IPES/EyeSeeMe Banned Book Program
Consider donating below to help us fill our current requests.
In recent times, school districts have increasingly faced efforts to ban the books used in classrooms and school libraries. These books are often the works of people from historically-excluded identity groups in an effort to suppress the inclusion of diverse stories in our educational institutions. We believe that this is censorship that removes the rights of ALL parents to make educational decisions for their children and for students to explore diversity of thought, knowledge, and experiences.
To respond to these book bans, we are creating a program to provide these books to households free of charge to parents and students.
How it works:
Each month, IPES and EyeSeeMe will select a book(s) to offer.
Students and parents interested in receiving a copy of the book should complete the form below.
We will review the form, and EyeSeeMe will ship free copies to as many of those who qualify as we have available.
Please note that due to the extraordinary interest in this program, we have had to adjust some of our rules and expectations.
Each month, we will pre-set the number of books we are able to offer based upon the funds that we have raised.
Participants will have until a specific date to request books. After that date, the form will be closed, and we will use electronic methods to randomly select the individuals who will receive the books we have available.
How you can help:
Donate to the Banned Book Fund All donations go directly to the cost of the books and shipping. The more donations we have, the more books we are able to offer.
February 2023
Apply before February 21st for a chance to receive a copy of your selected book.
Elementary: The 1619 Project: Born On The Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson
Emma and Josh heard that something happened in their town. A Black man was shot by the police.
"Why did the police shoot that man?"
"Can police go to jail?"
Something Happened in Our Town follows two families — one White, one Black — as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community. The story aims to answer children's questions about such traumatic events, and to help children identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives.
Middle School: l8r, g8r by Lauren Myracle
It’s time for a new generation of readers to discover the phenomenally bestselling and beloved series, told entirely in messages and texts. With a fresh look and updated cultural references, the notorious list-topping series is ready for the iPhone generation.
First published in 2004 (holy moly!), ttyl and its sequels follow the ups and downs of high school for the winsome threesome, three very different but very close friends: wild Maddie (mad maddie), bubbly Angela (SnowAngel), and reserved Zoe (zoegirl). Through teacher crushes, cross-country moves, bossy Queen Bees, incriminating party pics, and other bumps along the way, author Lauren Myracle explores the many potholes of teenagedom with the unflinching honesty and pitch-perfect humor that made this series a staple of young adult literature.
High School: Me, earl, and the dying girl by Jesse andrews
The New York Times bestselling novel that inspired the hit film!
This is the funniest book you’ll ever read about death.
It is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks. But on the first day of his senior year, Greg Gaines thinks he’s figured it out. The answer to the basic existential question: How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad? His strategy: remain at the periphery at all times. Keep an insanely low profile. Make mediocre films with the one person who is even sort of his friend, Earl.
This plan works for exactly eight hours. Then Greg’s mom forces him to become friends with a girl who has cancer. This brings about the destruction of Greg’s entire life.
Fiercely funny, honest, heart-breaking—this is an unforgettable novel from a bright talent, now also a film that critics are calling "a touchstone for its generation" and "an instant classic."
