Judy Blume books banned

Utah has become the first state to implement a statewide ban on specific books in public schools, targeting 13 titles including works by Judy Blume, Margaret Atwood, Rupi Kaur, and Sarah J. Maas, effective July 1. The ban stems from a new law that allows books to be removed if they are prohibited in three school districts or two districts and five charter schools. Critics, including PEN America, argue that this move represents a significant censorship overreach, with Kasey Meehan calling it a 'dark day for the freedom to read.' The law's vague guidelines mandate that banned books must be 'legally disposed of' without the option for resale or distribution, raising concerns about the potential for widespread book destruction. Twelve of the thirteen banned titles are authored by women, highlighting a troubling trend in literary censorship. A coalition named Let Utah Read has initiated a petition to challenge the law and advocate for diverse literature access.