Sourcebooks is firmly against any attempt to restrict access to books.
We stand with authors, librarians, booksellers, educators, and readers of all ages in our commitment
to protect the right to read, teach, and distribute diverse books and ideas.
Check out some of our most frequently challenged titles below:
A message from Dominique Raccah, Publisher and CEO
Today’s wave of book removals across the country isn’t abstract: censors target real voices and erase real stories. Forcing books off shelves in school and public libraries narrows what whole communities are allowed to learn, teach, and imagine. We stand with librarians, educators, authors, and readers of all ages in support of the freedom to read.
At Sourcebooks, we will always choose access over erasure.
We are driven by our mission to change lives through books: this means we’ll continue to stand with our colleagues across the book community, challenge censorship wherever it appears, and champion the freedom to read without exception.
We hope you’ll join us by speaking out against censorship in your own community, supporting those working to defend the right to read, and helping ensure that every reader can choose their own stories.
Who do we partner with?
Other organizations you should know:
What legal action are we taking to ensure books are available to all readers?
Sourcebooks Signs Letter in Support of Rhode Island School Libraries Act
Sourcebooks Supports New York's S.8630 Freedom to Read Act
Sourcebooks Supports New York's S.1100 Open Shelves Act
Sourcebooks Supports Massachusetts Freedom to Read Act
Sourcebooks Signs Letter of Thanks and Concert to New Hampshire
Support for S.2696, An Act Regarding Free Expression
Sourcebooks Signs Letter of Support for Freedom to Read in Mexico
Sourcebooks Urges Nevada Governor to Sign Freedom to Read Bill
Take action with us! Here are some resources to get you started:
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Report censorship to the ALA here.
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Join or start a grassroots Right To Read affiliate group in your area.
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Familiarize yourself with the Action Toolkit from Unite Against Book Bans.
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Are books in your school or library district being targeted? See if they have a book resume here.
- View book resumes for Sourcebooks titles here.
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Learn how to protect yourself and others from online abuse with PEN America's Online Harassment Field Manual.
Contact our Right To Read Taskforce
We've built an internal team to coordinate our efforts to protect access to books.
⇒ Want to get in touch? Send us a message here.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What are some of Sourcebooks' most banned and challenged titles?
A: Scroll up to the carousel of images at the top to learn which of our books get banned/challenged most frequently.
Q: Who should an author contact if their work is being targeted?
A: A Sourcebooks author facing a book ban or challenge should first contact their editor or publicist, who can help determine next steps based on that specific situation.
You can also look at the tip sheet from PEN America, and NCAC’s Resources for Authors of Banned + Challenged Books.
Q: Where can I find up to date statistics on the current state of book bans in America?
A: You can read current numbers about the censorship crisis here.
Q: Doesn’t a book ban lead to a spike in sales for that book? Can the attention be a good thing?
A: No. While there are sometimes sales spikes in the short term after a high-profile book ban, the long term impacts to authors, readers, educators, and communities
is overwhelmingly negative.
Q: Will Sourcebooks change what it publishes because of pressure to censor materials?
A: Absolutely not. We stand with our authors and will defend their right to tell their stories, no matter what.
