That Librarian

The Fight Against Book Banning in America

By: Amanda Jones

Narrated by: Amanda Jones

Bloomsbury presents That Librarian written and read by Amanda Jones.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

“Amanda Jones started getting death threats, all for standing up for our right to read . . . but she’s not stopped fighting against book bans, or stopped advocating for access to diverse stories.”—Oprah Winfrey, at the 2023 National Book Awards

Part memoir, part manifesto, the inspiring story of a Louisiana librarian advocating for free speech on the front lines of our vicious culture wars.

Small town librarian Amanda Jones has been called a groomer, a pedo, and a porn-pusher; she has faced death threats and attacks from strangers and friends alike. When she stood up for diverse perspectives at a public library board meeting, she became a target for extremists using book banning campaigns—funded by dark money organizations and advanced by hard right politicians—in a crusade to make America more white, straight, and “Christian.” But Amanda Jones wouldn’t give up without a fight: she sued her harassers for defamation and urged others to join her in the resistance.

Mapping the book banning crisis occurring all across the nation, That Librarian draws the battle lines in the war against intellectual freedom, calling book lovers everywhere to rise in defense of our readers.

“Really important . . . a fantastic book.”—Ann Patchett

"As an author whose novels have been banned . . . I have been waiting for a book like this one.”—Jodi Picoult

“Thank you [Amanda Jones] for fighting back . . . People like you are TRUE heroes. TRUE treasures.”—Jason Reynolds©2024 Amanda Jones (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

A look at what is happening.

We need to be aware of what is happening in our libraries and the librarians are the ones to listen to.

What we need to know - repeatedly

I enjoyed learning about how the library collection is curated. The processes already in place seem like they should work. I got the core messages of this book many times, though. Maybe it didn’t need to be as long-I, as a reader would have appreciated being trusted to read and comprehend those facts without being beaten over the head with them again and again.

Joinging and Fight, too

I had heard horrible stories about people who try to ban books, but I thought ":nobody is that insane". Obviously, I was wrong. Book Banning is alive and well in America; this simply will not do.

She is my hero.

Great message everyone should be aware

The book could have been a bit shorter. At times felt a little repetitive for those of us “woke” 😉

Courage

how much prouder I would be of myself if I had half of Amanda's courage.