PHOENIX — Banned Books Week is back, readers: Are you ready for it?

The annual week-long celebration of literature that is banned started in 1982, after numerous book bans were put in place across the country. Now, libraries, bookstores, educators, and readers put together events in celebration of the freedom to read.

The 2025 Banned Books Week theme is: "Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights."

“The 2025 theme of Banned Books Week serves as a reminder that censorship efforts persist to this day,” American Library Association President Cindy Hohl said in a news release. “We must always come together to stand up for the right to read.”

This year, George Takei has been named the honorary chair of Banned Books Week 2025. The pioneering actor, author and activist will lead the w

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