Jessica tells Christine about Sold by Patricia McCormick, a 2006 National Book Award finalist about a young girl who was sex trafficked from Nepal to India. The book, which is told through a series of lyrical vignettes, is beautifully written, and builds empathy in its young readers for children who are forced into difficult situations. And yet, according to the American Library Association, it is currently one of the top ten banned books in the country--and you'll never believe the reason why.

BONUS: Next week, with episode 11, we're excited to launch the Banned Geeks Book Club! Every few episodes, we'll feature the author of a banned book talking about another banned book which has influenced them. Full episodes are available exclusively for Patreon subscribers (but you can hear a teaser first, and then sign up to listen to the rest!). Next week, Patricia McCormick joins us to discussThis Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff, a banned book which has influenced her; the conversation was so meaningful to us and we're excited to share it with you!

If you haven’t yet become a Patreon subscriber, you can join now for just $3 a month. In addition to joining the Banned Geeks Book Club, your $3 helps us stay the course by highlighting banned works and bringing you these conversations each week. Thank you for your support! The success of this podcast depends on you

"The Beautiful and Banned" is produced by Jessica Goudeau and Christine Renee Miller. Follow us on social media: @beautifulandbannedpod, @christinereneemiller, and @jessica_goudeau.

If you’d like to advertise with us, visit the "Contact Us" page on our website. If you liked our show, please rate and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. The best way to support a new podcast is to share it with your friends!

Our co-producer, Rob Heath, wrote and performed our theme music. Kalin Siegwald designed our logo. Jackson Rodriguez is our amazing podcast assistant. This is A Sisters By Different Misters Production.

Tune in next week for our discussion with special guest, Patricia McCormick, about This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff!

Episode 10 links:

• Patricia McCormick's website, which has pages for each of her books
• Her searing article in the New York Times in 2018, "What Father Bradel Did to Me"
• Her op-ed about being banned in the New York Times in 2023, "My Book Is Horrifying. My Book Is a Lifeline. My Book Is Banned."
• "Three Questions for Patricia McCormick about SOLD," Yahoo News, September 2023

Christine chats with special guest, Lucie Tiberghien, about the works of Molière, who was banned 350+ years ago in France, what he did that got the church in France so angry, and why his work still speaks to us today.

You can watch his play, The Miser, at "Molière in the Park" this April and May at Prospect Park in Brooklyn (links below).

"The Beautiful and Banned" is produced by Jessica Goudeau and Christine Renee Miller. Follow us on social media: @beautifulandbannedpod, @christinereneemiller, and @jessica_goudeau.

You can find out how to support us at our Patreon link. If you’d like to advertise with us, visit the "Contact Us" page on our website. If you liked our show, please rate and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. The best way to support a new podcast is to share it with your friends!

Our co-producer, Rob Heath, wrote and performed our theme music. Kalin Siegwald designed our logo. Jackson Rodriguez is our amazing podcast assistant. This is A Sisters By Different Misters Production.

Tune in next week for our discussion about SOLD by Patricia McCormick!

Episode 9 links:

• A Collection of Molière’s Best Plays
• More information on Molière in the Park
• FREE tickets to see The Miser in Prospect Park, Brooklyn April 27 - May 19

Jessica tells Christine about The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman, the remarkable graphic memoir written by the son of Holocaust survivors about his family's experiences, and the shocking reason why it's banned--we couldn't believe it. Come for the deep-dive discussion about stunningly beautiful literature about the most awful parts of human nature; stay for the rabbit hole about Garbage Pail Kids.

"The Beautiful and Banned" is produced by Jessica Goudeau and Christine Renee Miller. Follow us on social media: @beautifulandbannedpod, @christinereneemiller, and @jessica_goudeau.

You can find out how to support us at our Patreon link. If you’d like to advertise with us, visit the "Contact Us" page on our website. If you liked our show, please rate and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. The best way to support a new podcast is to share it with your friends!

Our co-producer, Rob Heath, wrote and performed our theme music. Kalin Siegwald designed our logo. Jackson Rodriguez is our amazing podcast assistant. This is A Sisters By Different Misters Production.

Tune in next week for our discussion about the banned works of Moliére with Christine and special guest, Lucie Tiberghien!

Links to episode 8 quotations and further reading:

• The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
• Biography of Art Spiegelman
• Delightful article about Spiegelman's wife, Françoise Mouly
• Spiegelman on the legacy of Maus
• "The Inside Story of the Banning of Maus. It's Dumber than You Think," Mother Jones
• "The Fight Over 'Maus' Is Part of a Bigger Cultural Battle in Tennessee," New York Times
• A Science article about how parents' trauma is passed down to their children