognized as a prominent publisher in general-interest publishing worldwide.
HarperCollins issued a Right to Read statement on its website: “The alarming rise in censorship and book banning, especially in the United States, demands that we speak out and act in opposition to censorship. We believe in fostering a marketplace where the consumer is best positioned to decide what they want to read. Every reader deserves to read what, when, and where they want—and we recognize the importance of readers seeing themselves represented in literature.”
The American Library Association (ALA) reported a 65% increase in the number of unique book titles targeted for censorship in 2023 compared to the numbers from 2022.
ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom has released the ten most challenged books in 2023 to raise awareness about censorship in schools and libraries.
The following book list is in order of the highest number of challenges to the lowest:
- Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
- All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
- This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
- Flamer by Mike Curato
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
- /8. (tie) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
- /8. (tie) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
- Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
- Sold by Patricia McCormick
Banned Books Week is scheduled from September 22 to 28, 2024. This yearly occasion unites educators, librarians, and book vendors to foster an understanding of First Amendment concerns and emphasize the impact of literature on society.
In Texas, HB 900 passed in 2023 and has faced similar legal disputes. Book retailers argue that it infringes on the First Amendment’s free speech rights by imposing a “Book Ban,” as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The Dallas Express has extensively covered the ongoing book restriction controversy at the state and local level, from a Houston-area public high school teacher keeping a secret bookshelf of questionable books in her classroom to districts like McKinney ISD pulling titles from its libraries, Plano ISD keeping titles, and Fort Worth ISD returning titles. Dallas ISD appears to be somewhere in the middle of the page regarding challenged books. Look here to read additional DX coverage on book bans.