The Banned Book Club in Moscow has been gaining momentum since the fall of 2024. The group was created after House Bill 710 was passed by Govenor Brad Little, which forces libraries to put any books that are “harmful” to children or youth in a separate section. Anyone interested in those books must show their IDs to enter.
Since then, this has made it increasingly difficult for libraries and bookstores across Idaho. BookPeople of Moscow, like many bookstores, now faces an increasing list of “banned books” that the federal or local government deem do not align with American ideas or values. BookPeople of Moscow decided to fight back by starting a Banned Book club through their business.
“[HB 710] is a broad and vague law which will impact many histories, and fiction books and makes no distinction between books for infants versus those for 17-year-olds,” Bree Pickens, the co-owner of BookPeople of Moscow, said in an interview last fall. “They are classed as harmful regardless of age or maturity level. It’s already had an effect across the state as libraries have begun preemptively restricting and removing books so as not to incur any legal threat if this goes through.”
Major national book publishers have joined local Idaho library districts in a against the state of Idaho.lawsuit against the state of Idaho.
Pickens shared their insight on how the club is doing.
“Banned Book Club is going well,” Pickens said. “We always have a good turnout, and everyone is enthusiastic about our freedom to read and express.”
Pickens said that a new change they made was integrating middle and young adult novels into their monthly picks.
“It’s led to some really good discussions among the community,” Pickens said. “Plus, I’m a fan of alternating between children’s and adult literature as it gives a nice change of pace from month to month.”
Pickens said that changing the different forms of literature can be refreshing. The variety can help increase involvement from younger people in Moscow.
The Banned Book Club meets every fourth Monday of each month, and the locations change each time. BookPeople’s events list the book and the location of each month’s meeting.
This month they are reading “Esperanza Rising” by Pam Muñoz Ryan. The group will be meeting in the 1912 Center’s Book Room from 6-8 p.m. on April 28.
Lexie Yates can be reached at [email protected].