Rogue Librarians

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: 

• “The importance of representation,” by Krystal Jagoo from Verywellmind.com

• “The Problem with Eleanor & Park,” by Chantal Cheung from the Northeastern University Political Review

• “Is 'Eleanor & Park' racist? Movie announcement renews criticism” by Saul Marquez from bookstacked.com

• “What’s your opinion on Eleanor & Park”, Lisa Maxwell’s response to Ellen Oh.

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 Gay Ivy

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 comedy in her narrative. 

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 \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) and the book “Colonization and the Wampanoag Story,”  by Linda Coombs.

We also thought you might like to know more about the Broadway Musical “Fun Home”,  and its accompanying soundtrack.  

Sound Effect by Vlad Krotov from Pixabay

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 about Bethanie Finger and her projects here:

Website:  https://www.bethaniefingerauthor.com/home 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethaniefingerauthor/?ref=1der1 

Podcast: https://princekaifanpod.podbean.com/ 

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 be a coming of age novel. Please listen to our twenty-ninth episode for a discussion of why this book has been banned.

Materials referenced include:

The podcast: Material Girls Dopamine v Health Capitalism

The movie LadyBird

And, from the litreactor blog, “Yes, I Read The 111-Page Moms For Liberty Book Ban Document” by Peter Derk. 

Thanks to Chris for our music, to Heather and Lizzie for their assistance, to Dorothy for our audio editing, and to our patrons for their financial support! Please visit our website for a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠transcript⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠of this episode. If you would like to join our conversation, please visit ⁠⁠theroguelibrarians.com⁠⁠ or follow us on social media. 

Linktree: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

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In this episode of the Rogue Librarians we discuss The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, along with special guest Simon.  We delve into why the book has remained one of the most banned and challenged books on the ALA lists.  

We added a new segment where we give a little recent info on the state of book banning.  We discussed the article. “Not even Little Free Libraries are safe from book bans. ‹ Literary Hub (lithub.com)”

We also referenced the LitReactor column, “Yes I Read The 111 Page Moms For Liberty Book Ban Document,” by Peter Derk.  

In this episode of Rogue Librarians, we discuss the importance of voting to combat the ongoing issue of book banning in the United States. The conversation covers recent legislative developments, state-specific ballot measures affecting libraries, and the significance of local elections in combating censorship. 

We provide information on the congressional resolution condemning book bans

Discuss several state specific issues on the ballot that we found through Libraries2024.org including: Utah’s Amendment A (Vote No), North Dakota’s Measure 4 (Vote No), Kentucky’s Constitutional Amendment 2 (Vote No), and California’s Proposition 5 (Vote Yes).

We tell you how to learn more about the governance behind libraries through the 

ACLU’s - School Governance 101 page  

We offer a variety of interactive web sites to help you find out about items on your local ballots, including issues around book banning and more.  Here is the list:

Vote 411

AARP

Everylibrary.org

Ballotpedia.org

We also offer suggestions about how to stay abreast of what’s happening in Book Banning Politics at the following websites:

ALA.org-Office for Intellectual Freedom

ALA Banned & Challenged Books

ALA Book Résumés

Book Riot - Literary Activism Newsletter

Every Library: Political Activity

Unite Against Book Bans

Pen America

Here is the link to the episode of On The Media that we recommended in the Intro.

The segment on book banning is at timecode [39:36] 

From their show notes: “Host Brooke Gladstone interviews Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, whose children’s picture book,  And Tango Makes Three, is among the long list of banned titles across the country. Hear why they’re suing in Florida to make their book — and others — accessible again.”