The New Republic, AFT, American Library Association, Books & Books bookstore in Miami, and PEN America, are staging a special event April 8 in Miami to celebrate Right to Read Day during National Library Week. This event, which will be live and livestreamed, will unveil the American Library Association’s list of the top 10 most challenged books of 2024 and will recognize courageous and censored activists with a Toni Morrison Courage Award.

The Right to Read celebration will feature authors who are banned or who have been banned in the recent past; fellow writers who have taken up the freedom to read cause; and teachers, librarians and students who have been directly impacted by the book bans that are sweeping America.

As part of the event, we will be recognizing five extraordinary authors, librarians, teachers, activists and others who have taken action with a Toni Morrison Courage Award—named after one of the most profound and courageous authors of our time.

The AFT has the honor of picking as a recipient a teacher from our ranks who has gone beyond the call to defend the freedom to read. This teacher will be honored at the Miami event and receive a $1,000 honorarium. The AFT will pay for the winner’s travel and other expenses; the recipient also will receive a $500 gift card to First Book.