The librarian who handed me a banned book with a smile

Last summer I was at the public library in Portland, just browsing the YA section because my niece kept asking for recommendations. This older librarian noticed me staring at the empty spot where "Looking for Alaska" used to be and walked over. She didn't say anything dramatic, just pulled a copy from behind the desk and said "some folks think teenagers can't handle questions about life and death, but I think they can handle more than we give them credit for." That moment stuck with me because it was so quiet and matter of fact. It made me realize that the real reason books get challenged isn't about protecting kids, it's about controlling what questions they get to ask. Has anyone else had a librarian or teacher who quietly fought for access to a banned book?

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