I have a lot of favorites on the banned book list, but one of my top picks is Sula by Toni Morrison (I also love that her books have been banned from some prisons for fear they would cause a riot!)
I’m so excited to be a part of the book launch team! Launching books with my favorite authors is one of my very favorite things to do. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson is a favorite banned book (why do you make it so hard to live here and love you sometimes, Texas?!) and I’m in the middle of reading the Warmth of Other Suns by her right now. Thank you for letting me be a part of bringing your new book into the world, Austin!
I loved both of her books. Her writing in The Warmth of Other Suns was beautiful. It was in Caste, too, so I don't know what makes me say that...maybe because it was the first book I read of hers, so it was highlighted by the discovery of a new author for myself? Anyway, it was so very good.
Mar 15, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
Grateful to be here and learning with all of you! My most recent banned list read was “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison. Beautiful and heartbreaking. Excited to continue to learn from and with all of you.
Mar 15, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
I am so excited for this opportunity! My name is Melissa Crook, and I have a lot of favorite books, including many from the banned list and some that have already been mentioned in the previous comments, but another top one of mine is "How The Word is Passed" by Clint Smith. Another Favorite is "The Girl With The Louding Voice" by Abi Dare'. I have been learning from you for about 6 years now and so thankful for your voice in the world.
Mar 15, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
I am delighted to be invited into this space. Thank you, Austin. I am forever buoyed and guided by your words: "I need a love that is troubled by injustice." I too have a lot of favorite banned books. One that comes to immediate mind is Stamped For Kids by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. I'm thankful that my 13 year old will be reading it in school this year.
Mar 15, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
Hello all!! I’m so excited to be a part of this book launch and to meet y’all. My favorite memoir at the moment is “This time for me” by Alexandra Billings.
As my nine-year-old niece grows up in a household that will not expose her to books like these, I often work even harder to make sure they’re available just for kids like her to get a glimpse of truth someday. 💜
Mar 15, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
My earliest memory of banned books was reading Fahrenheit 451 from the Banned Book table in the public library in New Hampshire. But now living in Florida with kids in the public schools my favorite banned books are children's picture books like The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson. And all time fave book - Their Eyes Were Watching God by Floridian - Zora Neale Hurston
Mar 18, 2023·edited Mar 18, 2023Liked by Austin Channing Brown
Hi, Nikki! Fun to see you here, Troublemaker. :)
I loved learning that we can thank Alice Walker for bringing Zora Neale Hurston further into the light. It's such a beautiful story. They are two fantastic authors and they are just woven together in real life in such a special way.
Mar 15, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
Excited to be here and learn from you all! I am currently obsessed with the book This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley. I listened to the audiobook then had to get the hard copy to take notes. The books is half memoir and half spirituality, it is so beautifully written and reminds me of the way Ashley Ford writes in her memoir, where it is almost like she is painting a beautiful picture for you to see with her words. So beautiful and profound.
I looooooooove Ashley Ford's book. I want to read everything she writes forever. I am always so excited to give her book to someone who hasn't read it - and jealous that they get to read it for the first time.
Mar 15, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
Hello friends!
Growing up in Florida,
I was lucky enough to get an education before things went to shit 😅 We actually read many banned books as part of my high school curriculum, including Huck Finn, “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, and “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston (who is also my elementary school’s namesake!).
One of my favorite recent reads is a memoir by Danté Stewart, “Shoutin in the Fire”.
Mar 17, 2023·edited Mar 17, 2023Liked by Austin Channing Brown
That's so cool that you were exposed to so many great books. I grew up in North Florida, Panama City. I wasn't exposed to anything "controversial". I try to make up for it by reading as many books as I can by Troublemakers. LOL. Also by teaching my daughter about the inequities in the US.
I grew up in Miami with mostly Latinx kids & teachers, which contributed to my more diverse education (I myself am a Latina immigrant). I also had amazing teachers my last two years of high school that taught the full spectrum of history and literature, as well as very progressive classmates --although ironically I was very conservative back then 😂 I almost wish I could go back and take those classes again as an adult.
"Their Eyes Were Watching God" - I remember reading this in high school and it struck me then - it is so different than the almost all white and male authors we read for the most part. I loved it.
Mar 15, 2023·edited Mar 15, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
I'm so honored to be here. The little teal book was a game changer for me, and I know this ombre beauty will be for many others, especially our younger friends. I'm just sorry it took 40 some odd years in white skin to hear and see the reality of living while Black in America.
My current favorite little banned book is All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. My framily is currently fighting for its right to exist in our local schools because it's so lovely, inclusive and welcoming. Either All are Welcome, or they're not. All should be welcome at every table.
Mar 17, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
Excited to be here! I just submitted my dissertation and the last line is a quote from your book!! The first book that came to mind is Beloved by Toni Morrison. It’s powerful, tragic, and a must read. Thank you for this space.
[Immediately wondering if it's too weird to ask if you can read a dissertation of someone you've never met based solely on book preferences and a quote in the paper. Decides it is too soon to ask.] Crystal, I just finished my thesis for masters and so have about 1/1000th of an understanding of what you just turned in. MANY Congratulations!
Congratulations on finishing your masters thesis! That’s a huge achievement. Haha. I don’t think it’s weird. 😂 I’m hoping I’ll get 2 reads/downloads a year. My research area is white teacher identity awareness and the impact on Black children.
WOAH. Crystal, my head is spinning - that is so important and I am sure it was fascinating research (I'm going to guess it was also potentially hard sometimes). I'm thinking of the educators I know who will want to read that.....and some who I want to read it. I hope you'll get way more downloads than you're hoping for!
Mar 15, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
I am from Davenport, IA and am excited to be a part of this! Thanks so much for providing this opportunity. I loved your book and got to see you when you came to St. Paul Lutheran in Davenport to speak a few years back!
Mar 16, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
Looking forward to this book launch and these discussions! I saw a great T-shirt the other day- Ban the Fascists, Keep the Books. My pick is “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou.
Mar 15, 2023Liked by Jenny Booth Potter, Austin Channing Brown
Hello, friends. I'll be joining you from here in Seattle and hopefully bringing my 15-year-old daughter along for the ride. She's been into memoires lately, so I think this will be right up her alley.
I have a lot of favorites on the banned book list, but one of my top picks is Sula by Toni Morrison (I also love that her books have been banned from some prisons for fear they would cause a riot!)
I just received Sula in the mail last week after hearing about it on a podcast! So excited to read it!
I read Sula in grad school and really enjoyed it. It was great to read it in a space where we could discuss and wonder and share.
I’m so excited to be a part of the book launch team! Launching books with my favorite authors is one of my very favorite things to do. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson is a favorite banned book (why do you make it so hard to live here and love you sometimes, Texas?!) and I’m in the middle of reading the Warmth of Other Suns by her right now. Thank you for letting me be a part of bringing your new book into the world, Austin!
Isabel Wilkerson is such an intelligent woman! Loved Caste too and have Warmth of Other Suns on my list:)
So glad you joined in the fun!
I loved both of her books. Her writing in The Warmth of Other Suns was beautiful. It was in Caste, too, so I don't know what makes me say that...maybe because it was the first book I read of hers, so it was highlighted by the discovery of a new author for myself? Anyway, it was so very good.
Grateful to be here and learning with all of you! My most recent banned list read was “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison. Beautiful and heartbreaking. Excited to continue to learn from and with all of you.
I am so excited for this opportunity! My name is Melissa Crook, and I have a lot of favorite books, including many from the banned list and some that have already been mentioned in the previous comments, but another top one of mine is "How The Word is Passed" by Clint Smith. Another Favorite is "The Girl With The Louding Voice" by Abi Dare'. I have been learning from you for about 6 years now and so thankful for your voice in the world.
Clint Smith’s writing is so delicious!
I LOVE "How the Word is Passed"!!!!!! Absolutely incredible book.
I am delighted to be invited into this space. Thank you, Austin. I am forever buoyed and guided by your words: "I need a love that is troubled by injustice." I too have a lot of favorite banned books. One that comes to immediate mind is Stamped For Kids by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. I'm thankful that my 13 year old will be reading it in school this year.
Thank you for being here!
Hello all!! I’m so excited to be a part of this book launch and to meet y’all. My favorite memoir at the moment is “This time for me” by Alexandra Billings.
As my nine-year-old niece grows up in a household that will not expose her to books like these, I often work even harder to make sure they’re available just for kids like her to get a glimpse of truth someday. 💜
My earliest memory of banned books was reading Fahrenheit 451 from the Banned Book table in the public library in New Hampshire. But now living in Florida with kids in the public schools my favorite banned books are children's picture books like The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson. And all time fave book - Their Eyes Were Watching God by Floridian - Zora Neale Hurston
ZNH forever!!
Hi, Nikki! Fun to see you here, Troublemaker. :)
I loved learning that we can thank Alice Walker for bringing Zora Neale Hurston further into the light. It's such a beautiful story. They are two fantastic authors and they are just woven together in real life in such a special way.
Thinking of you in Florida.
Excited to be here and learn from you all! I am currently obsessed with the book This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley. I listened to the audiobook then had to get the hard copy to take notes. The books is half memoir and half spirituality, it is so beautifully written and reminds me of the way Ashley Ford writes in her memoir, where it is almost like she is painting a beautiful picture for you to see with her words. So beautiful and profound.
Cole is a beautiful writer!
Cole Arthur Riley's book was beautiful.
I looooooooove Ashley Ford's book. I want to read everything she writes forever. I am always so excited to give her book to someone who hasn't read it - and jealous that they get to read it for the first time.
Agreed! They both have such a gift! Their words on the page are so vibrant and beautiful.
Hello friends!
Growing up in Florida,
I was lucky enough to get an education before things went to shit 😅 We actually read many banned books as part of my high school curriculum, including Huck Finn, “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, and “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston (who is also my elementary school’s namesake!).
One of my favorite recent reads is a memoir by Danté Stewart, “Shoutin in the Fire”.
Love love love “Their Eyes Were Watching God”!
That's so cool that you were exposed to so many great books. I grew up in North Florida, Panama City. I wasn't exposed to anything "controversial". I try to make up for it by reading as many books as I can by Troublemakers. LOL. Also by teaching my daughter about the inequities in the US.
I grew up in Miami with mostly Latinx kids & teachers, which contributed to my more diverse education (I myself am a Latina immigrant). I also had amazing teachers my last two years of high school that taught the full spectrum of history and literature, as well as very progressive classmates --although ironically I was very conservative back then 😂 I almost wish I could go back and take those classes again as an adult.
"Their Eyes Were Watching God" - I remember reading this in high school and it struck me then - it is so different than the almost all white and male authors we read for the most part. I loved it.
Stewart's book is on my list....actually, I take that back. He's in my stack to be read! :)
I'm so honored to be here. The little teal book was a game changer for me, and I know this ombre beauty will be for many others, especially our younger friends. I'm just sorry it took 40 some odd years in white skin to hear and see the reality of living while Black in America.
My current favorite little banned book is All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. My framily is currently fighting for its right to exist in our local schools because it's so lovely, inclusive and welcoming. Either All are Welcome, or they're not. All should be welcome at every table.
So happy to be here! Caste is also my favorite banned book.
Excited to be here! I just submitted my dissertation and the last line is a quote from your book!! The first book that came to mind is Beloved by Toni Morrison. It’s powerful, tragic, and a must read. Thank you for this space.
Congratulations on finishing your dissertation! I’m honored to have my words included
[Immediately wondering if it's too weird to ask if you can read a dissertation of someone you've never met based solely on book preferences and a quote in the paper. Decides it is too soon to ask.] Crystal, I just finished my thesis for masters and so have about 1/1000th of an understanding of what you just turned in. MANY Congratulations!
Congratulations on finishing your masters thesis! That’s a huge achievement. Haha. I don’t think it’s weird. 😂 I’m hoping I’ll get 2 reads/downloads a year. My research area is white teacher identity awareness and the impact on Black children.
That’s an incredible research area!!!
WOAH. Crystal, my head is spinning - that is so important and I am sure it was fascinating research (I'm going to guess it was also potentially hard sometimes). I'm thinking of the educators I know who will want to read that.....and some who I want to read it. I hope you'll get way more downloads than you're hoping for!
I am from Davenport, IA and am excited to be a part of this! Thanks so much for providing this opportunity. I loved your book and got to see you when you came to St. Paul Lutheran in Davenport to speak a few years back!
So great! A part of me really misses being on the road being able to meet so many people committed to racial justice 💜
Looking forward to this book launch and these discussions! I saw a great T-shirt the other day- Ban the Fascists, Keep the Books. My pick is “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou.
What a fantastic t-shirt!
I have this shirt and wear it proudly.
Hi Everyone! I’m joining from Massachusetts. My favorite memoir I read most recently was Danielle Henderson’s The Ugly Cry!
Also, I am SUPER excited for the Tracy Clayton event and now want to re-listen to all of Another Round!
I definitely plan to pretend I’m a guest on Another Round 🤣🤣
Hello, friends. I'll be joining you from here in Seattle and hopefully bringing my 15-year-old daughter along for the ride. She's been into memoires lately, so I think this will be right up her alley.
So glad you’re bringing your daughter along!!