Right to Read Night

At a moment when books are being targeted for removal, educators and librarians are under attack, and the freedom to read is at risk, local groups are gathering together across the nation for the Right to Read Night!

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We call on allies of the freedom to read across the country to host a local Right to Read Night during Banned Books Week (October 5 - 11, 2025). Participants will gather for a discussion of our featured selection, Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson! Just one of the thousands of books targeted by censors, this deeply moving novel tells the story of an enslaved teenager’s struggle for freedom in the time of the American Revolution.

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These community conversations will invite us to think about why the book is important, what attempts to ban it mean for free expression, and how to defend the right to read.

Follow the simple guide in our toolkit to see how you can host a Right to Read Night for your community!