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Authors Against Book Bans @authorsabb.bsky.social · 5d

AABB is proud to join this coalition of groups fighting for the freedom to read. Nothing gives us more hope than the understanding that while the fight may be daunting, we are not in it alone. 1/3

Standing together for the freedom to read.

All students, all people, deserve and require access to information.

Access to books is essential for the free exchange of ideas and for the protection of a healthy democracy.

Books hold a pivotal role in our culture—a role that must be projected.

During Banned Books Week, we recommit ourselves to fighting censorship and authoritarianism all year round.

Today, a well-coordinated network of politically motivated public officials, groups are attacking our fundamental freedoms—including our freedom to read.

Thousands of books that predominantly depict people of color and LBGTQ+ people and that discuss sex, gender, sexuality, race, and racism are banned in public schools and libraries across the country.

These attacks on school districts and public libraries, educators and librarians, authors and illustrators, and the publishers and booksellers that support them are stripping students, families, and all library patrons of their freedom to read and learn.

These efforts upend the lives of students, families, authors, illustrators, educators, and librarians. It leads to erasure from the shelves, harassment from would be censors, denial of access to books, job loss, and financial and emotional distress.

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PEN America @penamerica.bsky.social · 7d

🧵 In 2025, book censorship in the United States is rampant and common. Never before in the life of any living American have so many books been systematically removed from school libraries across the country.

Read our new report "The Normalization of Book Banning" at: pen.org/report/the-n...

Graphic for PEN America report titled 'Banned in the USA: The Normalization of Book Bans'. Features a stack of colorful books in front of a blackboard with '22,810 books banned in U.S. public schools, 2021-2025' written in chalk.

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Gabrielle Plastrik @gplastrik.bsky.social · Sep 7

The Cybils awards are taking a hiatus this year. If you are looking for kidlit, middle grade and YA recs, please check out amazing winners from past years. Every time one of us celebrates a good book on any platform or offline, we are supporting literacy and empathy.

Books help.

Cybils Awards @cybilsawards.bsky.social · Feb 18

And I also love that you might not have ever seen some of these books on other awards lists or book lists, which means that having won the CYBILS award means they might make it into the hands of even more kids! ~ Laura @ Literacious

www.literacious.com/...

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tiredteachernj.bsky.social @tiredteachernj.bsky.social · Sep 6

Awesome mglit book and my first of the new schoolyear #gretaeverafter @melissadassori.bsky.social @littlebrownyr.bsky.social thank you for sharing with #bookallies

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Lisa Stringfellow @engagereaders.bsky.social · Sep 3

Thrilled and honored to see KINGDOM OF DUST included on NYPL's Vibrant Voices Titles for Kids list for 2025-2026!

Thank you to the librarians and staff of the library for sharing my book with your patrons!
www.nypl.org/books-more/r... @harperkids.bsky.social

New York Public Library Vibrant Voices New Books from Authors of Color. Kingdom of Dust by Lisa Stringfellow
In this West African-inspired fantasy, a ruthless king conquesrs the kingdom of kun, turning the once-opulent city into ruins. When Amara learns of her destiny, she goes off to restore magic and justice--before Kun is lost forever.

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Lisa Stringfellow @engagereaders.bsky.social · Sep 3

KINGDOM OF DUST is a Massachusetts Book Award Honor Book! 🎉

Thank you so much to the Mass Center for the Book for this amazing honor!

Congratulations also to Robin Wasley and Desmond Hall for their awards. I'm thrilled to be in their company.

Massachusetts Book Award Middle Grade Honor Title
Kingdom of Dust by Lisa Stringfellow

Massachusetts Book Awards
Award to Dead Things are Closer Than They Appear by Robin Wasley
Honors to Better Must Come by Desmond Hall and Kingdom of Dust by Lisa Stringfellow

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Lisa Stringfellow @engagereaders.bsky.social · Aug 20

It’s KINGDOM OF DUST’s first birthday! I’m proud of this little book and glad readers are still finding it. @harperkids.bsky.social #middlegrade

www.lisastringfellow.com/kingdom-of-d...

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Middle Grade Coast-to-Coast @mgcoast2coast.bsky.social · Aug 19

Happy Book Birthday to MG Coast-to-Coast author @melissadassori.bsky.social! Her second book, GRETA EVER AFTER, is out today!! #kidlit #mglit

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Melissa Roske @melissaroske.bsky.social · Aug 18

Don't miss my interview with MG author @melissadassori.bsky.social on today's @themixed-upfiles.bsky.social blog! Melissa's latest #middlegrade novel, GRETA EVER AFTER releases tomorrow, August 19, from @littlebrownyr.bsky.social. #kidlit fromthemixedupfiles.com/interview-wi...

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LBYR School & Library @lbschool.bsky.social · Aug 18

We're so excited for @melissadassori.bsky.social's GRETA EVER AFTER to be out in the world tomorrow! This one's for the aspiring young journalists who wish their lives were a little more magic, or anyone who loves a "relatable coming-of-age story interwoven with dark fairy-tale elements" (Kirkus).

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LBYR School & Library @lbschool.bsky.social · Jul 29

@melissadassori.bsky.social's GRETA EVER AFTER comes out in just a few weeks! Get to know this delightful, magical middle grade in @teachingbooks.bsky.social's Meet-the-Author recording: school.teachingbooks.net/book_reading...

TeachingBooks Book Reading | Greta Ever After

school.teachingbooks.net

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Melissa Dassori @melissadassori.bsky.social · Jul 28

Entertained myself in the car today listening to this good discussion of the gap in books for 12-15 year olds. #youngteenlit

It's Time for Young Teen Lit @youngteenlit.bsky.social · Jul 25

Learn how we started and where we're going with #youngteenlit on our podcast episode with @slupodcast.bsky.social! Librarians who work with ages 12-15 need to tune in for ideas on how to find and advocate for more Young Teen Lit.
#tlsky #edusky #skybrarian #skybrarians #mglit #yalit

Amy Hermon @slupodcast.bsky.social · Jul 25

Excited to share @youngteenlit.bsky.social and this important conversation on filling a gap in our #library collections! apple.co/3IKyupe #youngteenlit #kidlit #yalit #skybrarians
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social @americanbookseller.bsky.social

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Melissa Dassori @melissadassori.bsky.social · Jul 26

Before my new book is out next month, check out my first, JR Silver Writes Her World. Buy a copy, tell me via my website where you got it and what address to use (US only, while supplies last), and I’ll send a bookmark and bookplate. #teachers, happy to send multiples to a school. #giveaway #mglit

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Malinda Lo @malindalo.bsky.social · Jul 22

It’s a gorgeous day in Boston to support the freedom to read! #MassFreedomToRead @massaabb.bsky.social @authorsabb.bsky.social

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Melissa Dassori @melissadassori.bsky.social · Jul 11

If this angle catches your kids’ eye, check out my next #middlegrade book, GRETA EVER AFTER, which has its own storyline of journalistic misdeeds! #teachers Superman’s Other Secret Weakness? Journalism Ethics. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/a... @lbschool.bsky.social @unteragency.bsky.social

Superman’s Other Secret Weakness? Journalism Ethics.

www.nytimes.com

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Melissa Dassori @melissadassori.bsky.social · Jul 10

A lovely blurb from the wonderful Kate Albus for GRETA EVER AFTER, coming 8.19. This is a great week to support your favorite bookstore and preorder a copy. #teachers and #librarians, reach out for visits next year.
@lbschool.bsky.social

“Fairy tale magic is expertly sprinkled over the real-world magic (and mayhem) of middle school.” Blurb from Kate Albus, author of A Place to Hang the Mood and Nothing Else But Miracles.

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Melissa Dassori @melissadassori.bsky.social · Jul 2

Have a movie fan looking for a book? Check out GRETA EVER AFTER (8.19.25). Preorders are so helpful to authors! Links in my bio if you are inclined to add to your collection, or ask your library to order a copy. #middlegrade #mglit #booksky

Movie posters from Harriet the Spy, Into the Woods and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret—if your reader likes those, check out my next novel, Greta Ever After (cover shows girl sitting on base of cuckoo clock).

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skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · Jul 1

Grab your FREE COPY of this toolkit to help guide the next generation of teen advocates, intellectual freedom champions, and library supporters.

Inspired by the guide? Don't forget to apply for funding to run your own teen advocacy program!

bookriot.com/books-unbann...

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Melissa Dassori @melissadassori.bsky.social · Jun 30

Thrilled to receive a wonderful review from @ala-booklist.bsky.social for GRETA EVER AFTER! #teachers and #librarians, hope you will check it out for your middle grade readers.
#middlegrade #mglit

Image of girl sitting on cuckoo clock from cover of Greta Ever After with quote from Booklist review that reads “Perfect for readers curious about the tribulations of middle school but who appreciate a dash of magic.”

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The Mixed-Up Files @themixed-upfiles.bsky.social · Jun 26

Getting published is a dream for many. Here’s an insightful look at lessons learned by debut author Patchree Jones.

#kidlit, #middlegrade, #MGlit, #WritingCommunity

fromthemixedupfiles.com/a-year-in-re...

A Year in Rewind: Lessons I Learned as a Debut Author - From The Mixed Up Files

SummaryA look back as my first year as a debut author. Unlike any other job out there, writers and authors don’t have a clear rulebook or career guide to follow. Everyone’s journey is unique and while...

fromthemixedupfiles.com

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Melissa Dassori @melissadassori.bsky.social · Jun 20

So great to see GRETA EVER AFTER among all these great books.

Jen @popgoesthereader.bsky.social · Jun 20

🌟 Pop! Goes The Reader's 42 Most-Anticipated Middle Grade Books: July-September 2025 🌟
popgoesthereader.com/42-most-anti... #BookSky #MGLit #KidLit

Book covers of ten middle grade books being published from July to September 2025. Books featured include Defanged, Ride or Die, Grin, Aarzu All Around, Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave, Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet, The Haunting of Bellington Cottage, Zed Moonstein Makes A Friend, This Way To Happy and Millie of the Manor

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Lisa Stringfellow @engagereaders.bsky.social · Jun 17

I’ve often shared that THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA are among my favorite books, so am thrilled to share that KINGDOM OF DUST has been named a finalist for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature!

So honored to be recognized along with others I admire ☺️

www.mythsoc.org/news/news-20...

Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children

Frances Hardinge and Emily Gravett, Island of Whispers (Harry N. Abrams)
Rajani LaRocca, Sona and the Golden Beasts (Quill Tree Books)
Kaela Rivera, The Cece Rios trilogy (HarperCollins)
David A. Robertson, The Misewa Saga (Tundra Books)
Lisa Stringfellow, Kingdom of Dust (Quill Tree Books)

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Parnassus Books @parnassusbooks.bsky.social · Jun 18

Less than two weeks left to donate to our Book’Em summer book drive! We’re matching every single donation, so help us get DOUBLE the books into the hands of kids by donating today — visit parnassusbooks.net/bookem to learn more.

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Melissa Dassori @melissadassori.bsky.social · Jun 18

For #mglit readers, don’t forget about the backlist. This book is a total gem.

Cathy Carr @cathycarrwrites.bsky.social · Jun 18

To the lovely human out there who posted an Amazon review of 365 DAYS TO ALASKA and bumped it up to 113 reviews after months of it quietly simmering at 112--thank you. Whoever you are, you are appreciated. This little book just keeps toddling along.
#kidlit #mglit #creative

Snapshot of the Amazon page of 365 DAYS TO ALASKA, showing it at 113 reviews.

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Greg Pincus @gregpincus.bsky.social · Jun 17

#kidlitchat happens today at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific right here on Bluesky. You can join us for an hour chatting with wonderful #kidlit people, if you’d like. We all think you should. But we are like that, all friendly and chatty! Hope to see you soon!

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