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Celebrate the Freedom to Read with John Green and Senator Andrea Hunley

The Indianapolis Public Library is kicking off national Banned Books Week with a discussion featuring #1 New York Times bestselling author and Indianapolis resident, John Green, and former Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) educator and Indiana State Senator Andrea Hunley (District 46).

Register for free tickets beginning Tuesday, September 26 at 9 a.m. Kid's Ink will be at the event to sell books by Green. Bookplates signed by Green will also be available, one per person, while supplies last. 

National Banned Books Week, taking place October 1 — 7, 2023, is an annual celebration of the freedom to read. It was launched in 1982 as a response to a growing number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. This Indianapolis Public Library event underscores the importance of unrestricted access to information and the power of literature to challenge conventional norms.  

Green’s young adult (YA) novel Looking for Alaska is listed among the American Library Association's most banned books in 2022, and it has been referenced in nationwide discussions on book banning and reshelving in schools and public libraries. His YA novel, The Fault In Our Stars, has also been challenged and pulled from the shelves of school library collections and public libraries. Both titles are available in the Teen collection at The Indianapolis Public Library, circulating, and in demand.  

In addition, The Indianapolis Public Library is hosting a Banned Books Week 2023 reading challenge. Participants can learn about new perspectives and celebrate the freedom to read with books that have been challenged or banned throughout the years. The challenge allows participants to track reading time as they explore banned books, reflect on Indiana book bans, and learn more about censorship. 

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