Banned Books Giveaway

Stop by for a free book! To mark Banned Books Week we're giving away copies of some recently published books that have been banned or challenged because they address sexuality, race, gender, and other topics. All are welcome, and we're inviting some campus VIPs to participate.

This year's theme, "Let Freedom Read!" faces off against the spread of book bans, both nationwide and here in Michigan. Along with free books (until we run out), you'll find information about actions you can take to fight back, because the freedom to read is essential to a functioning democracy.

Choose your book from these titles:

Gender Queer: A Memoir

by Maia Kobabe

A graphic novel about coming out as nonbinary. Currently the most-banned book in America.

The 1619 Project

by Nikole Hannah-Jones

Anthology of essays that seeks to reframe American history with the institution of slavery at its core.

All Boys Aren’t Blue

by George M. Johnson

Series of personal essays following the author’s journey growing up as a queer Black man in Plainfield, New Jersey, and Virginia.

The Hill We Climb

by Amanda Gorman

Spoken word poem recited at the inauguration of President Joe Biden, calling for unity and justice after the riot at the Capitol.

Queer: A Graphic History

by Meg-John Barker and Jules Scheele

A graphic history of LGBTQ+ people and movements.

Milk and Honey

by Rupi Kaur

Collection of poetry and prose about survival — about the experience of violence, abuse, love, loss, and femininity.

Crank

by Ellen Hopkins

Novel based loosely on the real-life addictions of the author’s daughter to crystal meth.

Salvage the Bones

by Jesmyn Ward

Gritty but tender novel about a black family and poverty in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina.

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States

by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

History of the U.S. told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples.

The Glass Castle

by Jeannette Walls

Memoir chronicling an eccentric and deeply dysfunctional family that is also resilient and tight-knit.

All-American Muslim Girl 

by Nadine Jolie Courtney

Fictional story of being caught between two worlds, examining matters of subtle and blatant Islamophobia, privilege and erasure, and questions of faith and identity.

Dear Martin 

by Nic Stone

Novel where a young Black teen grapples with racism — after a traffic stop turns violent at the hands of the police — and what it means for his future. 

All American Boys

by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Novel telling the story of two teenage boys as they handle racism and police brutality in their community.

They Called Us Enemy

by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven R. Scott, and Harmony Becker

Graphic novel about childhood experiences during the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II.

This One Summer

by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki

Graphic novel coming-of-age story about two teen friends discovering the emotional complexities of young adult life.

Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America

by Ijeoma Oluo

A cultural history of white male masculinity in America and how it affects our political and social lives today.

This event is part of the fall Arts & Resistance theme semester sponsored by the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; the U-M Museum of Art; and the U-M Arts Initiative to explore how the visual, performing, and literary arts play a central role in shaping cultural and political narratives. This project was made possible by a grant from the U-M Arts Initiative.