Just in time for Banned Books Week 2024, Penguin Random House’s Banned Wagon will hit the road for the second year in a row to connect with communities impacted by censorship and sound the alarm on the negative consequences of book bans.

Running from September 22 through October 15, the Banned Wagon has increased the number of planned stops at libraries and bookstores from four in 2023 to nine in 2024, perhaps a reflection of the growth in book ban attempts nationwide. The American Library Association (ALA) recorded more than 4,000 instances of book banning during the first half of the 2023-2024 school year, reaching the highest level ever documented.

The 2024 route includes three library stops—Milwaukee Public Library, Chicago Public Library, and Lakewood Public Library, OH—where the Wagon will distribute free copies (while supplies last) of frequently challenged materials. Available books will include:

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood 
• This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges 
• Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
• Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 
• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton 
• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan 
• Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo 
• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
• My Rainbow by DeShanna Neal and Trinity Neal 
• Born Ready by Jodie Patterson
• All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold 
• Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña 
• I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson 

The Banned Wagon will expand its reach to places not on the tour through its Save Our Stories donation initiative. In partnership with First Book, PRH will donate a book to a community in need each time someone scans the QR code featured on the outside of the wagon and within collateral materials. Additionally, the Banned Wagon has again partnered with Little Free Library to deliver banned books to more than 50 Little Free Libraries along the tour route. In all, the Banned Wagon will make over 20,000 book donations to communities across the country.

According to Alyssa Taylor, Director of Brand Marketing, Penguin Random House, “We’re excited to hit the road again with the Banned Wagon and team up with Unite Against Book Bans, Little Free Library, First Book and our bookstore and library partners to reach some of the communities most impacted by this critical issue and get more books into the hands of readers of all ages.”

Librarians and staff from the library tour locations will provide updates over the next week. Follow along with Library Journal as the Banned Wagon tours the U.S. The full route is available on the Banned Wagon tour website.