“The State of Book Bans in Idaho and Beyond,” presented by Eija Sumner

Books and the ability to read freely are under attack in the United States. Since 2021, individual states, including Idaho, have passed laws that have paved the way for a deluge of book bans and challenges in public and K-12 school libraries.

Eija Sumner is the Idaho chapter lead for Authors Against Book Bans, a coalition of writers, illustrators, anthology editors and contributors, and other book creators, who stand united against the deeply unconstitutional movement to limit the freedom to read. Eija is a children’s author, a co-regional advisor for the Inland NW Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, member of the steering committee for the Idaho Freedom to Read Alliance, and leads the Moscow Banned Book Club in partnership with BookPeople of Moscow.