Book bans and challenges: August 13, 2024

Here's the latest news on book bans, challenges, and other literary obstacles.

• Free-speech and education advocates are expressing concern that Utah's statewide ban on thirteen books in public schools has taken what is typically a local issue into a potentially precedent-setting broader one (The Guardian). 

• A federal appeals court lifted an injunction on an Iowa law that prevents public schools from having books that depict sexual acts, meaning the ban is now in place (The New York Times).

• One high school in Tennessee has shut down its library entirely while it goes through the collection to ensure none of the books violate the state's new content restrictions (LGBTQ Nation).

• Kelly Jensen provides talking points for freedom-to-read advocates to use, in expanding why book bans aren't okay to people who are open to a civil discussion (Book Riot).