iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

This Book is Banned

@thisbookisbanned.bsky.social

16 followers 3 following 136 posts

Dedicated to advancing literacy and free expression by celebrating books that have been challenged, restricted, or outright banned. And why it's more important than ever to talk about it.

Posts Replies Media

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 18h

While book bans have been on the rise in recent years, they’re hardly new. The first banned book, Thomas Morton’s The New English Canaan, dates back to the original Puritan colonies. So, what made the book so “offensive?” Let’s take a look: tinyurl.com/38aj865x #bannedbookweek

The New English Canaan: The First Book Banned In The United States

Thomas Morton’s blistering satire The New English Canaan was the first book banned in the United States. Learn more about it here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Since it’s Banned Book Week, our Fun and Fancy Word is… bibliophobia! It’s the driving force behind most book challenges. Can you guess what it means? Find out: tinyurl.com/4rf9yr7j #bannedbookweek #wordoftheday

Bibliophobia: This Week's Fun & Fancy Word!

Bibliophobia is the perfect Fun & Fancy word for Banned Books Week. Don't worry, it's a treatable condition.

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

We had the opportunity to speak with Jamie Jo Hoang, author of My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser, about why books are so important. In our conversation, we talk about generational trauma and how books help us break free from it. Check out the interview: tinyurl.com/bxu5tv8b #JamieJoHoang

Power of Books Author Series: Jamie Jo Hoang

In this edition, we talk with Jamie Jo Hoang about how books can lead to an understanding that helps break the cycle of generational trauma.

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Several idioms encourage us to be “nice,” including the adage “it’s nice to be important, but more important to be nice.” But “being nice” wasn’t always seen as a virtue. So what did it originally mean? And when did its meaning change? Find out: tinyurl.com/3x3ba8bp #wordoftheday #etymology

Aphorisms and Idioms: It’s Nice To Be Important, But More Important To Be Nice.

"It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice." There was a time when referring to someone as nice was rude. Find out why here...

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… gobsmacked! Can you guess what it means? The answer might surprise you! Find out: tinyurl.com/2s3duazb #wordoftheday

Gobsmacked: This Week's Fun & Fancy Word!

No, gobsmacked isn't a never-ending candy made by Willy Wonka. It's British slang. For what? Read more here to find out.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

We talk a lot about the harm book bans cause students, but educators are also struggling. Guest writer Sarah Bland has been outspoken about the importance of self-care for teachers in this new era of extreme censorship. Check out her essay: tinyurl.com/mr2jfufd #bannedbooks #teachingresources

Self-Care For Teachers Navigating Book Bans

This piece from guest essayist Sarah Bland speaks to the necessity of self-care for teachers navigating this era of extreme book banning.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

It’s impossible to literally “lift ourselves up by our bootstraps.” And yet, the phrase is commonly used to encourage us to power through challenges with hard work. So how did an impossible task become a call for individual grit? Find out: tinyurl.com/5n7x9dpn #wordoftheday

Pull Yourself up by Your Bootstraps: Aphorisms and Idioms

"Pull yourself up by your bootstraps" is just one example of a well-worn adage that doesn't mean what we think it means. What does it mean?

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… widdershins! It’s a favorite among those who like to go against the flow. Can you guess what it means? See if you’re right: tinyurl.com/ff63686p

Widdershins: This Week's Fun & Fancy Word!

You could just say counter-clockwise. But that wouldn’t be nearly as much fun as saying widdershins, would it? Or as steeped in superstition.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

While targeted by bans for its disturbing content, The House on Mango Street shows us how refusing to acknowledge ugly truths warps a person’s perspective on others, inflicting harm on communities, traditions, and individuals as a result. Let’s take a look: tinyurl.com/y8hf2uzn #bannedbooks

The House On Mango Street: A Bridge Of Unity.

Banned due to social issues addressed, Cisneros' work tells the story of Esperanza as she comes of age in the Hispanic quarter of Chicago.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Today marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. For those looking to celebrate with a book, we’re highlighting some challenged and banned titles written by Hispanic authors. You can check out the full list here: tinyurl.com/mw57dn36 #bannedbooks #hispanicheritagemonth

Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15.

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place every year from September 15th to October 15th. Celebrate with a banned book by a Hispanic author.

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… abecedarian! Its modern definition is as simple as ABC, but it has a surprisingly contradictory history. Can you guess what it means? See if you’re right: tinyurl.com/2cu6uyyh #wordoftheday

Abecedarian: This Week's Fun & Fancy Word!

What do you call a pre-schooler who is learning the alphabet? An abecedarian, of course. But there's more... find out how much more here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

When exploring a book’s deeper themes, it’s important to keep its historical context in mind. So to kick off the new school year, we’ve put together a list of resources to help students dive into the history behind several literary classics. Take a look: tinyurl.com/mrxyph7y #teachingresources

Resources For Teachers: A Handful Of Freebies

Resources for teachers. Here's a handful of resources to help students connect with the history inside literature.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

“Reading between the lines” describes figuring out a message’s meaning when it isn’t directly stated. But the phrase isn’t just a figurative literary term. It originates from a deep history of espionage and skullduggery. Click here to learn more: tinyurl.com/4npp95ef #wordoftheday

Read Between The Lines: Aphorisms and Idioms

Being able to read between the lines is a valuable skill. And this idiom has roots in the centuries-old world of secret communication.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… verbivore! If you’re hungry for a definition, you might be one yourself. Can you guess what it means? Find out: tinyurl.com/33d7yk8n #wordoftheday

Verbivore: This Week's Fun & Fancy Word!

A verbivore might read the dictionary for fun. And they’re likely a fan of our Fun & Fancy Words section. Are you a verbivore? Find out here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

When Troy, Michigan’s first public library opened in 1971, librarian Marguerite Hart solicited 97 letters from prominent figures. These “Letters to the Children of Troy” emphasize the importance of free libraries to a healthy democracy. Here are just a few: tinyurl.com/4ebacd7d #bannedbooks

Censoring Libraries is Harmful to American Society

Censoring libraries is harmful to society. These letters serve to remind us what's at stake when state-sponsored censorship comes into play.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

We use the idiom “flying by the seat of our pants” to mean relying on intuition to solve problems. But the phrase wasn’t always metaphorical – it actually originates from the early days of aviation. Click here to learn more: tinyurl.com/2hu8km2u #wordoftheday

Flying By The Seat Of Your Pants: Aphorisms And Idioms

Flying by the seat of your pants. What does this idiom mean? Where did it come from? And how far can doing so take you? Find out here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… pulchritudinous! It’s a word as lavish as a ballroom gown, and just as likely to describe the dress as the one wearing it. Can you guess what it means? Find out: tinyurl.com/kfrdfb5m #wordoftheday

Pulchritudinous: This Week's Fun and Fancy Word

Pulchritude might sound like something you’d scrape off your shoe, but pulchritudinous actually means something quite the opposite.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Good prose is also poetry. That’s because stories not only communicate through plot, but also through symbol. To fully immerse ourselves, we must learn the symbolic language of narrative, so that we might better interpret the media we consume. Here’s how: tinyurl.com/3sjftuzn #medialiteracy

Symbolic language. Engage it, or you're not actually reading.

If you don't engage a book's symbolic language, you aren't getting half of what it has to offer. Like luggage, symbolism needs to be unpacked.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.” These words by Marie Curie inspire us to look past our prejudices and continue to seek the truth. And in a time of rising anti-intellectualism, they’re more important than ever. So read on: tinyurl.com/3skwxxy9 #wordoftheday

Aphorism from Marie Curie: Nothing In Life Is To Be Feared, It Is Only To Be Understood

This aphorism from Marie Curie may have emerged from her scientific perspective. But is message extends far beyond the laboratory. Read more.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… tsundoku! I’ve collected a lot of words throughout this series, but I rarely use them. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll find a chance. Someday… Can you guess what it means? Find out: tinyurl.com/3vs4fhtp #wordoftheday

Tsundoku: This Week's Fun and Fancy Word!

Is your night stand stacked with books to be read later? If so, you may be engaging in tsundoku. Find out here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The Library of Congress’s 2026 National Book Festival takes place this Saturday, and this year’s theme is celebrating America’s 250-year anniversary. Admission is free, either in person at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center or online. Learn more: tinyurl.com/526f3zf9 #NationalBookFestival

Library of Congress National Book Festival!

Library of Congress' National Book Festival takes place on August 22. Can't make it in person? Be sure to check out the online options.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

“The more that you read, the more places you’ll go” comes from Dr. Seuss’s book I Can Read with My Eyes Shut. At first, it might seem like encouragement to escape reality. But the book’s ironic title hints at a deeper meaning. So what was he saying? Find out: tinyurl.com/ms4864bt #bannedbooks

The More That You Read...The More Places You'll Go: Aphorisms and Idioms

The more that you read, the more things that you'll know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. Dr. Seuss' advice isn't just for kids.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… abibliophobia! Imagine that the world has ended, and you finally have all the time you want for reading. But then your glasses break. Can you guess what it means? Find out: tinyurl.com/335eevc9 #wordoftheday

Abibliophobia: This Week's Fun and Fancy Word!

Abibliophobia. It means the fear of running out of things to read. Do you suffer from this frightful word?

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Stories are more than just characters and plot. They’re a collaboration between author, reader, and culture, sometimes contradictory and always symbolic. To understand them, you can’t just look at the surface—you need to dig through every layer. So read on: tinyurl.com/3v9r52px #medialiteracy

Like cake, layers give a book substance-be sure to get every "bite"

There’s more to a book than its plot. Like birthday cake, it's the hidden layers that give a book substance. Here's how to get every "bite."

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

“Jack of All Trades” refers to someone who is moderately proficient at many tasks. It’s been a part of a historic discussion about unskilled labor, and the worth of someone without specific expertise. So is the idiom a compliment, or an insult? Find out: tinyurl.com/4bdz6ba6 #wordoftheday

Jack Of All Trades: Aphorisms and Idioms

Jack of all trades. What does Shakespeare have to do with this phrase.? It isn't one he invented. So, what is the Shakespearean connection?

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… contronym! Don’t overthink this one, or you might find yourself stuck between two completely different options. Can you guess what it means? Find out: tinyurl.com/39fd8tmh #wordoftheday

Contronym: This Week's Fun and Fancy Word!

Contronyms can either be fun or frustrating. They're words that have contradictory meanings depending on the context. Check out a few here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Today, books are available at the click of a button. It’s easy to move from one to the next without much thought. But stories aren’t just meant to entertain us. They help us see from new perspectives. So take a second to think. Then read on: tinyurl.com/4m4edhcu #medialiteracy

The purpose of literature: it's not just entertainment

Storytelling is as old as time itself, but it's never been just about entertainment. What's the purpose of literature, then? Let's find out.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

There’s a saying that “you only become old when you stop learning.” While often intended metaphorically, there are real biological benefits to maintaining a lifestyle of curiosity. So keep your brain young and learn more: tinyurl.com/33kvxs4a #wordoftheday

Anyone Who Stops Learning Is Old: Aphorisms and Idioms

Anyone who stops learning is old. This aphorism comes from Henry Ford. Great, but how is it relevant to me and my life? Read more here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… autodidact! If your curiosity brought you to this post, then you’re already well on your way to becoming one! Can you guess what it means? Find out: tinyurl.com/2hecu8ha #wordoftheday

Autodidact: This Week's Fun and Fancy Word!

Do you suffer from autodidactism? Do you have an insatiable thirst for knowledge? Find out if you're an autodidact.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

According to PEN America, more than 22,000 book bans have occurred since 2021. This ongoing campaign claims to be targeting “offensive” titles, yet it always seems to silence stories highlighting diversity. So what can you do to fight back? Find out: tinyurl.com/3r3dwpuk #bannedbooks

Fight Book Bans: Tools For Fighting Book Bans and Resisting Censorship

There have been more than 10,000 book challenges since 2021. Here are some tools for fighting book bans, and a few ways to resist censorship.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

We often say “the writing is on the wall” when we can foresee something bad about to happen. The use of the phrase dates back to Old Testament and appears frequently throughout history, including in 1776 England, right before the American Revolution. Learn more: tinyurl.com/62j5vctc #wordoftheday

The Writing Is On The Wall: Aphorisms and Idioms

“The writing is on the wall” isn’t about graffiti, or Egyptian hieroglyphics. What is it about? Find out here.

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… haecceity! What makes a word a word? And what makes a word itself instead of any other? Find out: tinyurl.com/yuv5bmbf #wordoftheday

Haecceity: This Week's Fun and Fancy Word!

Haecceity. Plato may have had his perfect forms and idea of "dogness." But this makes your beloved Fido one of a kind. What could it be?

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

While world renowned as a scientific genius, Albert Einstein was actually a fierce defender of liberal arts education. But what exactly did this titan among thinkers believe was so important about the humanities? Let’s find out: tinyurl.com/46jrfwd9 #KnowledgeIsPower #CriticalThinking

A liberal arts education: championed by Albert Einstein.

Not so ironically, a liberal arts education is what Einstein, literally the face of STEM, actively advocated.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

You’ve probably heard of political movements organized by everyday people described as “grassroots.” Throughout history, many milestones of social progress began this way. But where did the term come from? And what does it have to do with book bans? Find out: tinyurl.com/29yb8vh5 #bannedbooks

Grassroots Movement: Aphorisms and Idioms

Grassroots movement doesn't mean your lawn has become nomadic. What is in motion, then? And how did this idiom get started?

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… Bamboozled! Yes, really! No japes here, you haven’t been hoodwinked. But what does the word have to do with book bans? Find out: tinyurl.com/bdekpzdc #wordoftheday

Bamboozled: This Fun & Fancy Word Is More Important Than Ever

Bamboozled. To be tricked, fooled, or deceived. Like Tom Sawyer's fence-painting friends. But what's its connection to book banning?

100

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The strength of a democracy lies in its diversity of thought. So how can we have a strong democracy when we silence minority voices? Books bans don’t just erase people’s perspectives; they harm America as a whole. Here’s what you can do to stop them: tinyurl.com/ye9xzmze #bannedbooks

Keep Our Democracy Functioning: Vote for the right to read

Access to diverse books is critical to a healthy democracy. So vote for the right to read and help keep our democracy functioning.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

“My country right or wrong” is often used as an expression of unquestioning patriotism. But when Senator Carl Schurz first said the words in 1872, they were only a preamble to a much more nuanced call to action. So what exactly did he mean? Find out: tinyurl.com/3nzyb39r #wordoftheday

My Country Right or Wrong: Aphorisms and Idioms

Sometimes that well-worn adage doesn’t really mean what our literal-minded, Google-driven world thinks it means. "My country right or wrong" is one example.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… Annus Mirabilis! While nothing especially monumental occurred in the first half of this year, there’s still time for 2026 to become one. Can you guess what it means? See if you’re right: tinyurl.com/yc4wsycx #wordoftheday

Annus Mirabilis: This Week's Fun & Fancy Word

Annus Mirabilis isn't a magic spell. Though it does invoke something extraordinary. But what remarkable thing does it speak of? Find out here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, reflects his complicated relationship with his Puritan heritage. Often banned for its depiction of adultery, the story uses the topic as a lens to analyze the transition from one set of ethics to another. Read on: tinyurl.com/2s4dctbb #bannedbooks

The Scarlet Letter: banned-It's about more than sinfulness and guilt

The Scarlet Letter-banned for adultery. Hawthorne is a master of symbolism. And, Hester's letter is about more than sinfulness and guilt.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

The “pursuit of happiness” is a definitive American value. But when the words were originally written into the Declaration of Independence, they had more to say about civic duty than personal fulfillment. So what exactly do they mean? Click here to find out: tinyurl.com/4ah2sy7n #wordoftheday

Aphorisms and Idioms: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness. A well-worn adage that doesn't actually mean what we think it means. What does it mean? Read here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… Pyrophile! If you enjoyed the fireworks this weekend, you might be one. Can you guess what it means? See if you’re right: tinyurl.com/yc255wjj #wordoftheday

Pyrophile: This Week's Fun & Fancy Word!

A pyrophile loves a good fire. But does that mean they spend their spare time burning things to the ground? Find out here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Tomorrow is the 250th anniversary of the United States. We’re celebrating with a video series from WashU called “1776, Then and Now,” which explores the ways ordinary people experienced the revolution against an authoritarian empire. Take a look: tinyurl.com/3vb2fnfz #4thofJuly #AmericanHistory

Just in time for America’s 250th Anniversary.

Just in time for America’s 250th anniversary. History buffs, and educators… these video lectures are right up your alley!

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

To close Pride Month, we’ve got an interview with Edward Underhill, author of Always the Almost and This Day Changes Everything. We talk about the importance of LGBTQIA+ representation in books and media, and plenty of other topics. Take a look: tinyurl.com/54m7a7s9 #bannedbooks #pridemonth

Power of Books: Edward Underhill

Power of Books Author Series: Edward Underhill. We talk about the importance of LGBTQIA representation, and joy as a form of resistance.

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… Cabotage! Because when you really need to get from Point A to Point B, it doesn’t really matter where your carrier is from, does it? Can you guess what it means? See if you’re right: tinyurl.com/4awyhyc4 #wordoftheday

Cabotage: This Week's Fun & Fancy Word:

Cabotage. No, it isn’t some kind of cabbage stew. And it doesn’t refer to sabotaging cab drivers. Find out what it actually means here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

“When pigs fly” is a classic aphorism that describes an impossible scenario. But author John Steinbeck used it to mean something far more aspirational. Click here to learn more: tinyurl.com/4vajtcn9 #wordoftheday

When Pigs Fly: Aphorisms and Idioms

When pigs fly is a figure of speech that insinuates complete impossibility. Then there's John Steinbeck's Pigasus. What's that? Find out here.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… Gardyloo! Thankfully, it hasn’t seen much use since plumbing became commonplace. Can you guess what it means? See if you’re right: tinyurl.com/mp5xfh9r #wordoftheday

Gardyloo: This Week's Fun & Fancy Word!

Gardyloo. If you were an 18th-century Scotsman and heard it being hollered, you’d make an abrupt move away from any windows. But why?

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Octavia Butler’s 1993 novel Parable of the Sower is an eerily prescient story about an America ravaged by climate change, ruled by private powers, and divided along lines of race, class, and community. But is Butler’s message truly so grim? Let’s take a look: tinyurl.com/5w8jvcxu #bannedbooks

Octavia Butler Tried To Tell Us: Parable of the Sower

The uncannily prescient novel Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler has really been resonating with folks lately. Find out why.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

While pride month is a celebration, it’s important to remember why we have it. Novels like The Picture of Dorian Grey show us what happens when a homophobic society weighs on a marginalized mind. Stories like these are necessary. And here’s why: tinyurl.com/mrxuznfh #bannedbooks #pridemonth

The Picture of Dorian Gray: The Story Of A Closeted Psyche

LGBTQ+ youth are four times more at risk for suicide than their straight cisgendered peers. Dorian Gray tells the story of this sad reality.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

This week’s Fun and Fancy Word is… Zephyrous! This word appears in all sorts of old literature, so for anyone familiar with Greek mythology, this one should be a breeze. Can you guess what it means? See if you’re right: tinyurl.com/y9wb6x5p #wordoftheday

Zephyrous: This Week's Fun & Fancy Word

Zephyrous. It doesn’t merely describe a type of wind, but evokes the serene feeling of a pleasant breeze caressing your skin.

000

This Book is Banned @thisbookisbanned.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Today, we’re honoring Magnus Hirschfeld, the German physician who founded the world’s first LGBTQIA+ activist group in 1897. His books are foundational to our modern understanding of sexuality, despite being burned by the Nazi party in 1933. Read on: tinyurl.com/35n9vu95 #bannedbooks #pridemonth

LGBTQ community targeted in first nazi book burning

On the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, remember that the LGBTQ community was targeted in the first nazi book burning.

000