‘Banned Wagon’ bringing free banned books to Austin bookstore

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin independent bookstore has been selected as one of nine stops across the country for the Banned Wagon, a national initiative to promote literacy and connect people with titles that have been banned or challenged.

The Banned Wagon will make a visit to Black Pearl Books on Oct. 15, distributing free book copies to event attendees between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., officials with the effort shared in a release. Penguin Random House, United Against Book Bans, Little Free Library and First Book are the entities behind the Banned Wagon, with their work centered around visiting communities in the Midwest and South, where there have been higher concentrations of banned and challenged titles.

The ‘heart’ of Black Pearl Books’ mission

Katrina Books, founder and co-owner of Black Pearl Books, told KXAN Thursday Penguin Random House reached out to her shop about the collaboration, given that they have a great relationship with the publisher.

But beyond that relationship, the publisher also recognized Black Pearl Books has made their own concerted efforts to fight censorship and book bans. For more than two years, the shop has run a Redacted Reads Book Club, with participants reading banned and challenged books.

“For us, as a Black-owned bookstore, our mission is we carry books that focus on representation, inclusion, diversity,” Brooks said. “Many of the books that are banned fall under one of those categories, so a lot of the books that we just naturally would have on our shelf have been banned or are getting banned.”

Brooks said the inspiration behind opening her bookstore was creating a space that could amplify diverse voices and experiences through literature — particular those of people from groups that are traditionally marginalized and whose stories aren’t often told. With those voices often the ones targeted through bans or challenged titles, she said fighting censorship is “at the heart” of what the store does.

Alongside its community bookstore, Brooks also operates Put It In A Book , a nonprofit organization created in 2021 that partners with schools and local community organizations to increase book access. Last year, that organization raised $10,000 for its programming efforts, as well as donated 1,500 books to 52 schools within seven districts, per a 2023 nonprofit recap.

Black Pearl Books also works alongside Austin Independent School District high schools and district librarians to provide books for students to have their own banned book clubs on campus. Brooks said that access at a younger age is so critical, especially for students to see themselves and their lives reflected in literature.

“Really for us, that hope is that providing titles, providing this Right to Read program, it sparks conversation. It sparks understanding,” she said. “It sparks acceptance, and that these kids will have the courage to live out loud and to hopefully one day write their own stories, see their own stories on the shelves.”

Brooks added community bookstores like Black Pearl Books are spaces that invite connection, conversation and knowledge about communities familiar — or unique — to customers’ individual lived experiences.

“That’s why we exist, to build this community of people, and to share these stories and to share our lives with one another,” she said, adding: “It’s really all about making connections with one another, and our goal is, through the bookstore to hopefully bring the community together and make that happen.”

What to expect from the Banned Wagon event

The Banned Wagon will be on site at Black Pearl Books from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 15, and will have 20 books on hand at the event. Those attending can receive one free book and shop other titles, with the Banned Wagon offering freebies and giveaways in the store, Brooks said.

David Levithan, author of “Two Boys Kissing,” will also be signing copies of his book at Black Pearl Books, Banned Wagon officials said. Brooks added some local authors who work with Penguin Random House will also be stopping through.

Alongside those festivities, she said family-friendly activities, like scavenger hunts and crafts, will also be offered.

The Banned Wagon’s appearance in Austin comes shortly after Banned Book Weeks, held Sept. 22-28. Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31 of this year, preliminary data from the American Library Association found 414 attempts to ban or censor materials and services within libraries across the U.S.

Among those 414 attempts, more than 1,100 individual titles were challenged, the ALA said. In the same timespan in 2023, there were nearly 700 attempts and more than 1,900 individual book titles reportedly challenged, per the ALA. A record number of individual titles were challenged in 2023, with 4,240 unique books and materials reported.

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