Rogue Librarians

We had so much fun talking with author Nadine Pinede about her debut YA novel-in-verse, When the Mapou Sings. Nadine is a poet, author, editor, translator, and education consultant. The daughter of Haitian immigrants, Nadine is the first Rhodes scholar of Haitian descent and earned her doctorate in Philosophy of Education. When the Mapou Sings will be published by Candlewick Press on December 3rd, 2024 and has already been named a Junior Library Guild selection and a Most Anticipated Book of the Fall by Kirkus Reviews.

The novel takes place in the 1930s, just after the end of the American Occupation of Haiti. Lucille’s schooling is interrupted when she complains that her favorite Mapou tree has been cut down, which is an illegal act. To keep her safe from her village's corrupt section chief, she is sent to Port-au-Prince, where her employer hobnobs with Haitian intellectuals. Lucille eventually finds herself working for Zora Neale Hurston as she conducts her anthropological study of Haiti, Tell My Horse.  

In the interview, we discussed Pinede’s literary influences, the challenges of writing in verse, and the importance of historical context in literature. The discussion also touches on misconceptions about Haiti, the significance of food and culture in storytelling, and, of course, the significance of the Mapou tree. Pinede also highlights Zora Neale Hurston's anthropological pursuits in Haiti.

The conversation was rich with references to other books, films, and websites. We’ve attempted to link you to all of them here.  

To learn more about Nadine Pinede, please visit her website: NadinePinede.com or Instagram: @nadinepinede.

For more information on Haiti, check out her website or the Haitian Studies Association Website.

For the recording of Nadine's event with the Zora Neale Hurston Trust, please visit their Instagram page.

Books Mentioned

Haiti Noir, edited by Edwidge Danticat (includes a story by Nadine Pinede)

White Rose by Kip Wilson (another book in verse)

Haiti Fights Back: The Life and Legacy of Charlemagne Péralte by Yveline Alexis

The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer   

Brother, I’m dying By Edwidge Danticat

Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica by Zora Neale Hurston (anthropological study of Haiti)

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (novel written while in Haiti)

Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston (her autobiography)

Popo and Fifina: Children of Haiti by Arna Bontemps and Langston Hughes

The Magic Island by Richard Seabrook (Exploitative book - sensationalized Haitian traditions, started the fascination in U.S. with Voodoo and Zombies)

Black Shack Alley by Joseph Zobel

The Serpent and the Rainbow: A Harvard Scientist's Astonishing Journey into the Secret Societies of Haitian Voodoo, Zombies, and Magic by Anthropologist Wade Davis (also sensationalized)

The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank

Freedom Soup by Tammy Charles

Films Mentioned

The Forgotten Occupation: Jim Crow Goes to Haiti, directed by Alain Martin (imdb link)  

Sugar Cane Ally, directed by Euzhan Palcy (based on the book Black Shack Alley)

The Serpent and the Rainbow, directed by Wes Craven (further sensationalized the work of Wade Davis, classified as Horror) (imdb link)  

Writing Workshops Mentioned

Northwest Institute of Literary Arts 

Whole Novel Workshop

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather and Lizzie for their assistance, Dorothy for her editing skills, and 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. Please consider supporting our podcast on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠. We appreciate your support! 

Linktree: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

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Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians⁠⁠

In this special bonus episode, we explore various books that address censorship and the importance of fighting for the freedom to read. We emphasize how reading banned books affects personal growth and societal awareness and discuss the ongoing challenges of censorship in contemporary culture.

Books discussed include:

• Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller (Author)
• Banned Book by Jonah Winter (Author) and Gary Kelley (Illustrator)
• The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís (Author, Illustrator)
• Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook (Author), Ryan Estrada (Author), and Hyung-Ju Ko (Illustrator)
• Library Wars by Kiiro Yumi (Author, Illustrator), Hiro Arikawa (Contributor)
• Ninja Librarians by Jen Swann Downey (Author)

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather and Lizzie for their assistance, Dorothy for her editing skills, and 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. Please consider supporting our podcast on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠. We appreciate your support! 

Linktree: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians⁠

In honor of Banned Books Week (September 22-28, 2024), join us in celebrating the freedom to read and taking action to support librarians, teachers, and authors. In this episode, we share some recommendations from the ALA (American Library Association) and our plans for our third season.

Some of the resources mentioned in this episode:

• Banned Books Week: https://bannedbooksweek.org
• Some of the ALA's suggestions to get involved this week: https://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/activity
• Banned Books Week webinars: https://www.ala.org/bbooks/events
• Unite Against Book Bans: https://uniteagainstbookbans.org
• PEN America: https://pen.org/banned-books-week-2024
• Authors Against Book Bans: https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather and Lizzie for their assistance, Dorothy for her editing skills, and 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. Please consider supporting our podcast on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠. We appreciate your support! 

Linktree: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians⁠

We were thrilled to interview librarian and author Amanda Jones. Amanda Jones has been an educator for twenty-three years. She has served as president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians and won numerous awards for her work in school libraries, including School Library Journal Librarian of the Year. A sought-after keynote speaker, Amanda is a frequent volunteer for state and national library associations, as well as founder of the Livingston Parish Library Alliance and founding member of Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship. She lives in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. Amanda’s book, That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America, comes out on August 27, 2024.

In the interview, we discussed how Amanda became a school librarian, decided to speak up against censorship at her local public library in 2022 and dealt with the resulting harassment, chose to sue two of the harassers for defamation, and educated herself about injustices. We also learned how she has been taking action with other librarians recently and discussed ways that we can take action in our own communities.

To learn more about Amanda Jones, please visit: 

• her website: librarianjones.com
• ⁠X/Twitter: @abmack33
• Linktree: ThatLibrarian⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather and Lizzie for their assistance, Dorothy for her editing skills, and 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. Please consider supporting our podcast on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠. We appreciate your support! 

Linktree: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

We were thrilled to interview Gayle Forman about her new novel, Not Nothing. Award-winning author and journalist Gayle Forman has written several bestselling novels, including those in the Just One Day series, Where She Went, and the #1 New York Times bestseller If I Stay, which has been translated into more than forty languages and was adapted into a major motion picture. Her first middle grade novel, Frankie & Bug, was a New York Times Best Children’s Book of 2021. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family.

In the interview, we discussed Gayle's involvement in Authors Against Book Bans, how she developed her ideas for Not Nothing and chose to write it as a middle grade novel, why she wanted to portray characters rising to the occasion of their lives, and why it's important to her to discuss the Holocaust and emphasize the importance of love.

To learn more about Gayle Forman, please visit: 

• her website: www.gayleforman.com
• ⁠her resources for educators related to Not Nothing: gayleforman.com/not-nothing-for-educators
• her Instagram: @gayleforman⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather and Lizzie for their assistance, Dorothy for her editing skills, and 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. Please consider supporting our podcast on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠. We appreciate your support! 

Linktree: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

We discuss ⁠Crank⁠ by Ellen Hopkins, which was a New York Times bestseller and was first published in 2004. Crank was also 38th on the ALA's list of the 100 most challenged books from 2010 to 2019, and it was number 4 on the top 10 list in 2010 and number 10 in 2022.

In this episode, we discuss our opinions of the book's characters, themes, and significance. Please listen to our twenty-seventh episode for a discussion of why this book has been banned.

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 

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

We were delighted to be interviewed by Tricia Friedman on her wonderful podcast, Be a Better Ally. We're sharing that episode, "We're Not One Thing," here as well. Please learn more about Be a Better Ally at allyed.org, and listen and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts!

Be a Better Ally's "We're Not One Thing" Episode Notes:

The conversation revolves around the importance of libraries and the challenges they face, particularly in relation to book banning. The hosts of Rogue Librarians discuss their (amazing) show, which focuses on books that have been banned or challenged, and highlight episodes that they are proud of. They also emphasize the role of libraries as community leaders and the need for advocacy to support them. The conversation touches on the importance of local politics, the rights of the child, and the value of public libraries as free public spaces. The hosts provide suggestions for how the general public can support libraries and advocate against book banning. Libraries play a crucial role in communities, providing resources, programming, and support for people of all ages. They serve as a place for families to gather, for individuals to access information, and for communities to come together. Librarians are essential in connecting people with the resources they need and providing personalized assistance. Funding for libraries is crucial to ensure their continued operation and to support the diverse needs of the community. Reading widely and engaging with books can foster empathy, understanding, and compassion for others. Ready to follow their show? https://www.theroguelibrarians.com/ Listen to the rest of the episode featured here: https://www.theroguelibrarians.com/episodes/episode/d012b098/25-flamer-part-1-why-its-banned

We discuss Crank by Ellen Hopkins, which was a New York Times bestseller and was first published in 2004. Crank was also 38th on the ALA's list of the 100 most challenged books from 2010 to 2019, and it was number 4 on the top 10 list in 2010 and number 10 in 2022.

In this episode, we discuss why Crank has been banned, as well as its historical context. We also offer our assessment of its pros and cons. Please listen to our twenty-eighth episode for a close reading of the book.

Some of the sources mentioned in this episode:

• ⁠https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/methamphetamine
  
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10908000/
  
• https://www.aclusc.org/en/news/heres-what-you-lose-when-you-ban-my-books 
  

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 

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

We were so excited to interview Rachel Lynn Solomon about her new novel, Past Present Future. Rachel is the New York Times bestselling author of Today Tonight Tomorrow, The Ex Talk, and other romantic comedies for teens and adults. Originally from Seattle, she’s currently navigating expat life in Amsterdam, where she’s on a mission to try as many Dutch sweets as possible. 

In the interview, we discussed how Rachel decided to write a sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow, why she chose to write the sequel in dual POV, how she created the characters' voices and arcs, how she decided which romantic details and tropes to include, and how this book is different from a "typical" romance novel.  

To learn more about Rachel Lynn Solomon, please visit: 

• her website: rachelsolomonbooks.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• her Instagram: rlynn_solomon⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather and Lizzie for their assistance, Dorothy for her editing skills, and 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. Please consider supporting our podcast on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠. We appreciate your support! 

Linktree: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Cindy Hohl. Cindy Hohl is the 2023-2024 President-Elect of the American Library Association. Her inauguration is on July 2, 2024, at the end of the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition. She is a member of the Santee Sioux Nation and works as the director of policy analysis and operational support at the Kansas City Public Library.

Cindy spoke with us about her time as the president of the American Indian Library Association, her role as an ALA Spectrum Scholar, her goals for her tenure as president of the ALA, the upcoming ALA Annual Conference, the Freedom to Read Foundation, and the ALA’s current efforts to fight censorship.

For more information about Cindy Hohl, please visit her website: cindyforlibraries.com.

For more information about the 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition (June 27-July 2 in San Diego), please visit 2024.alaannual.org.

For more information about the American Library Association, the Freedom to Read Foundation, the Unite Against Book Bans Campaign, and other organizations that fight censorship, please visit the links on our website's resources page.

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather and Lizzie for their assistance, Dorothy for her editing skills, and 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 

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians