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Explore every episode of the podcast Rogue Librarians

Dive into the complete episode list for Rogue Librarians. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Bonus: Author Melissa Kantor24 Jun 202501:11:13

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.  


41. The Family Book: (Parts 1 and 2)17 Jun 202501:02:14

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.

 

Here are sources for the information on why The Family Book is banned

33. Fahrenheit 451 (Part 1: Why It's Banned)28 Jan 202500:41:36

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


Bonus: ALA President Elect Sam Helmick14 Jan 202501:05:09

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


32. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic (Part 2: Close Reading)31 Dec 202401:07:35

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. 

31. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic (Part 1: Why It's Banned)17 Dec 202400:43:53

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

Bonus: Author Bethanie Finger03 Dec 202400:54:32

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/ 


30. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Part 2 : Close Reading)19 Nov 202401:00:47

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 

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians


29. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Part 1, Why It's Banned)06 Nov 202400:53:56

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.  

Bonus: Election Episode22 Oct 202400:24:52

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.”

Bonus: Author Nadine Pinede08 Oct 202401:09:09

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 

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠ 

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians⁠⁠

Bonus: Books About Banned Books26 Sep 202400:27:21

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:


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

40. milk and honey (Part 2: Close Reading)23 May 202501:20:55

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. 


Banned Books Week and Season 3 Preview24 Sep 202400:17:08

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:

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

Bonus: Librarian and Author Amanda Jones13 Aug 202400:58:13

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: 

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

Bonus: Author Gayle Forman30 Jul 202400:53:41

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: 

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

28. Crank (Part 2: Close Reading)02 Jul 202400:49:26

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

Bonus: We're Not One Thing from Be a Better Ally25 Jun 202401:03:04

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

27. Crank (Part 1: Why It's Banned)18 Jun 202400:40:18

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:

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

Bonus: Author Rachel Lynn Solomon04 Jun 202400:48:43

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: 

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

Bonus: ALA President-Elect Cindy Hohl28 May 202400:58:09

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

Bonus: Author Lyn Miller-Lachmann21 May 202401:16:00

We were so excited to interview Lyn Miller-Lachmann about her new novel, ⁠⁠Eyes O⁠⁠pen. Lyn is an educator, an editor, and an author of young adult and middle grade novels, including Torch, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and Moonwalking. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, she enjoys traveling to new places and lived part-time in Lisbon, Portugal, for many years. She lives in New York City. 

In the interview, we discussed how Lyn decided to write a YA novel-in-verse about life in Portugal in the 1960s, conducted her research, created her characters, and focused on the importance of standing up to injustice, the power of poetry, and the resilience of young people.

To learn more about Lyn Miller-Lachmann, please visit: 

The song at the end of the episode is "Triste Fado," which was recorded in 1939 and is available for public use; it can be found on the Library of Congress website

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

Bonus: Author K.A. Cobell07 May 202400:56:47

We were so excited to interview K.A. Cobell about her debut novel, Looking for Smoke, which comes out June 4, 2024. K.A. is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she spends her time writing books, chasing her kids through the never-ending rain, and scouring the inlet beaches for sand dollars and hermit crabs.

In the interview, we discussed how K.A. decided to write a thriller that focused on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement, selected the four main characters and wrote it from their perspectives, portrayed the characters' identities and complex emotions, and displayed the resilience of the Blackfeet people. 

To learn more about K.A. Cobell, please visit: 

  • her website: kacobell.com (which includes her novel's educators' guide and resources about MMIW)

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

39. milk and honey (Part 1: Why It's Banned)29 Apr 202500:41:31

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 over 6 million copies globally.  The magazine, The New Republic, named Rupi Kaur the “writer of the decade.”  

milk and honey has been targeted by book banners, particularly in Missouri and Texas, due to its exploration of themes like love, trauma, and sexual assault. Primarily, the book has been challenged in school libraries. Some parents and some officials claim concern about discussions of sexual assault in the book.

Our Banned Bits segment features the book Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers’ Rights, By Ashley Hope Perez, here is a link to our  Bookshop.org store, and because that link wasn’t working I was writing this, here is one from Barnes & Noble.  

Check out our interviews with two of the book’s contributors:

Rogue Librarians – Bonus: Alana K. Arnold , 11/21/23  

Rogue Librarians – Out of Darkness: Interview With Ashley Hope Perez, 2/28/2023, 


For More information on Rupi Kaur, you can visit her web site at rupikaur.com or check out her instagram @rupikaur_

26. Flamer (Part 2: Close Reading)23 Apr 202401:01:05

We discuss ⁠⁠⁠⁠Flamer⁠ by Mike Curato, which was first published in 2020. This graphic novel received a Lambda Literary Award, which recognizes excellent LGBTQ+ literature, as well as several starred reviews. Flamer was fifth on the ALA's list of the most challenged books in 2023 and fourth in 2022.

In this episode, we discuss our opinions of the book's characters, themes, and significance. Please listen to our twenty-fifth 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

Bonus: "I'll Read That Next" by Dharmika11 Apr 202400:05:35

Happy National Library Week! We are sharing a song by Dharmika, an artist and fellow advocate, called "I'll Read That Next."

You can find "I'll Read That Next" on Spotify and other streaming platforms: https://open.spotify.com/track/0XBI080NU6Sz9pNJYy1zIF.

To find Dharmika, please visit her social media accounts @dharmikamusic:

Additionally, this week, the ALA released its list of the top 10 most challenged books in 2023. You can find more information about the books here: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10. We have already discussed four of the books on the list and will discuss more soon. Thanks for joining us in fighting censorship!

25. Flamer (Part 1: Why It's Banned)09 Apr 202400:54:21

We discuss Flamer by Mike Curato, which was first published in 2020. This graphic novel received a Lambda Literary Award, which recognizes excellent LGBTQ+ literature, as well as several starred reviews. Flamer was fifth on the ALA's list of the most challenged books in 2023 and fourth in 2022.

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

Some of the sources mentioned in this episode:

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

Bonus: Author F.T. Lukens26 Mar 202400:54:31

We were so excited to interview F.T. Lukens about their new book, Otherworldly, which comes out April 2, 2024. F.T. is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction, including the novels Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After, and In Deeper Waters.

In the interview, we discussed how F.T. created a queer normative world and incorporated particular myths and ideas, portrayed the characters and relationships in certain ways, and explored concepts like faith, skepticism, and agency. We really enjoyed talking with them.

To learn more about F.T. Lukens, please visit: 

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

24. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (Part 2: Close Reading)19 Mar 202401:00:31

Thanks to Heather for joining us again to discuss ⁠Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.⁠ by Judy Blume, which was first published in 1970. Blume's popular novel has frequently been challenged since then; in the 1990s, it was the 60th most challenged book during that decade.

In this episode, we share our favorite scenes and book covers and discuss why the book was meaningful to us. Please listen to the twenty-third episode for our 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

Bonus: Author R.A. Spratt12 Mar 202401:26:59

We were so excited to interview R.A. Spratt, the bestselling author of many books for children, including the Friday BarnesThe Peski Kids, and The Adventures of Nanny Piggins series. She is also the host of a popular podcast, Bedtime Stories with R.A. Spratt. Her new book, Hamlet Is Not Ok, was released in the United States on March 12, 2024; it was released in Australia in 2023. 

In the interview, we discussed how R.A. Spratt became a writer, chose to write about Hamlet, decided to portray the characters and discuss mental illness in certain ways, and approaches her work now. We had so much fun talking with her.

To learn more about R.A. Spratt, please visit: 

  • her website: https://raspratt.com
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raspratt
  • her podcast: https://bedtimestories.buzzsprout.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

23. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (Part 1: Why It's Banned)13 Feb 202400:55:31

We discuss Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume, which was first published in 1970. Blume's popular novel has frequently been challenged since then; in the 1990s, it was the 60th most challenged book during that decade. It has also been included on multiple lists of the best novels for children.

In this episode, we discuss why Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. has been banned. We also offer our assessment of its pros and cons. Please listen to our twenty-fourth episode for a close reading of the book.

Some of the sources mentioned in this episode:

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

22. This Book Is Gay (Part 2: Close Reading)30 Jan 202400:42:07

We discuss This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson, which was the tenth-most-challenged book in 2022. First published in 2014 and revised in 2021, This Book Is Gay was included on the ALA's Over the Rainbow Project book list in 2016.

In this episode, we share our favorite chapters and discuss why the book was meaningful to us. Please listen to the twenty-first episode for our discussion of why this book has been banned.

Thanks to Chris for our music, 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

21. This Book Is Gay (Part 1: Why It's Banned)16 Jan 202400:39:42

We discuss This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson, which was the tenth-most-challenged book in 2022. First published in 2014 and revised in 2021, This Book Is Gay was included on the ALA's Over the Rainbow Project book list in 2016.

In this episode, we discuss why This Book Is Gay has been banned. We also offer our assessment of its pros and cons. Please listen to our twenty-second episode for a close reading of the book.

Some of the sources mentioned in this episode:

Thanks to Chris for our music, to Lizzie and 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

Bonus: ALA President Emily Drabinski02 Jan 202400:57:09

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Emily Drabinski. Emily is the 2023-2024 American Library Association president and Associate Professor at the Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. She talked with us about the upcoming Library Learning Experience conference, some of her experiences as president, the ALA’s efforts to fight censorship, and the importance of investing in libraries and other public institutions.

To find more information about Emily Drabinski, please visit:

Thanks to Chris for our music, to Lizzie and 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

Bonus: ALA President-Elect - Sam Helmick, "Hold On, I'm Coming"18 Apr 202500:51:34

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 libraries.

Show Up For Libraries: an ALA web page that suggests ways to advocate for your local library.

Free People Read Freely Summit: an event that took place at the Library of Congress in September of 2024. 

The Waking: a poem by Theodore Roethke

Literal:  a poem by Ani DiFranco which you can find in her book Verses

Hold On, I’m Coming: a song by Sam and Dave

Banned Together, edited by Ashley Hope Perez

Let them, by Mel Robbins

milk and honey, by Rupi Kaur

Sam Helmick’s contact information:

@geometric rabbit  or @shelmick on Instagram

@samhelmick on Bluesky

@samhelmick on Facebook

“I wake to sleep and take my waking slow

I learn by going where I have to go”

                                                 ~Theodore Roethke


Bonus: Book-Banning Battles19 Dec 202300:52:28

In this bonus episode, we discuss the controversial "See You at the Library" event that was hosted by Brave Books and Kirk Cameron in August, as well as some efforts to make banned books more available.


Some of the sources mentioned in this episode:

Thanks to Chris for our music, to Lizzie and 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

20. New Kid (Part 2: Close Reading)05 Dec 202300:52:53

We discuss Jerry Craft's ⁠New Kid⁠as well as ⁠Class Act⁠ and ⁠School Trip, which have been challenged and banned in some schools and libraries. First published in 2019, New Kid is the only graphic novel to win the John Newbery Medal, and it is the only book in history to win the Newbery Medal, the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature, and the Coretta Scott King Author Award.

We discuss our opinions of New Kid's characters, themes, and significance. Please listen to the 19th episode for our interview with Jerry Craft. We loved talking with him about his background, reasons for writing the books, and choices he made for the characters and stories.

Thanks to Chris for our music, to Lizzie and 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

Bonus: Author Elana K. Arnold21 Nov 202301:03:52

We were thrilled to interview Elana K. Arnold, the bestselling and award-winning author of many books for children and teens. Her newest novel, The Blood Years, was released in October 2023. In the interview, we discussed how she knew it was the right time to write this story about the Holocaust, how it was based on her grandmother's life, how she chose the title, and how she writes novels in general.

To learn more about Elana K. Arnold, please visit her website: elanakarnold.com.

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather for running our Twitter page for the past year, Lizzie for helping us to start the podcast and doing all of the sound engineering and audio editing for the first year, 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

Re-release: Gender Queer (Part 1)17 Oct 202300:36:14

It's our birthday! We released our first episode a year ago (10/17/22). In honor of that anniversary, we decided to re-release our first episode, which is also our most popular episode ever. We will be back with new episodes soon.

In this episode, we discuss Gender Queer by ⁠Maia Kobabe⁠, which was the most frequently challenged book in America in 2021 and 2022. After it was published in 2019, the American Library Association (ALA) named Gender Queer an Alex Award Winner and a Stonewall Honor Book. 

We discuss why Kobabe's memoir has been challenged or banned recently. We also offer our assessment of its pros and cons. Please listen to our second episode for a close reading of the book's characters, themes, and significance.

Trigger warning: we discuss the high suicide rate of trans teenagers from 19:30 to 21:40.

A note: since we recorded this episode, ⁠a judge in Virginia Beach rejected the effort ⁠to label Gender Queer as obscene and prohibit its sale in Virginia.  

Some of the sources mentioned in this episode:

Thanks to Chris for our music and to Lizzie for our audio editing! 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

X (formerly known as Twitter): @RLibrarians

Patreon: patreon.com/roguelibrarians

Re-release: Interview with Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada05 Oct 202301:01:23

In honor of Banned Books Week (October 1-7, 2023), we are re-releasing a few of our most popular episodes. Check out the American Library Association's programs for Banned Books Week! This bonus episode first aired in May. We will release new episodes beginning in mid-October. Thanks for listening!


We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada. Lessa is the 2022-2023 American Library Association president and adult services assistant manager at the Palos Verdes Library District in Rolling Hills Estates, California. She talked with us about the 2023 ALA Annual Conference, The Giver, her experiences as the ALA president, the Unite Against Book Bans campaign, and ways that we can fight censorship.

To find more information about Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada, please visit:

We also mentioned the following resources during the episode:

Thanks to Chris for our music and Lizzie for our audio editing! 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 or purchasing a book through our ⁠Bookshop.org affiliate shop⁠. We appreciate your support!

Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠⁠

X (formerly known as Twitter): ⁠⁠⁠@RLibrarians⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

Re-release: Interview with Ashley Hope Pérez03 Oct 202301:47:23

In honor of Banned Books Week (October 1-7, 2023), we are re-releasing a few of our most popular episodes. This episode (#9) first aired in February. We will release new episodes beginning in mid-October. Thanks for listening! Please check out the American Library Association's programs for Banned Books Week!


In this special episode, we interview Ashley Hope Pérez, the author of Out of Darkness. First published in 2015, Out of Darkness received a 2016 Printz Honor for excellence in young adult literature and won the 2016 Tomás Rivera Book Award and the 2016 Américas Book Award. Out of Darkness was not challenged until 2021, the same year it became the fourth-most-challenged book in the country.

In the interview, we discuss why Out of Darkness has been banned. We also learn more about Ashley's background, reasons for writing the book, writing process, narrative choices, and experiences before and after the book was banned. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with her.

Please listen to our tenth episode for a close reading of the book's characters, themes, and significance.

To learn more about Ashley Hope Pérez, please visit:

Thanks to Chris for our music and to Lizzie for our audio editing! 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

X (formerly known as Twitter): @RLibrarians

Patreon: patreon.com/roguelibrarians

Re-release: Book-Banning Legislation (Bonus)01 Oct 202301:03:46

In honor of Banned Books Week (October 1-7, 2023), we are re-releasing a few of our most popular episodes. This bonus episode first aired in February. We will release new episodes beginning in mid-October. Thanks for listening! Please check out the American Library Association's programs for Banned Books Week!


In this bonus episode, we discuss current and proposed legislation involving banned books. We mention different forms of censorship; examples of bills and laws that restrict books in schools and public libraries; and ways that we can fight censorship. It is essential that we oppose these types of laws and contact our elected officials.

You can find more information about censorship and organizations that fight it on the ⁠Resources page on our website⁠ (theroguelibrarians.com/resources).

Some of the sources mentioned in this episode:

Thanks to Chris for our music and to Lizzie for our audio editing (for all of our episodes)! 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

X (formerly known as Twitter): @RLibrarians

Patreon: patreon.com/roguelibrarians

19. New Kid: Interview with Jerry Craft05 Sep 202301:25:00

In this special episode, we interview Jerry Craft, the #1 New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of New Kid, Class Act, and School Trip. New Kid is the only graphic novel to win the John Newbery Medal, and it is the only book in history to win the Newbery Medal, the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature, and the Coretta Scott King Author Award.

In the interview, we discuss why New Kid has been challenged and banned. We also learn more about Jerry's background, reasons for writing the books, and choices he made for the characters and stories. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with him.

Please listen to our twentieth episode for a close reading of New Kid's characters, themes, and significance.

To learn more about Jerry Craft, please visit:

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather for running our Twitter page, and Lizzie for our audio editing! 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
Twitter: ⁠⁠@RLibrarians⁠⁠
Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

18. Looking for Alaska (Part 2: Close Reading)15 Aug 202301:00:11

We discuss ⁠⁠⁠Looking for Alaska⁠ by John Green, which was the fifth-most-challenged book in 2022. First published in 2005, Green’s debut novel won the Michael L. Printz Award in 2006. A miniseries based on the book was released on Hulu in 2019.

We discuss our opinions of the book's characters, themes, and significance. Please listen to the 17th episode for our discussion of why the book has been challenged.

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather for running our Twitter page, and Lizzie for our audio editing! 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

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@RLibrarians⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

17. Looking for Alaska (Part 1: Why It's Banned)25 Jul 202300:38:43

We discuss ⁠⁠Looking for Alaska by John Green, which was the fifth-most-challenged book in 2022. First published in 2005, Green’s debut novel won the Michael L. Printz Award in 2006. A miniseries based on the book was released on Hulu in 2019.

In this episode, we discuss why Looking for Alaska has been banned. We also offer our assessment of its pros and cons. Please listen to our eighteenth episode for a close reading of the book's characters, themes, and significance. 

Some of the sources mentioned in this episode:

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather for running our Twitter page, and Lizzie for our audio editing! 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

Twitter: ⁠⁠@RLibrarians⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

38. A Court of Mist and Fury (Part 2: Close Reading)01 Apr 202501:08:35

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. 


Bonus: Author Bella Higgin11 Jul 202301:03:40

We were so excited to interview Bella Higgin, the author of Belle Morte and Revelations. We talked about many features of her books, including how Bella chose to focus on vampires, portray them in this way, write from these particular perspectives, write for a young adult audience, and plot her books.

To find more information about Bella Higgin, please visit:

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather for our Twitter Page, and Lizzie for our audio editing! 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 or purchasing a book through our Bookshop.org affiliate shop. We appreciate your support!

Linktree: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@RLibrarians⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

16. The Librarian of Basra (Part 2: Close Reading)27 Jun 202300:42:10

We discuss ⁠⁠The Librarian of Basra⁠: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter, which was the 96th most challenged or banned book from 2010 to 2019. First published in 2005, this picture book is based on the true story of Alia Muhammad Baker's experiences during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It won an ALA Notable Children's Book Award in 2006.

We discuss our opinions of the book's characters, themes, and significance. Please listen to the 15th episode for our discussion of why the book has been challenged.

Dorothy mentioned the song "Two Kids" by Anaïs Mitchell; the poem in the middle is in Arabic:  https://genius.com/Anais-mitchell-two-kids-lyrics and https://open.spotify.com/track/4hNLoGBCtcsGwwyrrJRjGt.

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather for running our Twitter page, and Lizzie for our audio editing! 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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Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@RLibrarians⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

15. The Librarian of Basra (Part 1: Why It's Banned)13 Jun 202300:43:09

We discuss ⁠⁠The Librarian of Basra⁠: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter, which was the 96th most challenged or banned book from 2010 to 2019. First published in 2005, this picture book is based on the true story of Alia Muhammad Baker's experiences during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It won an ALA Notable Children's Book Award in 2006.

In this episode, we discuss why The Librarian of Basra has been banned. We also offer our assessment of its pros and cons. Please listen to our sixteenth episode for a close reading of the book's characters, themes, and significance. 

Some of the sources mentioned in this episode:

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather for running our Twitter page, and Lizzie for our audio editing! 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

Twitter: ⁠⁠@RLibrarians⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

Bonus: ALA President Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada30 May 202301:01:23

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada. Lessa is the 2022-2023 American Library Association president and adult services assistant manager at the Palos Verdes Library District in Rolling Hills Estates, California. She talked with us about the 2023 ALA Annual Conference, The Giver, her experiences as the ALA president, the Unite Against Book Bans campaign, and ways that we can fight censorship.

The ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition is in Chicago from June 22nd to 27th, 2023. If you are interested in registering, please visit 2023.alaannual.org. For those who are unable to travel to Chicago, there is the option to register for “The Digital Experience”; you will have on-demand access to the main stage and educational sessions.

To find more information about Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada, please visit:

We also mentioned the following resources during the episode:

Thanks to Chris for our music, Heather for our Twitter Page, and Lizzie for our audio editing! 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 or purchasing a book through our Bookshop.org affiliate shop. We appreciate your support!

Linktree: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠@roguelibrarianspod⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@RLibrarians⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠patreon.com/roguelibrarians

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