GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Florida leads the nation in book bans, with more titles removed from school shelves than any other state. However, a Gainesville festival aims to flip that statistic into something positive, utilizing literature to foster connection, conversation, and community.
The second annual Gainesville Reads festival launched this week, centering on We’re Alone, an essay collection by National Book Award finalist Edwidge Danticat. Organizers say the choice was intentional: a collection that speaks to urgent issues while reflecting the voices of diverse authors often challenged in schools.
“We lead the nation in book banning, which is a terrible statistic,” said Viv Schnabel, events manager at The Lynx bookstore. “Access is one of our primary focuses throughout the year, including during Gainesville Reads, just making sure that books that have been challenged, that people are trying to get off of the shelves, particularly from libraries, school libraries. We are trying to make sure that people have access to those books.”
Despite the challenges, organizers say the heart of the festival is about building community.
“Hearing stories from other characters that may or may not relate to me but you can find some solace and inspiration that can help you just live your day-to-day life in a better way,” said resident Dani Perez.
Others say events like this offer a way to form friendships while engaging with new ideas.
“It’s a great way to learn about other people’s experiences and feelings and it’s how I, you know, really became friends with these people here,” said attendee Madeline Franco. “Having a community event like this where, you know, you can grab some food, sit down, listen to people talk, listen to new authors, local authors that are in the area, it’s a really great experience for anybody that is new to reading.”
Schnabel added that beyond literature, Gainesville Reads is about cultivating a sense of belonging.
“We want to get people talking, and so that’s why we chose this book, it’s an essay collection, it has this amazing breadth of really urgent topics and these were things that tie into what places around Gainesville are already doing,” Schnabel said.
She also shared her personal connection to the community through the festival.
“I moved here in May and I was like, where do I find community and the answer immediately was at the bookstore and so I hope other people can also have that experience, that they can meet new friends, meet friends from different generations.”
This year’s festival will feature more than 15 events across Gainesville, from libraries and theaters to public spaces. The celebration will end with a keynote talk by Danticat at Bo Diddley Plaza on Sept. 27.
Organizers say Gainesville Reads shows that, despite book bans, access to stories and ideas remains a source of strength for the community.
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