About us
According to ABC4 News, as of August 2026, "Utah has the eighth highest total of banned books in the nation." That's why we are here.
Welcome to The Banned Book Club! We are a community of local readers dedicated to challenging censorship and defending the freedom to read. Each month, we gather to discuss powerful books that have been targeted by bans—focusing on titles restricted right here in Utah as well as those pulled from shelves nationwide. If you believe that free minds require bold reads, join us for open, respectful discussions as we turn the page on censorship and read freely.
Join us on GroupMe to vote for upcoming books and participate in conversations that may happen between Meetups! https://groupme.com/join_group/116171072/ryCsBMAI
Please Note: This is strictly a non-political group, and we warmly welcome members of all political affiliations. Joining means committing to be deeply respectful of everyone in the group. To keep our space welcoming for all, we agree to stick entirely to the conversation of the book itself, rather than debating politics.
We'll be meeting each month at Wasatch Theater Company located in The Gateway Mall (77 South Rio Grande at the Gateway). Bring your own drinks (you can bring alcohol) and a food item to share with the group.
If you didn't get through the whole book - no worries! Come and socialize.
Upcoming events
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The Handmaid's Tale (Graphic Novel) - Margaret Atwood
Wasatch Theater Company (Gateway), 77 S Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City, UT, USJoin us Sunday, September 20th for a discussion on The Handmaid's Tale (Graphic Novel) by Margaret Atwood.
Note - we're reading the graphic novel version, not the regular novel. The graphic novel is the one that was banned in Utah, the novel has not been banned (yet). Note, a graphic novel is NOT necessarily "graphic" - it's the story told via comic book style: images and text bubbles.
The Book:
- Title: The Handmaid's Tale - Graphic Novel
- Author: Margaret Atwood
- Description: In Margaret Atwood’s dystopian future, environmental disasters and declining birthrates have led to a Second American Civil War. The result is the rise of the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian regime that enforces rigid social roles and enslaves the few remaining fertile women. Offred is one of these, a Handmaid bound to produce children for one of Gilead’s commanders. Deprived of her husband, her child, her freedom, and even her own name, Offred clings to her memories and her will to survive.
Provocative, startling, prophetic, The Handmaid’s Tale has long been a global phenomenon. With this beautiful graphic novel adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s modern classic, beautifully realized by artist Renée Nault, the terrifying reality of Gilead has been brought to vivid life like never before.
Why it's Often Banned:
- Sexual Content: Critics and school boards argue that depictions of reproductive servitude and sexual themes are inappropriate for minor readers.
- Graphic Novel Accessibility: Challengers have specifically targeted the graphic novel adaptation (illustrated by Renée Nault) because its visual format makes mature themes, nudity, and violence more immediate and accessible to younger audiences.
- Profanity and Tone: Opponents cite vulgarity, dark subject matter, and religious or political critiques as unsuitable for school curricula.
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Event Details- When: Sunday, September 20th from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Where: Wasatch Theater Company at the Gateway Mall (77 S Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101)
- What to Bring: Please bring a food item to share and your own drink of choice (alcohol is allowed!).
- Get Connected: Click here to join us on GroupMe to vote on future books and chat with fellow members.
Note: Last month we had nearly 30 people RSVP and we had 5 show up. This makes it incredibly difficult to plan for food. If you RSVP, please plan on showing up. You don't have to have finished or even read the book - we don't judge. :)
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Stay Connected on GroupMe!
Don't wait until the meetup to join the conversation!Join our active GroupMe community to:
- Discuss current reads in real-time.
- Cast your vote in polls to help choose our upcoming books.
- Connect with other club members between meetings.
- Click Here to Join us on GroupMe
* Reminder: This is a non-political, respectful space where all viewpoints are welcome. Our discussion stays focused on the book and the ideas it raises. We won’t always agree, and that’s okay! Different perspectives make for great conversation. See you there!
3 attendees
The Crucible - Arthur Miller
Wasatch Theater Company (Gateway), 77 S Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City, UT, USFor our July read, we will be reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller!
The Crucible, Arthur Miller's 1953 play about the Salem witch trials, written as a response to McCarthyism. It's been challenged and pulled from school shelves for decades, usually for its language, its portrayal of witchcraft, or its politics. It's also short, so it's a good pick if you're behind on reading.
We'll talk about why this keeps getting banned, what Miller was really writing about, and why it still gets staged constantly more than 70 years later.Why now: I also organize a theater group, and we're seeing The Crucible on the outdoor stage at the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City the week of August 4. Reading it together first is the point of this month's pick. If you'd like to see it performed, the trip is open to anyone. Details here: USF trip event. No pressure at all if you just want to read and discuss.
Companion piece: If you're curious, Kimberly Belflower's John Proctor is the Villain (2022) is a modern play about a high school class reading The Crucible and arguing about whether Proctor deserves to be the hero. It's a great pairing, and worth reading or seeing if you get the chance.
The Book
- Title: The Crucible
- Author: Arthur Miller
- Description: The place is Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, an enclave of rigid piety huddled on the edge of a wilderness. Its inhabitants believe unquestioningly in their own sanctity. But in Arthur Miller's edgy masterpiece, that very belief will have poisonous consequences when a vengeful teenager accuses a rival of witchcraft—and then when those accusations multiply to consume the entire village.
First produced in 1953, at a time when America was convulsed by a new epidemic of witch-hunting, The Crucible brilliantly explores the threshold between individual guilt and mass hysteria, personal spite and collective evil. It is a play that is not only relentlessly suspenseful and vastly moving but that compels readers to fathom their hearts and consciences in ways that only the greatest theater ever can.
- Get the Book: Amazon Link
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Event Details- When: Sunday, July 11th from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Where: Wasatch Theater Company at the Gateway Mall (77 S Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101)
- What to Bring: Please bring a food item to share and your own drink of choice (alcohol is allowed!).
- Get Connected: Click here to join us on GroupMe to vote on future books and chat with fellow members.
---
Stay Connected on GroupMe!
Don't wait until the meetup to join the conversation!Join our active GroupMe community to:
- Discuss current reads in real-time.
- Cast your vote in polls to help choose our upcoming books.
- Connect with other club members between meetings.
- Click Here to Join us on GroupMe
*Reminder: This is a strictly non-political, respectful space for all viewpoints. We stick to the book, not politics! See you there!*
2 attendees
Past events
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