Free Banned Books Distributed By Castro Valley Library

CASTRO VALLEY, CA — To mark Banned Books Week, held nationally this year from Sept. 18 – 24, the Castro Valley Library is giving away free books.

According to librarian Chris Selig, "The Library is giving away free copies of books that have been banned or challenged somewhere in the U.S. The giveaway starts on Monday. Stop on by if you'd like a bundle or know someone who would. We are expecting to have bundles for all ages."

The theme of this year’s event is “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us,” according to a website devoted to Banned Books Week, which hopes to focus on censorship efforts.

The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom compiled lists of challenged books as reported in the media or submitted by librarians and teachers from across the country.

The Top 10 Challenged Books of 2021 are:

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images
2. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
3. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and profanity and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity and violence and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda
6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term
7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women
8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit
9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sex education and LGBTQIA+ content
10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

The Office for Intellectual Freedom provides resources to librarians to respond to challenges to books and other materials including publications, training and confidential consulting services.

Former teacher Miyo Burnett of San Leandro collected the bundle shown above on Monday. According to Burnett, "The choices are random and I let one of the librarians choose this set for me. The Bluest Eye is a book I taught while an English teacher in San Francisco Schools. The 1619 Project is a book I've wanted to read for a long while. Maus came to my attention in the 1980s and is, of course, a reflection of Ken Burn's most recent, outstanding documentary on 'The U.S. and the Holocaust.' (PBS)"

The Castro Valley Library is at 3600 Norbridge Ave in Castro Valley. You may reach Adult Services Librarian Chris Selig Sunday-Thursday at 510-667-7900.