black and white concentric circles with a Fight Censorship illustrated fist punching toward the viewer. The text reads Rescue a Banned or Challenged Book. Bottom left of the image reads We're With the Banned and the bottom right of the image says Banned Books Week is September 18-24, 2022 and includes the hashtag Banned Books Week

Did you know that 2022 has been a banner year for banning and challenging books in schools and libraries? Whether the challenges come about because of racism, sexuality, or gender identity, what is always at the forefront of these book banning attempts is censorship. Banned books and book challenges are a way to control what you have access to, and that does not sit right with us. Bookmans was built on a foundation of anti-censorship. We take the freedom to read whatever you like, whenever you like, seriously.

red, black and white image that reads I'm With the Banned. Below the text is the Bookmans logo and a black and white illustrated fist punching toward the view with the words Fight Censorship underneath it.

Though we celebrate banned books all year long, we are extra excited to showcase banned and challenged books each September. This coincides with National Banned Books Week, which falls on September 18-24, 2022 this year. And we are HERE FOR IT – and you too!

You are invited to shop for books that have been banned or challenged all month long. Even more, you can find them on a front-and-center display at our stores, wrapped and ready to take home. It is unfortunate that we have more books than ever to display, but… you can rescue one. Or even two.

As author Ellen Hopkins put it, ideas are incombustible. We want you to discover any and all books that make your heart race, your mind work to consider the content, and maybe even challenge you to pick up a pen and write your own stories. Here are some big-name banned and challenged books to start your journey.

book titled Crank by author Ellen Hopkins with a quote from Hopkins that reads: "A word to the unwise. Torch every book. Char every page. Burn every word to ash. Ideas are incombustible. And therein lies your real fear."

This September, we invite you to shop for books that others have deemed offensive, inappropriate, or downright wrong. Of course, you can stand up and show your support for ideas of all kinds. Whatever you may think about a book is up to you. We want everyone to have the option to make their own mind about what is worth reading.