We’ve got a big round up of library news and links to take you through to the next month: publishing news (which is the same as saying “AI updates” nowadays), censorship updates, stats and trends, award nominees, and more.
Let’s dive in.
Publishing News
More eBooks and digital audiobooks are featuring interactive AI features. An author discovered deepfake videos of himself on YouTube reading chapters of a book published by John Murray Business. The Human Artistry Campaign is launching an anti-AI campaign backed by big name celebrities and authors, including Jodi Picoult, Roxane Gay, and Jonathan Franzen. AI is coming for your toddler’s bedtime story.New & Upcoming Titles
Jeffrey Archer has announced that his next book, Adam and Eve, will also be his last. The Millions has posted their Great Winter 2026 preview. 24 new and upcoming historical novels to look forward to in 2026. Recent Japanese horror novels.Censorship Updates
The book censorship trends of 2025. The latest trends in comic censorship. Fighting book bans coast to coast. We Need Diverse Books launches the Unbanned Book Network to fight book bans in schools. The generational impact of book bans on teens. Plato has been censored as Texas A&M carries out its course review. They have also instructed English faculty not to teach books with major plot lines involving gay, lesbian, or transgender identities. Alamo Heights ISD (TX) canceled a visit by children’s author Chris Barton because his nonfiction book about the history of glitter had the audacity to include a sentence that mentioned the existence of LGBTQ+ people. (I wish I were kidding.) Bellbrook-Sugarcreek School District (OH) implemented a policy this year that prohibits so-called “sexuality content” and “gender ideology” from students in kindergarten through grade eight under the guise of “parental rights.” Iowa’s law restricting school library books and LGBTQ topics returns to federal court. Utah begins 2026 by banning three more books at all public schools across the state. Just weeks later, the state banned yet another one. Some Alberta school divisions have removed a handful of titles from library shelves as new school library rules take effect, but they’re not saying which books have been removed.Numbers & Trends
Trump books aren’t selling anymore. Professors warn that Gen Z’s reading struggles could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates. The number of Americans 13 and older who listen to audiobooks has more than doubled since 2016. The best book covers of the last decade.Award News
The Philip K. Dick Award nominees have been announced. Donna Andrews and Lee Child have been announced as the latest Grand Masters for Mystery Writers of America. The National Book Critics Circle Award finalists have been announced. The Edgar Award nominees have been announced. The Splatterpunk Award nominees have been announced.Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
13 YA historical fiction novels by Black authors. Books for tweens who loved Stranger Things. 32 YA thrillers perfect for fans of true crime podcasts. 12 must-read feminist books by Icelandic women writers. A reading list for people who are really, really into hockey right now (for some reason). Also queer hockey romances to read if you loved Heated Rivalry. 7 novels that grapple with the gig economy. 10 long books for long winter nights. If you loved The People We Meet on Vacation. 6 thrillers about the dark side of fame. 8 historical mysteries with pirates and smugglers. 5 horror novels set in inescapable towns. 6 thrillers about secrets and lies. Horror retellings that will scare you all over again. The best fantasy books of the century (so far). 8 memoirs exploring the damage of purity culture. 5 SFF books about time.Want to keep up with book censorship news? Make sure you’re subscribed to our Literary Activism newsletter, too.