Celebrating Banned Books Week with Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books

Read time: 3 minutes

Every October, readers, writers, and librarians across the world come together to celebrate Banned Books Week. This is a tradition that began in 1982 when the American Library Association (ALA) noticed a disturbing rise in attempts to censor books in schools and public libraries.

This annual event (October 5–11 this year) isn’t just about the books themselves but about defending the freedom to read, think, and share ideas. It’s about saying no to silence and yes to stories.

And while I might be a little belated to the party, I couldn’t think of a better way to honour the spirit of Banned Books Week than by revisiting one of the most powerful novels that speaks to this fight for intellectual freedom:✨ Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller.

💬 Why This Book Matters

Miller’s story is sharp, funny, and fearless. It dives into the dark irony of a small-town woman who becomes the face of a censorship movement, only to find herself transformed by the very books she tries to suppress.

It’s both a satire and a love letter to readers. A reminder that stories, even the ones people try to erase, are often the ones we need most.

✨ The Best Quotes from Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books

🔥 Freedom, Knowledge & Power

“What matters is never letting people tell you what to think. Don’t let them convince you that one way is right and another way wrong. Gather as much knowledge as you can, because information is power. And choosing how to use it is freedom. The more you know, the freer you will be.”

“When you have everything, the only luxury left is taking things away from others.”

“‘They were just ordinary people. That’s what makes them so terrifying.… When the people who come for you in the night are your neighbors and coworkers and classmates…’ ‘Hate is a disease, Dawn.’”

Each of these lines captures the danger of complacency and the courage it takes to think for yourself in a world that rewards obedience.

💛 Family, Love & Acceptance

“If you have a family that loves each other and children who want to spend time with you, then you’ve been a good parent.”

“The New Testament tells us we’re supposed to follow Christ, not the old ways. And as far as I know, Jesus never said a damn thing about gay folks or barbecue. But he sure did talk a lot about love.”

“There is no need to make magic. There is magic all around us. We need only to recognize it and make use of what is already there.”

📖 Books, Stories & Rebellion

“Stories are the most powerful things in this world. They can mend broken hearts, bring back good memories, and make people fall in love.”

“If your faith was shaken by foul words or sex scenes, then you must not have had very much to begin with.”

“I think of every bouquet as a little story,” Betsy told her, “and stories are the most powerful things in the world.”

These are the quotes that stay with you, the kind that whisper in your ear when you’re standing in a quiet library aisle, holding a book someone once feared.

🌎 The Legacy of Banned Books Week

Since its founding, Banned Books Week has spotlighted everything from To Kill a Mockingbird and The Handmaid’s Tale to The Hate U Give and Gender Queer. Each title represents not just a challenge, but a conversation.

Because banning a book doesn’t erase it.
It amplifies its power.
It makes people curious.
It makes readers braver.

So even if you’re late to the party (like me!), it’s never too late to celebrate the stories that refuse to be silenced.

🌟 Final Thought

Kirsten Miller’s Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books is more than a novel. It’s a mirror, a warning, and a quiet revolution bound in pages.

As readers, our greatest rebellion is simple: keep reading.

Book Links:

My review of the book
Goodreads
Amazon CA
Follow Kirsten Miller on her author page