Rogue Librarians

Rogue Librarians
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Since 2021, an unprecedented number of Young Adult books, especially ones with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC characters, have been removed from libraries across the country. In this podcast, our mission is to provide clarity and context during this period of record-breaking book challenges by discussing banned books. Please join us for our conversations! Books are meant to be read.

  1. 2d ago

    78. The Bluest Eye (Part 1: Why It's Banned)

    In this episode of Rogue Librarians, Marion and Dorothy return to the mic and dive into Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye—a frequently challenged and frequently misunderstood novel. This is Part One of their discussion, focused on the reasons the book has been banned and the context readers need before diving into the text itself. They provide historical and literary context for Morrison’s debut novel, including the impact of Dick and Jane basal readers, beauty standards in the 1940s, and the broader social realities shaping Pecola Breedlove’s world.  The hosts explore why the book has been challenged so often, what makes it such an important work, and why difficult books still matter in classrooms, libraries, and public discourse. This is Part One of their discussion, focused on the reasons the book has been banned and the context readers need before diving into the text itself. The Banned Bits segment came from the Knoxville News Sentinel's article “Knox County Schools bans historical novel 'Roots' by Alex Haley” Research for this episode includes: BANNED: The Bluest Eye | American Experience | Official Site | PBS  Martha Harris for KUER 90.1, Utah’s school book ban list passes 30 titles with Toni Morrison’s ‘The Bluest Eye’ Marshall University Library’s Banned Books 2025 - The Bluest Eye Book Riot’s Utah Bans Four More Books, Bringing Total to 32 The New York Times’ 'Oh, Jane, See How Popular We Are' America Comes Alive’s Dick and Jane: Story of These Early Readers Education Week’s What Is a Basal Reader, And Why Are They Controversial?  Howard University School of Law’s A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States: Reconstruction and Jim Crow Eras  Beyond Pop Culture’s Why ‘The Bluest Eye’ by Toni Morrison is a Must-Read: Unpacking Its Depth and Impact Join the conversation at therogelibrarians.com or follow @RogueLibrariansPod on Instagram and Facebook. You can support the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/roguelibrarians.  “Any book worth banning is a book worth reading.” — Isaac Asimov

  2. Mar 4

    77. Picture Books "Ogilvy" and "Worm Loves Worm": Why They're Banned and Close Readings

    Join us for our silliest conversation yet, goodness knows we needed a good laugh.  Today we read and discuss two delightful picture books.   Ogilvy was written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by T.L. McBeth, and was published in 2019.  It received a starred review in Kirkus, and positive reviews in Publishers Weekly, Horn Book, and Booklist.   Worm Loves Worm, written by J.J. Austrian and illustrated by Mike Curato (who wrote Flamer which this pod covered in Season 2, episodes 25-26). It was published in 2016.  It received a starred Review from Publishers Weekly, and positive reviews from School Library Journal, and Horn Book. As happens during a spontaneous conversation, Dorothy referenced a few things she couldn't remember the names of. Both of those are listed below. .   Podcast: SciShow Tangents:Gay Animals - with Field Guide to Gay Animals! Movie: Trainwreck (2015), starring Amy Schumer

  3. Feb 19 ·  Bonus

    76. Interview With Debby Show, Author of "Paper Roses"

    Join us for a fascinating and enlightening conversation with debut author Debby Show as she discusses her book, Paper Roses. The book explores Show’s real history and intimate truths as she grapples with the effects of generational trauma and with her experiences as the sister, and victim, of a rather infamous public figure. That said, this is not a book about her sister’s exploits; instead, it explores their mutual family history – through several viewpoints – and traces how trauma can leave a lasting legacy.  The story has been fictionalized, but the emotions it evokes bear the weight of deeper truths. You can reach Debby Show at t0r0sebud@gmail.com, or through her website at  debbyshow.com Some of the books we mention on the podcast include:   The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum Stone Soup, by Marcia Brown The Nancy Drew Series, by Carolyn Keene The Bobbsey Twins Series, by Laura Lee Hope Maus I and Maus II, by Art Spiegelman  (and here is a link to our episodes:Maus Part 1 (Why It’s Banned) and  Maus Part 2 (Close Reading).

  4. Feb 5 ·  Bonus

    75. Interview With Heather Hester, Host of More Human. More Kind.

    Today we talked to author and podcast host, Heather Hester.  Heather is the host of the podcast More Human. More Kind. and the author of Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen.  As a speaker, author, coach, and LGBTQ+ advocate, she helps parents, allies, and organizations move from fear to fierce, informed love with clarity, compassion, and courage. She believes in the magic of connection and that kindness and belonging aren’t just a feeling, they’re a practice. You can find out more about her podcast at morehumanmorekind.com and more about the many ways she advocates for the LGTBQ+ community @ heatherhester.net  Books we discussed on the podcast include:   The Boxcar Children, by Gertrude Chandler Warner The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles, by Julie Andrews Edwards Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, by Robert C. O’Brien The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness Anything by the author Emily Henry I Am Malala, by Malala Yousafzai

  5. Jan 21

    74: Interview with Sam Helmick on the Youth Media Awards

    "Stories bond us, but so does struggle" ~Sam Helmick In this episode of Rogue Librarians, we speak with Sam Helmick, President of the American Library Association.  This is our third conversation with Sam!  This time we are focusing on the upcoming Youth Media Awards and what this event means to children, librarians, and book lovers everywhere.  Below are all the pertinent links. Stream the Youth Media awards at ala.unikron.com and on the ALA Facebook page. For more information go to the ALA Youth Media Awards information page Sam Helmick’s contact information: @geometric rabbit  or @shelmick on Instagram @samhelmick on Bluesky @samhelmick on Facebook Some books we talked about during the podcast: Bluebird, by Sharon Cameron American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins The 13 ½ Lives of Captain Bluebear, by Walter Moers Rumo and His Miraculous Adventures, by Walter Moers Good Spirits, by BK Borison Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White - special edition The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare Big, by Vashti Harrison Hair Love, by Matthew A. Cherry, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison  Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak A Heart In The Body Of The World, by Deb Caletti

  6. Jan 16

    73. I Am Malala (Part 2: Close Reading)

    In this episode we do a close reading of the book I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzai. As always, we found the conversation enlightening and cathartic.  Learning about Pakistan’s history and the Pashtun people was fascinating.  We also found that the struggle between religious conservatives and those challenging traditional values is universal, not isolated and far away.   Additionally, we tried the sacred reading practice Florilegia, which we learned from the folks over at Harry Potter and the Sacred Text.  The result was compelling.

  7. 12/18/2025

    72. I Am Malala (Part 1: Why It's Banned)

    First, we apologize for some sound issues we were having in this episode.  We’ve changed a few things and are learning as we go.  We hope to solve this problem before our next recording.  In this Part 1 episode we discuss the book I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzai.  In Part 1 we discuss why the book is banned, share some context to help understand the book, and give our assessment of why it’s worth reading. The book was published in  the US and UK on Oct. 8, 2013, exactly one year after the author, Malala Yousafzai, was, as the title implies, shot by the Taliban in a direct assassination attempt. The memoir was co-written by journalist Christina Lamb. The book  has been translated into more than 40 languages. Today’s banned bit was a story published by the ALA entitled, “Court permanently blocks Trump’s executive order to dismantle federal agency for America’s libraries.” We found information on why the book was challenged in the following articles:   ‘The Color Purple’ and 30 Other Banned and Challenged Books You Should Be Watching - PEN America Report: 1,586 School Book Bans and Restrictions in 86 School Districts Across 26 States - PEN America These 176 Books Were Banned in Duval County, Florida - PEN America Pakistani private schools ban Malala Yousafzai's book 'I Am Malala', calling teen activist 'a tool of Western powers' | National Post The Complexities of I Am Malala Criticism: An Analysis, from Bookeys Censoring Malala - Harvard Political Review Finally, we referenced these episodes of The Rogue Librarians, check them out!  Episode 52. Fahrenheit 451 (Part 1: Why It's Banned)Episode 53. Fahrenheit 451 (Part 2 : Close Reading)Episode 63. Sold (Part 1: Why It's Banned)Episode 64. Sold (Part 2: Close Reading)

  8. 12/03/2025

    71. Cemetery Boys (Part 2: Close Reading)

    In Part 2 of Cemetery Boys we do a close reading of the book.  There are generally a few spoilers, but trust me, there is so much more to discover in the book! Cemetery Boys is a young adult urban fantasy novel written by Latinx American author Aiden Thomas. Published in 2020, this is  Thomas’s debut  novel.  It became the first book by a transgender author featuring a trans character to be on the New York Times Bestseller List.  It received starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly, who also named it the best book of the year. As did NPR and Barnes and Noble.  Links mentioned in the podcast:  “Cemetery Boys: A whimsical celebration of Queer Latinidad,” published in OutWrite Newsmagazine Rogue Librarians, Episode 70. Cemetery Boys (Part 1: Why It’s Banned)  We also found this fun playlist on Spotify called The Cemetery Boys Soundtrack.  Enjoy!

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Since 2021, an unprecedented number of Young Adult books, especially ones with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC characters, have been removed from libraries across the country. In this podcast, our mission is to provide clarity and context during this period of record-breaking book challenges by discussing banned books. Please join us for our conversations! Books are meant to be read.

Information

  • Creator
    Rogue Librarians
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Rogue Librarians
  • Show Website
    Rogue Librarians