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. 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

    56 min

  2. 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

    45 min

  3. 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.

    1h 19m

  4. 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)

    1h 6m

  5. 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!

    52 min

  6. 11/19/2025

    70. Cemetery Boys (Part 1: Why It's Banned)

    In this Part 1 episode we discuss the book Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas.  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.  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.  Today’s banned bit was about the ALA’s Webinar “How Faith Communities and Librarians Can Advocate for the Freedom to Read.” which took place on November 5, 2025. We found information on why the book was challenged at the Port City Daily’s article “41 books will come off Pender County Schools shelves while they undergo review”, and on the book resume provided by publisher Swoon Reads.  We found this gem on The U.S. House of Representative’s web site in connection with a meeting,  most likely in reference to “House Resolution 733.  Expressing concern about the spreading problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States.” If you’d like to read more about Aidan Thomas and the book, we referenced the following interviews:   'I’m more interested in what comes next': Aiden Thomas talks 'Cemetery Boys' and writing the trans Latinx identity,  by Nivea Serrao on syfy.com  “Interview: Aiden Thomas, Author of Cemetery Boys,” by Alexx @ Enthralled Bookworm Finally, we referenced Episode 67 of Rogue Librarians, Interview with Shannon Watters and Branden Boyer White.  It’s a great episode, go listen to it!

    33 min

  7. 10/23/2025

    69. 1984 (Part 2: Close Reading)

    In Part 2 of our discussion of 1984 by George Orwell, we were inspired by Harry Potter and the Sacred Text to use the sacred reading practice, Lectio Divinia. We modeled our discussion after the “sacred reading” format used by Casper ter Kuile, Vanessa Zoltan and Matthew Potts in their podcast. Here is the link to their webpage, which explains the process in more detail. Harry Potter and the Sacred Text We highly recommend you give them a listen!

    1h 5m

  8. 10/08/2025

    68. 1984 (Part 1: Why It's Banned)

    We’re celebrating Banned Books Week by reading 1984 by George Orwell.  In Part 1, we discuss how this classic tale of censorship taken to the nth degree ended up being one of the most banned books of all time.  Here are a few links to articles mentioned in the episode.  Banned Bits references the article Baker County Library gives away copies of Orwell’s ‘1984’ as part of anti-censorship campaign in the Baker City Herald. When Was *1984* Banned? 7 Shocking Censorship Moments (2025) 📚 - Book Summary Review Please stop comparing things to 1984, by Rachel Klein on electricliterature.com

    39 min
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About

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
    83
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Rogue Librarians
  • Show Website
    Rogue Librarians

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