It’s the eightieth episode of Required Reading With Tom and Stella! This podcast, which is hosted by Tom Panarese (Pop Culture Affidavit, In Country) and Stella (Batgirl to Oracle: A Barbara Gordon Podcast, The Batman Universe) is two teachers talking about literature. Each episode, we will be taking a look at a single work, analyzing it, criticizing it and deciding if it’s required reading.
This time around we are taking a break from our usual coverage and talking about banned and challenged books.
Content Warning: This episode includes a discussion of politics and contemporary issues.
Required Reading Apple Podcasts Page
Required Reading Podcast Page at Two True Freaks
Extras!
Here are some links to sites and articles that we mentioned in the episode. Some may be behind paywalls.
ALA Banned and Challenged Books site
Most Banned and Challenged books 2022
Book Bans: An Act of Policy Violence Promoting Anti-Blackness (NAACP)
PEN America: Growing Movement to Ban Books
PEN America lawsuit (May 2023)
“School Librarians Face a New Penalty in the Banned Book Wars: Prison” (Washington Post)
Objection to sexual, LGBTQ content propels spike in book challenges (Washington Post)
Required Reading With Tom and Stella 