Banned Books Week has officially kicked off, the week when we celebrate the freedom to read and remind ourselves that that freedom shouldn’t be taken for granted. Every year, hundreds of books are removed from or challenged in schools and libraries across America. Banned and challenged books have included The Great Gatsby, Catcher in the Rye, The Grapes of Wrath, The Color Purple, and so many other works of classic literature that have gone on to shape readers and encourage a culture of open conversation and ideas.
As part of Banned Books Week, we’re participating in the BBW Virtual Read Out. Members of the BookPeople Teen Press Corp have read passages from their favorite banned books aloud and we’ve uploaded them to the BBW Virtual Read Out channel on Youtube where you can watch others – celebrities, booksellers, readers and book lovers across the globe – celebrate their freedom to read.
Here’s Emily reading from The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman:
BookPeople 
I an hosting 60+ blogs discussing banned book and doing giveaways all week. Thank you for your post on this great topic!