Book Bans: Today

Books have often found themselves caught in the crossfire of political disputes.

Nowadays, the most frequently banned books tend to tackle contentious topics such as race, gender identity, and sexuality, significant points of dispute in America’s ongoing cultural struggle. This reminds us that while stories aren’t always necessarily political, they do raise important questions about the world we live in — and sometimes, point to ideas that certain interest groups don’t want acknowledged.

This story hones in on one specific community affected by this conflict: the Barrington 220 School District.

This episode is part of Missing Pages, Season 2 — a podcast series centered on publishing industry shifts, related controversies, and the literary grifters involved.

Listen here.