Volume XLII: We’d Love Your Feedback
Volume XLII: We’d Love Your Feedback
A giveaway, fighting book bans, and more
Introduction
Hi there, readers. We are so grateful for all your support of our newsletter! It’s been a while (somehow over two years) since we last did a pulse check of your interests.
We’d be so grateful if you’d complete our quick survey before October 31st. All those who do will be entered to win a $25 gift card to their indie bookstore of choice (or Bookshop.org) and a $25 donation to the organization of their choice!
Below, we’re sharing a quick guide to resources on three important issues: book bans, voting, and an end to the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Read on for more.
A Deeper Look
While book bans have become more visible in the past few years given their extreme surge, there are not nearly enough people fighting these bans. What many people don’t see is that book bans aren’t an isolated issue—it’s not “just” a book ban. Rather, these bans are a part of a wider, coordinated effort to further marginalize LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals, going hand in hand with limits on bodily autonomy and access to other essential needs.
We also strongly encourage you to follow Kelly Jensen’s weekly column for Book Riot on bans taking place, and how we can fight them, or to sign up for her newsletter Literary Activism.
Some actions might feel daunting, but our efforts can have a huge impact. These bans are largely enacted and ushered in by small, but coordinated, groups of individuals—so imagine the effect we could have if we organized in the same way. And it’s not just readers that need our support, but librarians, booksellers, educators, and parents.
With the election right around the corner, we can’t help but think about the way politicians continue to (knowingly or not) overlook many of the issues most important to voters. While we think there are plenty of books they all should read to better understand the people whose votes they’re trying to gain, there are also plenty of issues we readers can better understand. Advocating for change is not just tied to elections—it’s something we must do all year long.
On the climate emergency and capitalism (especially relevant in the wake of Hurricane Helene - here are some funds to donate to)
And, of course, we cannot overlook their response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the Israeli government’s actions in Palestine and Lebanon that the U.S. government is funding and further fueling with our tax dollars. We must continue to demand a ceasefire and work to build Palestinian liberation.
Final Musings
We’ll be back in a few weeks with another newsletter issue. In the meantime, support a Latine-owned bookish business and check out these stories by Hawaiian authors. And don’t forget to take our survey for the chance to win a $25 gift card!
We also offer free downloads (wallpapers, templates, and more), and our exclusive downloads for newsletter subscribers (with password newsletterdownloads). If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch via email, the comments below, or Instagram DM.
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