In school, I remember shedding tears at my desk when we read Where the Red Fern Grows, white knuckling the spine of my copy of The Hunger Games, and learning how impactful friendships are in Of Mice and Men.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about my favorite protagonists. What did they stand for? Why did I root for them? How would they feel about state-sponsored censorship and fear mongering?

PEN America says that 1,100 to 1,400 books have been banned in public schools across Tennessee. This is unfair to students who deserve access to knowledge, to the feeling of getting lost in a story. Reading helps us evolve. We learn how to think critically, make connections, and see perspectives from characters or people we might not otherwise understand.

Banning books is not the behavior of heroes. Our favorites wouldn't stand for this, and neither should we.

Sign this petition to tell TN lawmakers that all public schools must have open, accessible, and full bookshelves. No more banned books in Tennessee.