February 21 2024
As Canada marks the 40th anniversary of Freedom to Read Week, experts are highlighting the importance of students’ being free to access books from a variety of perspectives and why schools must have (and stick to) clear policies when navigating book challenges that come their way.
Canadians typically ‘stand with authors. They stand with a child’s right to read,’ says author.
Book bans in U.S. get all the attention, but they happen in Canada, too
Maintaining a diversity of voices in school libraries is increasingly under threat, even in Canada. Canadian authors say books have been taken off shelves at school libraries for a variety of reasons — including parental concerns over themes like sexuality.
Danny Ramadan recalls self-censoring his writing in Syria before his arrival in Canada 10 years ago. Now, as an advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ refugees and an author exploring belonging, displacement and identity, he says navigating book challenges is a somewhat expected part of being published.