The Read Freely Project
The Read Freely Project is a book giveaway partnership between Rediscovered Books and The Cabin.
Rediscovered Books started the Read Freely Project in 2021 to highlight and distribute recent books that are diverse, well-written, and yet vulnerable to censorship in the current social climate. The project is designed to connect readers with authors and stories that are different from our own and often unheard.
How does it work?
Rediscovered Books selects a handful of books for children and adults that engage with social justice and diverse viewpoints.
Your donation will go directly toward purchasing copies of the selected books.
Volunteers sign up to hand out copies of the books to members of our community. More people reading more books, and talking about them with each other, opens the path for more connections between people.
With your help, we can bring more stories to more people
Thanks to your help, we’ve reached our 2024 goal to raise $10,000 to fund 1,000 books, to be given away by 100 Read Freely volunteers! THANK YOU!
To sponsor a bag of 10 books of your choosing from the 2024 Read Freely book selection, donate $100. You or your organization will be credited with the donation. Simply note the book choice and name when you donate.
100% of all donations are used to purchase books.
Statement from The Cabin
The Cabin stands against book bans, and partners with Rediscovered Books on Read Freely project.
It’s been a rough couple of years for the freedom to read in Idaho. Books are being challenged and removed from school and public library shelves across the state. Meanwhile, teachers and librarians have been villainized for providing literature – which some have deemed objectionable or obscene – to their students. Last year, the targeted books were mostly written by BIPOC authors and/or tackled racial issues. This year, books about gender and LGBTQIA+ themes are in the crosshairs. Regardless of the books’ content, the situation is clear: A small but vocal group of people are attempting to restrict our right to read freely.
The heart of the issue is access. The Board and staff of The Cabin agree parents should have a say in the age-appropriateness and content of what their children read. It’s the job of a parent, however, to make those choices in their home, and the job of teachers and librarians to make those choices in public libraries and classrooms. By demanding the removal of books from public spaces, parents who want reading restrictions in their own homes are making the decision for all students in the community. We understand and accept that people will disagree over politics, social issues, taste, and even which books are considered classics. But it runs counter to American principles of free speech and liberty to restrict equitable access to all ideas and art that we might personally disagree with. Simply put, living in a free country means having the freedom to read. As Evelyn Beatrice Hall wrote, “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
To stand up for everyone’s right to read, The Cabin is once again partnering with Rediscovered Books to hand out books that have been challenged in Idaho or elsewhere in the country. Last year, with the community’s help, Read Freely handed out 1,000 books. This year we’d like to expand the program to distribute 1,500 books. There are two ways you can get involved. First, you can become a Read Freely volunteer. You’ll be asked to pick out books from the seven available titles (see below) and distribute them to readers. The program is completely free — simply fill out a volunteer application on Rediscovered Books’ website. If you want to support the program without passing out books, you can lend a hand by donating funds or purchasing some Read Freely swag. Every dollar you donate goes to the purchase of books that will be distributed for free to readers in the community.
- Kurt Zwolfer, Executive Director of The Cabin
2024 Read Freely Books
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![This is Ear Hustle by Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods]()
One personal narrative at a time, framed by Nigel’s and Earlonne’s distinct perspectives, This Is Ear Hustle reveals the complexity of life for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people while illuminating the shared experiences of humanity that unite us all.
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![Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall]()
Set in an incarceration camp where the United States cruelly detained Japanese Americans during WWII and based on true events, this moving love story finds hope in heartbreak.
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![Mascot by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell]()
What if a school’s mascot is seen as racist, but not by everyone? In this compelling middle-grade novel in verse, two best-selling BIPOC authors tackle this hot-button issue.
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![Victory. Stand! by Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile]()
In his first-ever memoir for young readers, Tommie Smith looks back on his childhood growing up in rural Texas through to his stellar athletic career, culminating in his historic victory and Olympic podium protest. Victory. Stand! paints a stirring portrait of an iconic moment in Olympic history that still resonates today.
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![The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo]()
Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall hard for this astonishing New York Times-bestselling novel-in-verse by an award-winning slam poet, about an Afro-Latina heroine who tells her story with blazing words and powerful truth.
FAQs
Why is Read Freely important to The Cabin?
The Cabin's mission is to forge community through the voices of all readers, writers, and learners by creating human connections through words. To reach our mission, we want everyone to have access to voices and stories of every kind.
How is Read Freely related to book bans?
This project breaks down barriers and provides access to books reflecting issues and stories that are relevant and that matter. Our right to read, widely and without constraint or censorship - from authors outside our experience, to the unknown and unexpected - is no freedom to be taken lightly. This project is a proactive movement against censorship.
More ways you can take a stand against censorship
Purchase a Read Freely sticker or “Read Freely” t-shirts for yourself, family, and friends. Proceeds will support the purchase of books for the project. (See below)
Contact your legislator and tell them what you think about proposed legislation that would result in censorship.
Sign up to be a Read Freely Volunteer to give away 10 copies of your chosen book.
Take a stand against book bans. Check out the UABB action toolkit and defend the right to read in your community: Unite Against Book Bans.
Write your local school and community librarians and share your support for them.
Stand up for freedom of expression in all forms in your community using resources from the NCAC!: National Coalition Against Censorship.
Write a letter to your school principal, superintendent, and school board, emphasizing the importance of protecting the freedom to read.
Learn how book bans may violate the First Amendment and what to do if that happens.
With every donation, you help connect more people with more stories.
Show the world that you Read Freely
All proceeds will support the purchase of books for the project. Click any item see more colors and styles for apparel.
