In this episode we look at Yevgeny Prigozhin — who spent 9 years in a Russian penal colony, interfered in US elections, and founded a mercenary group that has committed war crimes across the globe. And he wrote a really weird children’s book! What’s that about??

We look at the 2002 picture book "Indraguzik", Adrianna has a theory, and María decides what her supervillain name would be. 

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Over the years, this fairy tale has been at the centre of all kinds of conversations about sex, politics, and female agency. We take a look at five different times it’s been banned for seeming to be  on the wrong side of those conversations — or, in South Africa, just for having the wrong title.

María and Adrianna poke some holes in the plot of the story, wish for a badass sequel, and realize sadly that we would also probably be fooled by a wolf in an outfit. 

TW: rape, nazis

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In this episode, we explore the life of Elena Fortún, a Spanish children’s book author whose books were considered a bad example for young women by Franco’s dictatorship. There’s secret societies, whisky and cigars, and fascist nuns. It’s getting hot in here, it’s not just us, right??

Also in this episode: Harry Potter is a dom confirmed.

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In this episode, we take a look at Lois Lowry's The Giver -- a 90's dystopian classic that was banned for infanticide, murder,  pill-popping, euthanasia -- and also some really wild stuff.






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Sources:
https://www.maryvillepawprint.com/banned-the-bluest-eye-and-the-giver/
https://thebookwars.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/banned-books-week-the-giver/
https://world.edu/banned-books-awareness-giver-lois-lowry/
https://bannedbooks.library.cmu.edu/lois-lowry-the-giver/
https://www.thoughtco.com/the-giver-by-lois-lowry-627398
https://slate.com/culture/2014/08/the-giver-banned-why-do-so-many-parents-try-to-remove-lois-lowrys-book-from-schools.html

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To start off Season 2, María and Adrianna discuss the New York Times list that's been setting the literary world ablaze, and we pitch 10 children's books that should have made the cut.

Check out the full NYT list here.

What books would you add to the list?? DON'T SAY ATONEMENT >>

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Maria and Adrianna catch up on some news they've missed during the pod's hiatus -- including some WILD new laws. 

Season 2 of Tabook! begins next week!

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María and Adrianna talk about Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer, which has topped the charts in recent years as the #1 most banned and challenged book in the US. Adrianna takes the plunge and actually reads it (it's really good!). María chats One Direction fanfic ... there's something for everyone here.

Buy Gender Queer here or at your local bookstore.

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The story's been repeated for almost a hundred years: in 1931, Alice in Wonderland was banned in China because it depicts talking animals. But is the story even TRUE?? Adrianna and María put on our detective hats and examine the evidence. We also take a look at some AMAZING Chinese "Alice" sequels. Alice in China is willing to die to defend a music conference and apologies to Lewis Carroll but that's an improvement 💅

> Medium: "On Literary Censorship: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland"
> Guardian: "Ten things you didn't know about Alice in Wonderland"
> Ripley's Believe it or Not: "Alice in Wonderland Was a Banned Book, But For a Weird Reason"
> The original 1931 New York Times article
> Anne Lyon Haight's "Banned Books"
> Sen Wong's article in the Lewis Carroll Newsletter
> Response detailing timing of Alice publications
> Paper on Chinese "Sequels" to Alice

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María and Adrianna do a deep dive into the pre-publication scandal surrounding Laura Moriarty's YA novel American Heart. Did the book deserve the online backlash? We read through some spicy goodreads comments, and María contemplates a career change.

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Sources:
>> trump allies’ statements on muslim registry x x
>> laura moriarty’s slate interview x
>> kirkus’ statement on the review change x
>> vulture interview with claiborne smith x
>> laura moriarty’s npr interview  x
>> new yorker article condemning the review change x

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This year has had some real unhinged *moments* in the book banning world, which tbh deserve their own awards. María and Adrianna bestow these honors in front of a totally real audience, commemorating 2023 with awards for Wildest Hate Group, Most Oppressive State, Worst Barbecue, and more. 

Happy holidays!

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