8 New Indie Publishers (and their books) selected for We Are Stronger Than Censorship

We welcome these publishers and their selected titles:

American Academy of Pediatrics - You-ology: A Puberty Guide for EVERY Body

Bywater Books - Two Wings to Fly Away

Con Todo Press - Be Bold, Be Brave: 11 Latinas Who Made U.S. History

NatureCulture - From Root to Seed: Black, Brown, and Indigenous Poets Write the Northeast

Shaherazad Shelves - Yusuf and Yusra's Spooky Dilemma

Shero Comics - Young Grandmaster Choi

Shout Mouse Press - The Day Tajon Got Shot

Snowy Wings Publishing - Fire Heart

As We Are Stronger Than Censorship raises funds to buy two books to offset every one book challenge or ban, these titles will be purchased and distributed through our program partners into the hands of the readers for whom they will mean so much.

Sara Hoerdeman from the American Academy of Pediatrics: "The American Academy of Pediatrics is committed to the optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. You-ology: A Puberty Guide for EVERY Body embraces an inclusive approach that normalizes puberty for all kids, including kids who are non-binary or transgender—making it a target. A diverse cast of characters adds relatability and humor to the fact-based, age-appropriate, body positive information.

Samiha Hoque from Shaherazad Shelves: “The chapter book Yusuf and Yusra's Spooky Dilemma is a part of Shaherazad Shelves's flagship series about two Muslim siblings learning about American holidays and how not celebrating them can be respectful of both their religious beliefs and American culture. As a publisher of racial and religious fiction, we've seen many challenges where racist rhetoric has called the inclusion of Muslim-sounding names/places an ‘agenda’ and the usage of non-European words called a ‘fantasy language.’ We hope our books, like Yusuf and Yusra's Spooky Dilemma, will be a comfort to the marginalized, illustrating how differences in the way one looks and speaks can be a place of celebration and understanding.

Shequeta Smith from Shero Comics: “Young Grandmaster Choi is a kid's martial arts manga about an African American army brat who grows up in South Korea. The book series explores both Korean and African American history. Despite the book being a hit amongst librarians, the ongoing book bans and challenges have created doubt about carrying minority-led titles. This has made it extremely difficult for Young Grandmaster Choi to find the type of distribution that would put us on shelves across America.

Kathy Crutcher from Shout Mouse Press: “Once included as one of "10 Books to Read After The Hate U Give" by School Library Journal, The Day Tajon Got Shot is a rarity in the publishing marketplace: a book for young people BY young people. This powerful novel written by ten Black young women explores the impacts of police violence on a community — a conversation that has been met with censorship and silencing in schools across the country. Their book deserves to be read by young people everywhere."

Naibe Reynoso from Con Todo Press: “Book bans have impacted our title Be Bold! Be Brave! 11 Latinas Who Made U.S. History by limiting access to diverse narratives that celebrate the achievements of underrepresented groups. Such bans stifle important conversations about identity, culture, and empowerment, making it harder for young readers to see themselves reflected in history. By promoting these inspiring stories, we are challenging censorship and advocating for inclusivity in education, emphasizing the necessity of diverse voices in literature.

Lisa Basalto from Snowy Wings Publishing: “Fire Heart is a moving fantasy novel for teens that focuses on a strong-willed apprentice swordsmith finding her place in the world. When it was first published in Southeast Asia, the book's LGBT content was censored. We are so pleased to have the opportunity to publish this new edition of Fire Heart which restores the book's original themes and brings the story to a worldwide audience. Snowy Wings Publishing is proud to stand against censorship and is committed to bringing inclusive books to all readers.”

Salem West from Bywater Books: “Set against the landscape of fear created by the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the impending Supreme Court decision on Dred Scott v. Sandford, Penny Mickelbury’s powerful novel Two Wings to Fly Away offers a vivid portrait of life as a queer Black American woman that remains terrifyingly relevant to this day. Book bans have a disproportionate impact on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC writers, and it is the focus of Bywater Books to amplify these voices that are under attack and to ensure that all readers have the opportunity to see themselves in the stories they read.”

Lis McLoughlin from NatureCulture: “A plethora of stories is only dangerous to those whose way of life is so rigid it cannot evolve to meet new challenges. Threatened by the very existence of other pathways, unable to win a competition of free ideas debated on their own merits, those with indefensible positions resort to attempting to pre-emptively silence their competition. Evolution has shown that such a path will eventually fail. Better to develop the skills enhanced by reading: flexibility and the open-mindedness to explore, think, and choose for oneself.”

The chilling effect of book banning is especially hurting independent publishers who publish Black, Indigenous, Queer and other marginalized authors, stories, and histories. With the help of everyone reading this, We Are Stronger Than Censorship aims to be part of the solution – and we congratulate these publishers!