What do Sherman Alexie, Harper Lee, Aldous Huxley, and Suzanne Collins all have in common? For daring to take on racism, violence, or religion – and using the occasional dirty word to do so – their books are among the top 10 most challenged in the country.

To celebrate national Banned Books Week (Sept. 30-Oct. 6), local authors and musicians are gathering for a “celebration of the censored” tomorrow night (10/4), 6-8pm, at Scholz Garten. Sponsored by Austin Public Library Friends Foundation, the Banned Books Bash will feature famous banned material read by Ruth Pennebaker, Jake Silverstein, Amy Cook, Miles Zuniga, Sarah Hickman, Sandra Wilkie, and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson. The reliably funny Owen Egerton emcees, and tickets cost $10 (beer, wine, & apps included) for anyone who isn’t a Library Foundation Member.

This article appears in September 28 • 2012.

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A graduate of the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Kimberley has written about film, books, and pop culture for The Austin Chronicle since 2000. She was named Editor of the Chronicle in 2016; she previously served as the paper’s Managing Editor, Screens Editor, Books Editor, and proofreader. Her work has been awarded by the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for excellence in arts criticism, team reporting, and special section (Best of Austin). The Austin Alliance for Women...