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What Happens When Young People Actually Read “Banned” Books?
In a sea of troubling headlines about education and teen well-being, Gay Ivey and Peter Johnston bring good news. Their book, Teens Choosing to Read: Fostering Social, Emotional, and Intellectual Growth Through Books (Teachers College Press, 2023), a finalist for the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award, shows what happens when we stop underestimating young people. Based on a four-year study, it documents how adolescents once labeled reluctant readers became engaged and even passionate when teachers let them choose their own books, provided time to read, and removed the pressure.
The results were remarkable. Teens who once disliked reading began to devour books inside and outside of school, performed better on state tests, managed stress, and found new meaning in their lives and relationships.
This Banned Books Week, join Ivey and Johnston for a timely discussion of their findings and what they reveal about supporting adolescents today. They’ll explore why student choice matters, what students should and should not be asked to read, and the personal and social costs of censoring books that matter to them.
This webinar is for teacher educators, pre- and inservice secondary school teachers, literacy specialists, media specialists, curriculum supervisors, librarians, parents, and anyone else engaged with topics such as adolescent literacy, book banning, age-appropriate curriculum, and more.
Sponsored by Teachers College Press
15
Attendees
Starts on
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 5:30 PM EDT
Ends on
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 6:30 PM EDT