Throughout history, oppressive regimes have tried to silence ideas by banning books. But stories have a stubborn way of fighting back—through hidden book clubs, underground libraries, and bold readers who refuse to be silenced. These seven books explore how literature becomes a tool of resistance against oppression and authoritarianism.
- The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes
“Books are a way we leave a mark on the world, aren’t they? They say we were here, we loved and we grieved and we laughed and we made mistakes and we existed. They can be burned halfway across the world, but the words cannot be un-read, the stories cannot be untold.”
1933 Berlin – American author Althea James goes to Berlin as part of a cultural exchange program. She joins a group of resisters fighting against the Nazis.
1936 Paris – Hannah has fled from Berlin to Paris and now works at the German Library of Burned Books. She believes she can help fight the fascism spreading across Europe through books.
1944 NYC – Vivian coordinates a program that sends books to soldiers and is under attack from a senator trying to censor the books that are sent. The three women’s stories intertwine when Vivian decides to fight back.
Inspired by the real-life Council of Books in Wartime, an organization of librarians, authors, and publishers who believed books could fight the spread of dangerous ideologies during WWII.
2. Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen
“Books themselves are freedom. Freedom to think, to believe, to dream.”
In 1893, 12-year-old Audra discovers that her parents have been smuggling banned Lithuanian books in an effort to preserve their culture under Russian occupation. When her home is attacked by Cossacks, she becomes part of an underground resistance, risking everything to protect a language and a people.
Set during the Lithuanian press ban, this middle-grade historical novel shows how books can be a lifeline for preserving identity and resisting cultural erasure.
3. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
“Books and ideas are like blood; they need to circulate, and they keep us alive.”
1939 Paris – Odile Souche is a librarian in Paris when it is invaded by the Nazis. When the library is threatened, Odile and her fellow librarians use their best weapons – books.
1983 Montana – Lily uncovers her mysterious neighbor’s past, where a dark secret connects them.
Based on the true story of the American Library in Paris and its brave librarians who continued serving readers during the war.
4. Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada, Illustrated by Hyung-Ju Ko
“You gotta wonder. Do they ban books because they see danger in their authors, or because they see themselves in their villains?”
Set in 1983 South Korea, this graphic memoir follows college freshman Hyun Sook as she joins a secret book club reading banned literature. Through books and friendship, she becomes increasingly aware of the fascist regime around her, and how reading can be a revolutionary act.
Drawn from Kim Hyun Sook’s real experiences during a time of intense political repression in South Korea, this memoir powerfully illustrates how students risked everything to challenge authoritarianism armed with nothing but banned books and unshakable ideas.
5. Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
“It takes courage to die for a cause, but also to live for one.”
This memoir recounts how Azar Nafisi, a professor in post-revolution Iran, formed a secret book club with her female students. Together, they read banned Western classics and explore themes of agency, oppression, and imagination amidst severe censorship and patriarchal control.
A profound meditation on literature and resistance, set against the backdrop of the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on intellectual freedom, especially for women.
6. That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones
“My huge crime was speaking out against censorship at my local public library.”
In this memoir, Louisiana librarian Amanda Jones shares her firsthand experiences being targeted for speaking out against censorship. Despite online harassment, threats, and smear campaigns, she continues to fight for intellectual freedom and the protection of marginalized voices.
A present-day look at how book banning is alive and well in the U.S., and how librarians remain some of the most courageous defenders of access to ideas.
7. Books under Fire: A Hit List of Banned and Challenged Children’s Books by Pat R. Scales
This reference guide provides an overview of some of the most frequently challenged children’s and YA books in the United States, explaining the reasons behind the challenges and offering practical guidance for librarians, educators, and parents.
This is an essential toolkit for those on the front lines of the fight against censorship, offering insights, discussion prompts, and strategies for defending the right to read.
These stories remind us that the freedom to read is not guaranteed and it must be protected. Reading is an act of resistance. If you believe in intellectual freedom, now is the time to read widely, speak up, and support those fighting to keep stories alive.
“Women are the real architects of society.” 
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