Banned Library Podcast

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

05 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A man in wings jumps off the hospital where an important baby soon known as Milkman is being born.

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

31 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

War is hell but not in this book of truth-telling fiction. Crank up the Creedence because we're going to 'Nam and learning what the war was really lik...

Always Running by Luis Rodriquez

25 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The true story of a gang member's journey into and out of la vida loca. And not one Ricky Martin joke.

The Terrorist by Caroline B Cooney

10 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A young boy gets blowed up, his family get super sad, and then we wrap it all up pretty easy with a rather genre ending to a literary tale.

Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen

01 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A boy goes to live on a farm with a complete psychopath. But in a fun way.

Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes

24 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A young girl goes with her family on vacation, she reflects on a dead classmate, and her dog doesn't die but the book won a Newberry Honor anyway.

Fat Kid Rules the World by KL Going

17 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A fat kid gets introduced into the punk rock life by a manic junkie dream dude and we all learn a lesson about being aware of all the life around us.

The Facts Speak for Themselves by Brock Cole 120

11 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A young girl tells her horrifying story and if you don't need a shower after this one then you need to go to church.

You Hear Me? poems and writing by teenage boys, edited by Betsy Franco

03 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A collection of poems by teenagers so get ready for some modern angst of Holden Caulfield levels.

A Time To Kill by John Grisham

27 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When a black man kills the men who raped his daughter, a small southern town loses its damn mind.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

20 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A problematic author with a story containing a very muddled message about suicide.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

13 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

High school is crazy, right? Like that one time you called the cops because of a super tramatic event but all your friends thought you were being a ki...

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

06 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It was a pleasure to burn through this book and explain that people are dummies for banning a book on book banning.

God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian by Kurt Vonnegut

27 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Vonnegut dies to bring you news from the Pearly Gates, interviewing notable dead people about their lives and thoughts on current events.

Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

20 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A woman loses her husband and is not that broken up about it and that broke people up about it.

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

13 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A small town holds a very special lottery and people were super mad about it.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

06 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A man trying to escape prison finds himself locked up in the worst way in this psychadelic novel about conformity, individuality, and sanity.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

30 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy kinda saunter into the magical world of Narnia and tear stuff up. It's good to be the Sons of Adam and the Daughters of...

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson

16 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A brat becomes an average kid with a strange family with this week's book.

Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman

09 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A crazy, racist little fairy tale, Sambo learns to steal from bullies and eat hella pancakes.

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

02 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Banned for language and moral/religious reasons, we get into the story of a little girl with family problems and the old man she thinks is taking her ...

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

12 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

From the deep Depression-era south is a story of hope and hatred and one family's story.

William Tyndale's New Testament

05 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The library delves into the Gospel of Matthew with this biblical translation that brought Jesus to the English masses and totally got the author murde...

Peyton Place by Grace Metalious

07 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A small New England town is rocked by the scandal of everyday life in one of the most forgotten popular books of the twentieth century.

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

08 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Sex and violence abound as we meet Vivian, a young werewolf trying to make her way in the world and get some hot man meat. Possibly by eating him.

Stephen King's It

03 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 - We start at the beginning with the murders of a little boy and a gay man while Stan, Richie, Ben, Eddie, and Beverly are called home because ...

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene

06 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We begin with the book that taught us that Germans are people, too! Young Patty learns about the world in her small town.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

02 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

An angsty kid meet some new friends in this heartbreaking tale of whiny smokers cussing a lot.

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

04 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Two boys try to set a world record for kissing after their friend is beaten in this YA novel. One lady tried to get it thrown out of libraries for sex...

I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel

28 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The autobiography of transgender teen Jazz Jennings, this heartfelt tale is one of acceptance and sacrificing yourself to a volcano god.

George by Alex Gino

21 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Rule Number 1 of Cheer Club: You don't talk about Cheer Club.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

14 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We learn about the Handmaid and her/his tale about the alien artifact that brings water back to the world.

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

07 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A book that in no way follows the plot of Three Men and a Baby (which is crazy) but was banned from a bunch of places.

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut

23 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Books are banned in Nazi hotels and then we sorta get into the book.

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

16 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The world is ending with the water freezing over and the library is getting sued as we continue with Kurt Vonnegut month!

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

09 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Vonnegut month continues with a tale of man machines and the library has a story about a machine who tried to assimilate a man for reasons.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

02 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A banned book unstuck in time and how the library kept its forest despite mutant dogs.

Crazy Lady by Jane Leslie Conly

26 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Crazy lady's in books, terrorists in supermarkets, and were-garous down in the swamp branch library.

Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher

19 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's a bunch of sports related small stories, and Granny Wendy would be mad.

The Fighting Ground by Avi

15 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A novel about the Revolutionary War meets a story about librarian spring break gone bad.

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

12 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Gathering a group of ragtag individuals is important, either to get confidence through sports or take down a conservationist construction worker with ...

Life is Funny by ER Frank

05 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Life is Funny as a pair of teens find out in the library.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

26 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We hear about a hallmark of African-American literature and a road trip into the wilds of Texas our librarian once took.

Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

12 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A play of a family trying to find their way in the world and a few characters from fiction who died and caused the stories to happen.

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

05 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Ralph Ellison's groundbreaking story about a boy becoming a man is discussed in part and we go into characters in fiction that have no name.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

30 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our humanity is building the hope that we are better than we are.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

22 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Today we learn about the classic tale of animal rights and a few more books that were meant for adults but given to children.

Blubber by Judy Blume

15 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Bullies abound in Judy Blume's Blubber and on our top ten list of the best bullies in literature.

Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) by George Orwell

01 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The story of man who feels all is not right with the world. Then he finds out how wrong the world really is.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

18 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A story about an old miser time traveling and changing his ways based on threats and punishment rather than good will.

Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane

27 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

One boy's climb from apartheid to tennis champion.

Arming America by Michael Bellasiles

13 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A discredited book that means little in terms of banned books.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

30 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the world that is brave and new with drugs and violence! What's gonna happen?

Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

16 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The "new" host Harker reads today as Georgia learns a lot, especially about boys and pooping.

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

02 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Like sands through the hourglass, these are snows falling on cedars. This story is so full of racial drama and the sex!

We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier

11 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A group of boys trash a house and nearly kill a girl, and that's just in the first few paragraphs. Book was banned for alcohol, violence, and sexual c...

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

04 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Very little talk about the book and way more talk about bathrooms and a dog.

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

28 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A story told with sex and masturbation and evil wizards being shot down after stealing a baby... All told in verse. It's totally evil and cool.

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

21 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this startling tale of a girl who just wants love, but instead finds success as a super popular milk carton model. And there's a ninja mach...

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln and Christopher Collier

14 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Banned 68 - My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln and Christopher Collier

Beloved by Toni Morrison

07 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We read an award winning book about a ghost haunting the life of an ex-slave and then talk about ghosts in the library.

Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegeser

31 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Some talk about moving on, then a novel about the upper crust of society wondering when all their glorious secrets will come spilling out.

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

24 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Advice and ghosts are in the library as well as the classic novel about a whiny jerk going out on the town and learning that life if full of hypocrisy...

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous (Beatrice Sparks)

17 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A story of order and a nightgown with little anchors then a book about an anonymous diary full of lies about drugs and a life not worth living.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

10 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the origin of the library's ebooks and an important book everyone should read.

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

03 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the literary deconstruction of race and beauty in this book about… holy crap that's what this book is about?! Evan might talk about the a...

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

26 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most banned books of all time going back over a 130 years, let's learn about a little boy's life after faking his own murder and meeting up...

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

19 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Two boys join together to create a superhero by coercion and violence so they can escape responsibility for their actions and make a profit.

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Meyers

12 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We go into combat with this view of the Vietnam Conflict/War/Murder Forest through the eyes of a young man dealing with stuff.

When Dad Killed Mom by Julius Lester

05 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We delve into the lives of two kids being disrupted by their dad shooting their mom in the face and the secrets that get revealed.

Daughters of Eve by Lois Duncan

22 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A group of young girls become a frightening force for feminism as we discuss Lois Duncan, water heater's breaking, and dude's being jerks.

ttyl by Lauren Myracle

15 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Three girls live their lives one text message at a time in this look into what makes teen girls tick. It's boys, right? Some booze? What's the religio...

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman Part 2

08 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The second part of a book about a little girl who goes off to help her uncle dad with an armored bear to stop her evil mom monkey lady from going to h...

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman Part 1

01 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The first part of a book about a little girl who can talk to shiny camping equipment goes on a quest to fight an evil lady with a golden monkey from c...

Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

24 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up is tough and Alice is agonizing about finding a new mom and pretty much being a weirdo normal kid.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

03 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Some library news, an autobiography steeped in racial overtones, crimes against children and sex, and then a little alien abduction in the library.

The BFG by Roald Dahl

28 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Giants are dead all over as Evan tells a story about Granny Wendy losing her whomping stick and the story of Sophie the orphan.

The Witches by Roald Dahl

21 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When a young boy meets up with some witches, he might be losing his damn mind. Roald Dahl, you so crazy!

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

14 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Once upon a time, a little boy went on a magical adventure. Except I'm betting it was all in his head because this is some crazy crap featuring bugs, ...

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

07 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Talking about some heavy shit and a long story about a night in a haunted house.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

17 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A young boy makes a new friend and is drawn deeper into an evil world of Satanism and the occult, learning sometimes sacrifices must be made.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

27 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The tale of men of simple pleasures and simple times meeting on hard ways. Also being frozen.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

13 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Ender Wiggin is here to chew bubble gum and kick ass and cry and he’s all out of bubble gum and ass. Because aliens don’t have asses. But don’t ...

Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg

30 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Can Smilla solve the mystery of the young boy's death and defeat the space worms? I dunno.

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

08 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Margaret only wants three things: drugs, sex, and rock and roll. Kidding. She wants religion, boobs, and her period. What a long, strange trip.

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

01 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

High school cults, library wars, evil teachers, and chocolate. Oh yeah, we had fun with this one.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1) by J K Rowling

18 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The Harry Potter that started it all! Join Evan as he talks about wizards, wizardry, how Hogwarts is a hellscape, and how unicorns are not innocent.

Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon (Hardy Boys #1) 40

12 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The Hardy Boys are on the case when Tower Mansion is robbed and poor people are the worst! Wigs and hobos abound!

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle

14 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

What would happen if you took Lovecraft and made him believe in the power of love? That's the heart and soul of this book, traveling across the stars ...

Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard

06 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

When evil comes to pray on poor Dudley the Stork, he calls upon his animal friends to help him. Too bad they are all crazy idiots. The quick and funny...

Carrie by Stephen King

30 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Carrie. She's a sad and lonely girl who gets picked on until she kills everyone. With super powers. Like you do. The novel is a blend of third pe...

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

23 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

As a treasure hunt type of novel, when the action revs up, you find yourself turning the pages faster and faster to see what happens next, then going ...

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

17 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A novel told from the point of a young girl that deals with racism, sexism, classicism, and violence in the deep south. Join our narrator as he gets i...

It's So Amazing by Robie H Harris and Michael Emberley

15 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A book about eggs, sperm, birth, babies, families, spawning, tearing free the burden of your own existential horror, and making yourself irrelevant th...

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

26 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A boy and his magical grandmother battle evil while going to church and finding fish gods. Also, the farmer and the cowman can be friends.

Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

09 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A child gets sent to bed without dinner and in the throes of hunger pains experiences vivid hallucinations of wild things and voyages.

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak

02 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A small man is sucked out of his clothes and into a hellish wasteland where he must defeat a cult of baking Hitlers before they give rise to the abomi...

Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan 30

12 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A bunch of kids decide it would be funny to kidnap their teacher but everything goes horribly wrong, mostly because one of them is Bonkers McCrazynuts...

Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle

03 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

An disembodied voice commands an artist to draw a star and the hellish helix of conditioned response spirals out of control.

Paper Towns by John Green

28 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A boy likes this girl who helps him realize the world is… something.