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FROM FLORIDA SCHOOLS, ONE WOMAN IS HOPING TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE HARMS OF CENSORSHIP. WESH VOLUSIA COUNTY REPORTER PAMELA COHEN CAUGHT UP WITH THE OWNER OF A DELAND BOOK SHOP WHO SET UP A PERMANENT DISPLAY SHOWING FACING THOSE BANNED BOOKS. STORY A TRUE STORY OF. ONCE YOU WALK THROUGH THE DOORS OF FAMILY BOOK SHOP IN DELAND, YOULL FIND THIS DISPLAY A BOOKSHELF DRESSED WITH YELLOW CAUTION TAPE AND A SIGN THAT SAYS BANNED BOOKS. WE HAVE DONE THIS FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHATS OUT THERE EVERY YEAR AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, KAREN JOHNSON SETS UP THIS DISPLAY FOR BANNED BOOK WEEK, AND ITS ONLY UP FOR SEVEN DAYS. THIS YEAR, SHE DECIDED TO KEEP IT UP PERMANENTLY. THIS YEAR ITS GOTTEN A LOT MORE CONTROVERSIAL, SO WE DECIDED TO KEEP THE BANNED BOOKS DISPLAY UP ALL YEAR BECAUSE IT BRINGS IN A LOT OF PEOPLE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT. THIS ALL COMES AFTER A WAVE OF BOOK CHALLENGES IN FLORIDA SCHOOLS. HER DISPLAY SHOWCASES BANNED BOOKS ACROSS U.S. PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS. EACH TITLE HAS A POST-IT NOTE EXPLAINING WHY IT WAS TAKEN OFF THE SHELF, AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN SOMEONE COMES THROUGH THEIR DOORS, THEY GET THE SAME REACTION. OH MY GOSH, I READ THAT IN SCHOOL. I CANT UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULD BE THAT WAY OR THIS IS A GOOD BOOK. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WOULD BE CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT IT. SO YEAH, SO IT GETS PEOPLE THINKING. AND SINCE PUTTING UP THIS SECTION, BOOKS LIKE AND TANGO MAKES THREE HAVE BEEN SELLING RATHER QUICKLY IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. THEYVE SOLD ABOUT 12 COPIES OF THIS BOOK. WHEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS THEYVE ONLY SOLD 1 OR 2. ALL THE BANNED BOOKS ARE GETTING MUCH MORE ATTENTION THAN THEY DID BEFORE. JOHNSON WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE HER CUSTOMERS HAVE OPTIONS. YOU KNOW, MAYBE WHAT YOU LIKE ISNT WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE LIKES OR VICE VERSA. SO YOU KNOW, IT ISNT FOR US TO SAY ITS FOR US TO PROVIDE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND WHAT YOU

Florida bookshop owner aims to draw attention to harms of censorship with 'Banned Books' display

Updated: 7:00 PM EST Feb 2, 2024

Once you walk through the doors of Family Book Shop in DeLand, you'll find a display dressed with yellow caution tape and a sign that reads "Banned Books.""We have done this for years and years just to let people know what's out there," said Kaaren Johnson, Family Book shop owner. Every year, at the end of September, Johnson sets up a display for Banned Book Week, and it's usually only up for seven days.This year, she decided to keep it up permanently."It's gotten a lot more controversial," she said. "So, we decided to keep the banned books displayed all year because it brings in a lot of people. A lot of people want to know about it."This all comes after a wave of book challenges in Florida schools. Johnson's display showcases books banned across U.S. schools and public libraries.Each title has a post-it note explaining why it was taken off the shelf. Most of the time when someone comes through their doors, they all have a similar reaction."'Oh, my gosh, I read that in school,'" Johnson said. "'I can't understand why it would be that way.' Or, 'This is a good book. I don't understand what it would be controversial.' It gets people thinking."Since putting up the section, books like "And Tango Makes Three" have been selling quicker than usual.In the last three months, they sold about 12 copies of the book, when in the last years, they were lucky to even sell one or two. All the banned books are getting much more attention than they did before.Johnson will continue to make sure her customers have options."You know, maybe what you like is and what somebody else likes or vice versa," she said. "So, you know, it isn't for us to say, it's for us to provide you the opportunity to find what you want."Top headlines: Officials: 3 dead after plane crashes into Florida mobile home parkFlorida Highway Patrol says trooper killed in crash while in the line of duty Sheriff: Violent Marion County crash involving stolen deputy vehicle kills 3, injures 1

Once you walk through the doors of Family Book Shop in DeLand, you'll find a display dressed with yellow caution tape and a sign that reads "Banned Books."

"We have done this for years and years just to let people know what's out there," said Kaaren Johnson, Family Book shop owner.

Every year, at the end of September, Johnson sets up a display for Banned Book Week, and it's usually only up for seven days.

This year, she decided to keep it up permanently.

"It's gotten a lot more controversial," she said. "So, we decided to keep the banned books displayed all year because it brings in a lot of people. A lot of people want to know about it."

This all comes after a wave of book challenges in Florida schools. Johnson's display showcases books banned across U.S. schools and public libraries.

Each title has a post-it note explaining why it was taken off the shelf.

Most of the time when someone comes through their doors, they all have a similar reaction.

"'Oh, my gosh, I read that in school,'" Johnson said. "'I can't understand why it would be that way.' Or, 'This is a good book. I don't understand what it would be controversial.' It gets people thinking."

Since putting up the section, books like "And Tango Makes Three" have been selling quicker than usual.

In the last three months, they sold about 12 copies of the book, when in the last years, they were lucky to even sell one or two.

All the banned books are getting much more attention than they did before.

Johnson will continue to make sure her customers have options.

"You know, maybe what you like is and what somebody else likes or vice versa," she said. "So, you know, it isn't for us to say, it's for us to provide you the opportunity to find what you want."

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Family Book Shop: DeLand bookstore displays banned books - WESH 2 Orlando

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