Episode 40: It’s Not New (But It Sucks): Dealing with Book Bans from the Frontlines

Episode 40: It’s Not New (But It Sucks): Dealing with Book Bans from the Frontlines

From Booklist's Shelf Care by Booklist's Shelf Care Podcast

January 23, 2025 · 54 min

About this episode

Susan Maguire discusses the challenges of book banning with librarian Katie Clausen and shares recent reading recommendations with audio editor Heather Booth.

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to Katie Clausen, a Chicagoland children’s librarian, about what it’s like to be on the front lines of a book banning, who offers some tips and suggested language for dealing with a challenge. Then, on a lighter note, Susan talks to Audio Editor Heather Booth about what she’s been reading (and listening to) and loving lately. Here's what we talked about: Interview with Kelly Jensen in Episode 22 Foundations of Intellectual Freedom, by Emily Knox Kate Messner’s Letter to Parents The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story, by Pagan Kennedy. Read by Claire Danes. The Use of Photography, by Annie Ernaux and Marc Marie. Translated by Alison L. Strayer. Read by Tavia Gilbert. The Suite Spot, by Trish Doller. Read by Sarah Naughton. Birding with Benefits, by Sarah T. Dubb. Read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Evan Sibley. How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund? by Anna Montague. Read by Cynthia Nixon. Nightbitch, by Rache Yoder. The Payback, by Kashana Cauley. The Survivalists, by Kashana Cauley. Other helpful resources for dealing with contentious book challenges: The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool…

People in this episode

Host: Susan Maguire

Guests: Katie Clausen, Heather Booth

Topics covered

  • book bans
  • library challenges
  • intellectual freedom
  • children's literature
  • reading recommendations

Keywords

  • book banning
  • intellectual freedom
  • reading recommendations
  • children's librarian
  • handling book challenges

Mentioned in this episode

Products: The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About, Foundations of Intellectual Freedom, The Secret History of the Rape Kit, The Use of Photography, The Suite Spot, Birding with Benefits, How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund?, Nightbitch, The Payback, The Survivalists

Books & works: Shelf Care: The Podcast, Foundations of Intellectual Freedom, The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story, The Use of Photography, The Suite Spot, Birding with Benefits, Nightbitch, The Payback, The Survivalists, The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing

Places: Chicagoland

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