Let Freedom Read

 

This week marks the return of Banned Books Week, an event originally launched in 1982 in response to a surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. The annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community—librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types—in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas. The theme of this year’s event is Let Books Be — Protect the Freedom to Read. 

The bulk of recent bans have been tied to schools, as reported by PEN America, which released its annual Index of School Book Bans report, noting that 11,982 books were banned in public schools, a drastic increase from the 6,870 titles banned the academic year prior. A website called "the Banned Book Index" is hoping to compile all challenged titles across the U.S., and a quick search through the database for mysteries and thrillers turns up books by Patricial Cornwell, Harlan Coben, Edgar Allan Poe, Brad Thor, James Patterson, Raymond Chandler, Michael Connelly, and Agatha Christie (yes, even Dame Agatha isn't exempt).

Fortunately, If you want to read the challenged books instead of having someone else decide whether you should, most are available through your local library, independent booksellers, bookshop.org, or Amazon. On October 10, 2026, organizers are asking everyone to take at least one action to help defend books from censorship and to stand up for the library staff, educators, writers, publishers, and booksellers who make them available. And share your actions on social media by using the hashtags #LetFreedomReadDay and #BannedBooksWeek.