Banned Together, Ashley Hope Perez
Banned Together, Ashley Hope Perez
List: $18.99 | Sale: $13.29
Club: $9.49

Banned Together
Our Fight for Readers' Rights

Author: Ashley Hope Pérez

Narrator: June Angela, Kyla Garcia, David Lee Huynh, Lori Gardner, Daniel Henning, Maria Liatis, Vico Ortiz, Channie Waites

Unabridged: 5 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 01/06/2026


Synopsis

A dazzling YA anthology that spotlights the transformative power of books while equipping teens to fight for the freedom to read, featuring the voices of 15 diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators. Books are disappearing from shelves across the country. What does this mean for authors, illustrators, and—most crucially—for young readers?  This bold collection of fiction, memoir, poetry, narratives, essays, and other genres explores book bans through various lenses, and empowers teens to fight back. From moving personal accounts to clever comebacks aimed at censorship, fifteen legendary YA authors and illustrators confront the high-stakes question of what is lost when books are kept from teens.  Contributors include Elana K. Arnold, Nikki Grimes, Ellen Hopkins, Kelly Jensen, Brendan Kiely, Maia Kobabe, Bill Konigsberg, Kyle Lukoff, MariNaomi, Trung Lê Nguyn, Ashley Hope Pérez, Isabel Quintero, Traci Sorell, Robin Stevenson, and Padma Venkatraman; the collection is a star-studded must-read that packs strength and power into every last word.  Resources include tips from the Vandegrift Banned Book Club and other teen activists, as well as extensive recommended book lists, a How to Start Your Own Little Free Library flier, and more. "Authentic and raw prose and poetry render an educational safe space for readers … this anthology acts as a call to action and a form of protest, using the power of words to inspire hope and unity."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Reviews

Goodreads review by Rosh (will be MiA for a fortnight!) on January 21, 2026

In a Nutshell: A YA anthology that focusses on the power of books and the impact of banning them. Mostly nonfiction with entries in the form of essays, comics, and poems. OwnVoices. Inclusive, informative, incisive and inspiring. Most of the write-ups are great; some are also a bit disturbing. Defin......more

Goodreads review by Mallory on March 08, 2025

I had the joy of having the editor of this anthology as a professor twice in college so this book put her passion for reading on display. This is an excellent resource to find hope for educators and readers amidst the wave of book banning.......more

Goodreads review by Nancy on June 02, 2025

Ashley Hope Pérez, author of the often-banned Out of Darkness, brings together other authors and artists to share a moving collection of stories, essays, and poems that highlight the dangers of book banning. Some of the chapters are fictional short stories (Padma Venkatraman & Brendan Kiely were my......more

Goodreads review by Stacey on January 01, 2026

This should be required reading for anyone trying to ban books. One of the most interesting things about people who oppose the books, they most often haven’t even read it and don’t fully understand the content. Such an important read to start off my 2026!......more

Goodreads review by Mary on January 03, 2026

Thanks to netgalley for the arc of this book. It was interesting to hear many author's perspectives on Banned Books. All the authors in this book have books that were banned. Every person/committee that believes a book(s) should be banned first should read THIS book! Very informative and thought pro......more