Rogue Librarians
Since 2021, an unprecedented number of Young Adult books, especially ones with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC characters, have been removed from libraries across the country. In this podcast, our mission is to provide clarity and context during this period of record-breaking book challenges by discussing banned books. Please join us for our conversations! Books are meant to be read.
Episodes
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 I...
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:
...
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 Boo...
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
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 fi...
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
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.
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 ove...
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 libra...
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:
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.
In this episode we discuss Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. We discuss when and why it has been banned, its historical significance, and why we think it’s worth reading. We explore the benefits of reading challenging literature for adolescents, the historical context of the book's reception, and the irony of its censorship.
Today’s Banned Bit: “How teens benefit from being able to read 'disturbing' books that some want to ban,” by ...
Show Notes:
In this conversation, Sam Helmick discusses the upcoming Lib Learn X conference, the evolving role of AI in libraries, and the importance of libraries as community anchor institutions.
Links:
Info on LibLearnX 2025
Sam Helmick’s Socials
Blue Sky: @samhelmic.bsky.social
Instagram and Twitter: @GeometricRabbit
In this episode of the Rogue Librarians we do a close reading and discussion of the graphic memoir 'Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic,' by Alison Bechdel.
We explore personal reflections on death, the complexities of family relationships, and the themes of sexuality and identity as portrayed in the book. We highlight significant scenes and the emotional depth of Bechdel's storytelling, emphasizing the interplay between tragedy and com...
Fun Home Part 1: Why It's Banned
In this episode of the Rogue Librarians we discuss the graphic memoir 'Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic,' by Alison Bechdel. We look at why the book has been banned and discuss the pros and cons. For a full discussion of the book, listen to the next episode.
Our new segment, Banned Bits: News Bits from the Ban-o-sphere discusses the article
“Re-inventing the book ban” by Victoria Sutton and Levi \"Ca...
In this engaging conversation, Bethanie Finger discusses her journey as a writer and librarian, sharing insights into her book 'More Than Life,' the first book in her debut trilogy. Bethanie discusses her writing process, particularly the extensive research involved in creating historical fantasy worlds. She delves into the themes of class structures, gender roles, and the influence of mythology on her work.
You can find out more a...
In this episode of the Rogue Librarians we discuss The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, along with special guest Simon. The book spent over a year on the bestseller list, and has continued to find readers decades after its publication in 1999.
We discuss favorite quotes, scenes, and ideas presented in the book, including the importance of community, the way mental health is viewed in our society, and what it means to...
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