In September 2023, Hoboken became the first Book Sanctuary City in New Jersey. As a book sanctuary, the Library is a place where people can borrow and read challenged books, endangered books are accessible to everyone, and people can be educated about the history of book banning and burning. You can read the sanctuary resolution and learn more about Hoboken as a book sanctuary here.
The library hosts many book talks, story times, and other events including those about banned and challenged books. Several of the books we have read as part of the Library’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Group over the last ten years have been banned or challenged. It does not seem coincidental that many share a dystopian view of the future where ideas and thoughts are tightly controlled and freedom of speech is limited.
Feed
by M.T. Anderson
This was the first book read in January of 2014 with the Hoboken Public Library’s Science Fiction and Fantasy book discussion group. A young adult title, it was still appreciated by our group members for its dystopian depiction of the future where the internet is delivered directly to your brain. Its satire of corporate and media culture feels even more relevant than when it was first published in 2002.
The Handmaid’s Tale
by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood was my favorite author and poet in my 20’s. The group read this for Women’s History Month in March of 2019. This dystopian view pictures a world in which women are kept submissive to men and have lost all control and right to their own bodies. It has gotten increased attention recently with a streaming series adaptation.
His Dark Materials (series)
by Philip Pullman
This fantasy series begins on an alternate earth where human souls are visible as talking animal companions and air ships fill the sky. Creative and thought provoking, this Young Adult novel, is one of my favorites. We discussed the novel in February of 2016 and viewed the movie adaptation of The Golden Compass. It has now also been adapted as a TV series.
1984
by George Orwell
This classic where Big Brother is always watching and rigid social standards and newspeak are instituted, turns family members against one another and forces its citizens to deny and disavow their own memories. We read this for the group in January of 2016.
Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury
It seems inevitable this classic work to take on the topic of book banning and book burning would be the victim of bans itself. The group read this title in June 2018 and also viewed the 1966 movie adaptation.
You can stop by our display on the second floor near the Adult Computer Area and Reference desk, to see books that have been challenged or banned elsewhere in the country over the years. Other ways you can assist and take a stand against the banning of books are to host and join in-person or virtual banned book clubs and encourage critical discussion of censored stories; those with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (“BIPOC”) and LGBTQ+ stories are most often challenged. Also consider collecting and protecting endangered books and lending them to friends and neighbors including the use of local Little Free Libraries as book sanctuaries, adding endangered books as a way to support the freedom to read. On social media you can use the tag #TheBookSanctuary.
Here you can read a past post written in honor of banned book week with some more reading suggestions.
Come celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Hoboken Public Library’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club this year! On January 25 at 6 PM we will be discussing the exciting new dystopian fantasy The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence.
Posted by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 