The freedom to read is a human right, constitutionally protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Book bans that restrict reading materials based on political, ideological, or cultural preferences of the individuals calling for book bans are a violation of this human right. And such censorship can have harmful consequences, particularly on historically marginalized groups, whose communities are often underrepresented in literature.

As a demonstration of our commitment to protecting the freedom to read for all residents, the library is launching a new, quarterly banned book discussion group in the Courageous Conversations series of programming.

Courageous Conversations brings together Westfield residents to build community across differences, increase awareness of our own blind spots, and help align our behavior with intentions.

The first book in this new discussion series will be Maus I, by Art Spiegelman. Copies of the book are available to borrow at the front desk on a first come, first served basis.

A brutally moving work of art—widely hailed as the greatest graphic novel ever written—Maus recounts the chilling experiences of the author’s father during the Holocaust, with Jews drawn as wide-eyed mice and Nazis as menacing cats.

Maus is a haunting tale within a tale, weaving the author’s account of his tortured relationship with his aging father into an astonishing retelling of one of history's most unspeakable tragedies. It is an unforgettable story of survival and a disarming look at the legacy of trauma.

This Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel memoir has been temporarily or permanently banned in states across the country, including Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas.

Praise

"The most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust." -The Wall Street Journal

"The first masterpiece in comic book history." -The New Yorker

“A loving documentary and brutal fable, a mix of compassion and stoicism [that] sums up the experience of the Holocaust with as much power and as little pretension as any other work I can think of.” -The New Republic

“A quiet triumph, moving and simple– impossible to describe accurately, and impossible to achieve in any medium but comics.” -The Washington Post