They Don’t Want Moms Like Us Reading These Books. So I’m Reading Them All.
I don’t have a stack of banned books on my nightstand.
I don’t have time to read by candlelight with a latte and a perfectly arranged throw blanket.
But I do have AirPods. I have questions. And I have kids I’m raising in a world that censors the wrong things while staying quiet about what actually matters.
So I’m doing something about it.
I’m reading 6 banned books in 6 months. And I’m sharing every single takeaway, uncomfortable truth, and “holy crap, THAT’S why they banned this” moment with you.
Why This Challenge Matters (Especially for Moms)
Here’s what I realized: When books get banned, it’s usually because they tell stories someone doesn’t want us to hear. Stories about race, identity, power, trauma, sexuality, resilience — basically, all the things our kids will encounter in real life whether we prepare them or not.
As moms, we’re raising the next generation. Don’t we deserve to know what stories are being silenced? What conversations are being shut down before they even start?
This isn’t about being controversial. It’s about being informed.
When my kids ask me about hard topics — and they will — I want to have actually engaged with these stories myself. I want to understand why some adults think teenagers can’t handle books about grief, identity, or finding your place in the world.
I want to read like it still means something.
The 6-Month Reading List: What We’re Reading and Why They Were Banned
| Month | Book | Author | Why It Was Banned |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | Looking for Alaska | John Green | Profanity, sexuality, and raw teen emotional content |
| August | The Bluest Eye | Toni Morrison | Discussions of racism, trauma, and difficult family dynamics |
| September | The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky | LGBTQ+ themes, mental health, and abuse |
| October | Gender Queer | Maia Kobabe | LGBTQ+ identity exploration and memoir content |
| November | The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian | Sherman Alexie | Poverty, racism, and honest teenage experiences |
| December | The Handmaid’s Tale | Margaret Atwood | Religious critique, women’s rights, reproductive freedom |
We’re starting with Looking for Alaska this July — a book that was challenged for talking honestly about grief, friendship, and what it means to seek something greater than yourself.
How This Challenge Works (Perfect for Busy Mom Life)
The Reality Check: I’m not expecting you to curl up with physical books for hours. Life doesn’t work that way.
The Real Plan:
- 📱 Audiobooks are 100% fair game (I’ll be listening while folding laundry, walking, or doing dishes)
- 🎥 Weekly TikTok/IG content where I share real takeaways, not performative book reviews
- 📝 Monthly blog posts diving deeper into why each book was challenged and what we can learn
- 💬 Community conversation — because these books are meant to be discussed, not hidden
Weekly Content Flow:
- Week 1: Book intro + why it was banned
- Week 2: The quote or moment that hit hardest
- Week 3: Main takeaway (“Here’s what they don’t want us talking about”)
- Week 4: Final reflection (“Would I recommend this to other parents?”)
“But What If These Books Are Actually Inappropriate?”
Valid question. Here’s my approach:
I’m reading these as a grown adult and parent first. My goal isn’t to hand every book to my kids — it’s to understand what these stories contain and why some adults think they’re dangerous.
Some of these books deal with heavy topics: trauma, sexuality, identity, systemic racism, mental health. But guess what? Our kids are already encountering these realities. The question is: Do we want them to navigate these topics with guidance and conversation, or in silence and shame?
Reading these books helps me become a more informed parent — someone who can have nuanced conversations instead of just saying “because I said so.”
Join the Challenge: How You Can Participate
You don’t have to read every book or follow my exact timeline. Here’s how you can join in whatever way works for your life:
📚 For Fellow Readers:
- Pick 1-2 books from the list that interest you most
- Share your thoughts using #BannedBooksChallenge
- Tag me [@danielladoesitall] — I want to hear your takeaways!
📱 For Content Creators:
- Use my weekly content structure for easy posts
- Share quotes, reflections, or “Would I let my teen read this?” thoughts
- Help normalize conversations about challenging topics
💬 For Parents & Caregivers:
- Read along and share your perspective as someone raising kids
- Join the conversation about which topics we should address vs. avoid
- Help create a community where difficult questions get thoughtful answers
What You Can Expect from Me
Real talk, not book club pretense. I’ll share:
- Honest reactions (including “I didn’t expect that” moments)
- Why certain passages or themes might make adults uncomfortable
- How these stories could inform conversations with our own kids
- Resources for parents who want to engage with challenging topics thoughtfully
I’m not here to tell you how to parent. I’m here to read what they tried to silence and share what I discover — so we can all make informed decisions about the stories we pass down.
Ready to Read What They Don’t Want Us Reading?
Follow along on:
- TikTok [@danielladoesitalll] & Instagram [@danielladoesitall]: for weekly content and real-time reactions
- This Blog: Monthly deep-dives and reading guides
- Email List: Sign up here for your free challenge tracker ++ behind-the-scenes thoughts and bonus content
Starting July 1st with Looking for Alaska — a book that dares to talk about grief, friendship, and seeking meaning beyond the safe and familiar.
Because here’s what I believe: The stories they try to erase are often the ones our kids need most.
Let’s read like it still means something. Let’s talk about what they wanted us to forget. Let’s pass down stories worth remembering.
What banned book would you add to this list? Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear which stories have impacted you most.
xo,
daniella does it all 
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