This book has been banned in North Carolina for its criticism of religious absolutions and the harm they do to relationships and families. It is vital to speak out against this censorship and protect books like this one, not in spite of the challenging material contained in them, but because of it.

The poems explore her struggles with the unwanted sexualization of her pubescent body, the religious guilt forced on her by her mother, and the bullying her brother faces for being gay. It serves as an accessible read for anyone struggling with faith, sexuality, abuse, and simply growing up.

Nevertheless, Last Night at the Telegraph Club continues to connect with readers with its themes surrounding queer identity and community. How ironic is it that this book, set during a period when people were censored for their queerness, is being banned during a similar hateful movement?

In a blog post responding to challenges to her book, Lo stated her book is intended for readers in the high school age range due to the sexual context in the story. Unfortunately, this didn’t stop a ban from South Carolina’s Board of Education earlier in May 2025.

Set in the backdrop of 1950s San Francisco, Lily falls in love with a girl and discovers a secluded bar serving as a haven for the lesbian community. However, she must face exterior forces such as familial expectations, homophobia, and racism toward Asian Americans as a result of the Red Scare era.

It's a reminder that, sometimes, it's natural to be a little scared and angry; the world IS wild, and to face it unafraid can bring about times of play and times of courage. Happy Banned Books Week!

With the growing urgency to "protect the children," Sendak, a gay, Jewish artist who never went to college, pulled from his own childhood in Brooklyn—dealing with deaths within his extended family from the Holocaust and illness—to reach out to other kids with comfort.

That's another part of Sendak's brilliance; he doesn't speak at kids, but rather extends a hand and casts an imaginative fantasy that they can latch onto. Max—and readers—get to be king for a day and romp with monsters, before returning safely back to reality.

One of the reasons Sendak's book has lingered in public memory is for the same reason it's been banned; now more than ever, kids find themselves thrust into the world with little preparation, being told adults know better and having their righteous anger and frustration dismissed as "childish."

Labelled as being "too scary" for children, and filled with supposed witchcraft and other supernatural fears, many parents and librarians demanded it be pulled from shelves to protect their young ones.

It's a reminder that, sometimes, it's natural to be a little scared and angry; the world IS wild, and to face it unafraid can bring about times of play and times of courage. Happy Banned Books Week!

With the growing urgency to "protect the children," Sendak, a gay, Jewish artist who never went to college, pulled from his own childhood in Brooklyn—dealing with deaths within his extended family from the Holocaust and illness—to reach out to other kids with comfort.

That's another part of Sendak's brilliance; he doesn't speak at kids, but rather extends a hand and casts an imaginative fantasy that they can latch onto. Max—and readers—get to be king for a day and romp with monsters, before returning safely back to reality.

One of the reasons Sendak's book has lingered in public memory is for the same reason it's been banned; now more than ever, kids find themselves thrust into the world with little preparation, being told adults know better and having their righteous anger and frustration dismissed as "childish."

Labelled as being "too scary" for children, and filled with supposed witchcraft and other supernatural fears, many parents and librarians demanded it be pulled from shelves to protect their young ones.

Maurice Sendak's novel, "Where the Wild Things Are" has a reputation for earning a Caldecott Medal, adaptations across short films, a movie, an opera, and—since it was first published in 1963—a series of bans across the American South.

You're all in luck because we've got all of this in our upcoming issue, themed "Resisting Authoritarianism". Stay tuned so you don't miss it when it comes out tomorrow, July 30!

But let us remember that we are not alone in our fears of Trump’s actions.

Comment below your thoughts and worries–we are here with you. We ask that everyone comments respectfully so that we can maintain this as a safe place for discussion.

We're uplifting radical writers and artists through our first issue themed Resisting Authoritarianism. Join our movement and donate here: secure.actblue.com/donate/radic...