Front Burner

chevron_right

The Alberta book ban saga

whatshot 21 snips

Sep 4, 2025

Guest

Brett McKay

Brett McKay, an investigative reporter with the Investigative Journalism Foundation, dives into the Alberta government's recent push to ban over 200 books from school libraries due to sexually explicit content. He discusses the significant reactions from notable authors like Margaret Atwood and the implications for LGBTQ+ literature. The conversation also highlights parallels with U.S. censorship efforts and sheds light on the broader debate around access to diverse literature in education, showcasing the public's outcry and the political motives behind these bans.

26:10

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Scope And Definitions Of The Order

Alberta's July order broadly banned explicit sexual content across K–12 and limited non-explicit sexual content for younger grades.
The policy covered text, images, video and audio and carved out health/biological exceptions.

insights

INSIGHT

Who Gets Targeted By Complaint Rules

The initial named examples were mostly queer-authored or LGBTQ-themed graphic novels, raising concerns about disproportionate targeting.
Complaint-driven procedures tend to channel challenges toward marginalized authors and topics.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Design Fair Review Procedures

Schools should create clear, transparent complaint procedures to limit biased challenges and disparate impacts.
Design review rules that protect marginalized authors and ensure grade-appropriate access instead of blanket removals.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Alberta's Book Ban Controversy

02:26 • 11min

chevron_right

Reactions to Alberta's Book Banning Controversy

13:20 • 2min

chevron_right

The Battle Over Book Bans in Schools

14:52 • 9min

chevron_right

The Politics Behind Book Bans: A Cultural Examination

19 Minutes examines the aftermath of a high school shooting in New Hampshire. which is on the list, like Atwood's, that would have removed it from the shelves K-12, said it's disheartening to see that the American epidemic of book banning has spread to Canada.

#8587

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky

The novel follows Charlie, a 15-year-old freshman, as he navigates the challenges of high school, including first dates, family drama, and new friendships. Through a series of letters to an anonymous 'friend', Charlie shares his observations and experiences, delving into themes of mental health, sexuality, abuse, and the struggles of growing up. The book is known for its raw and realistic portrayal of teenage life, capturing the confusion, anxiety, and heartbreak that often accompany this stage of life.

#4188

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

Genderqueer

Maia Kobabe

#90

• Mentioned in 125 episodes

The great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan. The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.

#62664

Blankets

Craig Thompson

Blankets is a poignant graphic memoir by Craig Thompson that recounts his experiences growing up in a strictly religious, authoritarian home. The story focuses on the winter of his senior year when he meets Raina, his first love, at a church camp. The narrative delves into themes of first love, heartbreak, faith crisis, and the process of moving beyond these challenges. Thompson's vivid brushstrokes and unique page designs bring to life the harsh realities of his childhood, including bullying, family struggles, and the loss of innocence. The book is a meditation on memory, spirituality, and the search for individuality and creative expression.

#5137

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

Fun Home

A Family Tragicomic

Alison Bechdel

Published in 2006, 'Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic' is a graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel that recounts her upbringing in a funeral home in rural Pennsylvania. The book focuses on Bechdel's fraught relationship with her father, Bruce, a closeted gay man and high school English teacher who also worked as a part-time mortician. The narrative is non-linear, using literary and mythological allusions to explore themes of sexual orientation, gender roles, family dysfunction, and the impact of secrets on family life. Bechdel's meticulous artwork and essayistic writing style combine to create a powerful and intimate portrayal of her childhood and her attempts to understand her father and herself.

#48

• Mentioned in 164 episodes

Atlas Shrugged

Ayn Rand

Published in 1957, 'Atlas Shrugged' is Ayn Rand's magnum opus and her longest novel. The story is set in a dystopian United States where increasingly burdensome laws and regulations strangle innovation and productivity. The plot follows Dagny Taggart, a railroad executive, and Hank Rearden, a steel magnate, as they struggle against 'looters' who exploit their work. A mysterious figure named John Galt leads a strike of productive individuals, persuading them to abandon their companies and disappear. The novel culminates with Galt's three-hour radio speech explaining his philosophy of Objectivism, which emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and the importance of the human mind. The book explores themes of capitalism, property rights, and the failures of governmental coercion, presenting a provocative vision of a society in collapse and the potential for a new capitalist society based on Galt's principles.

#1845

• Mentioned in 15 episodes

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou

In 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings', Maya Angelou recounts her early life from the age of three to seventeen. The book describes her experiences growing up in the segregated South, including her time living with her paternal grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas, and later with her mother in St. Louis and California. Angelou delves into themes of racism, identity, and the struggles of being a Black girl in a male-dominated society. The memoir also touches on her personal struggles, such as being sexually abused at the age of eight and finding solace in literature and her own strong spirit. The book is a powerful exploration of resilience and the impact of societal oppression on individual lives.

• Mentioned in 1,003 episodes

1984

George Orwell

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.

#229

• Mentioned in 66 episodes

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood

The novel is set in a near-future New England in the Republic of Gilead, a patriarchal, totalitarian state that has overthrown the United States government. Offred, the narrator, is one of the 'Handmaids', women who are forcibly assigned to produce children for the ruling class, known as 'Commanders'. The story explores themes of powerless women, loss of female agency and individuality, and the suppression of women's reproductive rights. Offred's life is marked by her restrictive routine, her memories of her past life, and her interactions with the Commander, his wife Serena Joy, and other Handmaids, including her friend Ofglen who is part of an underground resistance movement. The novel is a scathing satire, an ominous warning, and a tour de force of narrative suspense.

#60

• Mentioned in 151 episodes

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley

Written in 1931 and published in 1932, 'Brave New World' is a dystopian novel set in a futuristic World State where humans are bred in vitro and predestined into a rigid social hierarchy. The novel explores themes of technological advancement, social conditioning, and the loss of individuality and freedom. The story revolves around characters such as Bernard Marx, an Alpha who questions the society, Mustapha Mond, the World Controller, and John, a 'Savage' from a reservation who introduces elements of emotion and individuality into the highly controlled World State. The novel critiques the optimism of technological progress and its potential to create a society that values stability and happiness over humanity and freedom.

Late last week - a list of over 200 books, set to be removed from Edmonton school libraries by October made the rounds online. It was in response to an order set out by Alberta’s education ministry in July to take books with sexually explicit content from the shelves.

This applied from kindergarten to Grade 12.

On that list? Award-winning works like Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.

Intense criticism from writers, educators, civil liberties groups followed and on Tuesday the Alberta government paused the order and announced that they’re reworking it.

The Investigative Journalism Foundation’s Brett McKay has been covering this push to remove sexually explicit content from school libraries in Alberta. He’s here to talk about the politics behind it, the uproar that ensued and how all this mirrors similar efforts to ban books in the U.S.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books