Journalist Mike Hixenbaugh’s latest book uses one suburban district in Texas to examine our current political moment, specifically the proliferating book banning and curricular gag orders. Hixenbaugh thoughtfully balances anecdotes with broader historical and political trends. More importantly, Hixenbaugh highlights how a coalition of local stakeholders — teachers, parents, community members, students, and more — have worked together to fight against the growing wave of censorship. The book is about schools and books, and how battles over what is taught mirrors bigger questions about democracy and public life. The book is a testament to the power of public schools and a potential blueprint for advocating for the freedom to read.
Henry “Cody” Miller is an associate professor of English education at SUNY Brockport. He joined Brockport and moved to Rochester in fall 2019. He taught public high school English for seven years in Florida prior to moving to New York. Cody began attending and presenting at NYSEC in October 2022. His work has been published in English Record and the NYSEC blog. He previously served as NCTE’s LGBTQ Advisory Committee. He is the current editor of the English Leadership Quarterly, the journal of the Conference on English Leadership. His teaching and research focus on young adult literature, graphic novels, supporting LGBTQ students, and activism against book bans.