Literacy & Justice Project
The American Library Association said a reported 273 books were the subject of attempted censorship in 2020, the majority of which centered on issues of race, gender, and sexuality.
In January 2022, the Wentzville School District removed copies of The Bluest Eye, the debut novel by Nobel Laureate, Toni Morrison, from its school libraries along with three memoirs: All Boys Aren't Blue, Heavy, and Fun Home.
Meanwhile, in Tennessee, a school board pulled Maus, the Pulitzer Prize winning graphic cat-and-mouse retelling of the Holocaust from the school curriculum. Looking nationally, Gender Queer is #1 on the American Library Association's list of 10 most challenged books in 2021.
Race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, and apparently even history are taboo subjects in the eyes of an extreme minority. While the efforts to resist the rightward turn away from the democratic principle of free expression are multi-faceted and ongoing, we thought we would try to make a difference in real time for folks who lack access to the material being challenged.
Support the Project
We are collecting donations to send a copy of The Bluest Eye, Maus, All Boys Aren't Blue, Heavy, Fun Home, or Gender Queer to anyone who signs up for one as funds allow. The more money we raise the wider reach this program will have. Every donation is appreciated!
Register For Your Free Book
To register to receive a free copy of the banned book of your choice, please fill out the form below. Donations are not required to receive a book.
LBB Foundation at
Tower Grove Pride!
Booth: Saturday, Sept 28, 2024 - 11:00am to Sunday, Sept 29, 2024 - 5:00pmLBB Foundation Read-In: Sunday, Sept 29, 2024 - 11:00am
Left Bank Books and Left Bank Books Foundation are so happy to be at Tower Grove Pride again this year! Tower Grove Pride falls on the last weekend of Banned Books Week this time, so we are banding together against banned books!Both Saturday and Sunday, our booth will feature an excellent curated selection of books and gift items featuring LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC issues and authors, including books that have been banned in the state of Missouri.
On Sunday, Sept 29 at 11am, during Tower Grove Pride, the foundation will hold a Read-in--gathering 333 people to silently read banned books together in the park in protest of book banning in our region and state. We hope to have 333 readers--1 for every book banned in Missouri!