Read, Resist, and Remember What’s Worth Defending

As summer winds down and the school year ramps up, military families are juggling more than back-to-school supply lists. With troops mobilizing in Washington, D.C. and our news feeds filled with images of federal patrols in our own cities, it’s hard to ignore the added weight our community carries.

But the voices of our community carry weight too. Military families understand intimately why our freedoms are worth protecting. We also understand the inherent conflict in the White House encouraging a summer reading challenge while simultaneously banning books at DoDEA schools.

That’s why Military Families for Free Expression is standing up against censorship and book bans. Join us in this effort by participating in Operation: Uncensor My Summer and flipping the White House’s Summer Reading Challenge on its head.

Why this moment calls for action

• The militarization of our cities, from Los Angeles to D.C., raises urgent questions about the rights and freedoms our loved ones in uniform serve to protect.

• Meanwhile, almost 600 books have been banned from DoDEA school libraries.

• For military-connected families and students, these two realities converge: our world is shaped by both deployments and activations and the narrowing of our educations and available resources.

How to participate before September 5th

1. Check out our suggested list of targeted books: start with one that speaks to freedom, justice, or civic courage.

2. Log your reading: aim for 12 books (not all need to be banned titles). Submit your reading log by September 5th to read@mail.whitehouse.gov.

3. Share your story: Post your book selections, favorite stories, or reflections using #ReadBannedBooks, #UncensorMySummer, or #RedWhiteandBanned. And let’s see those reading logs too!

Why it matters
Participating is more than a summer reading goal. It’s a powerful way to say: We defend our country by defending its principles, from our kitchen tables to our libraries to military installations around the globe. By reading these books, families don’t just break barriers - they model curiosity and courage. It's a stand against censorship, and for the freedom to read, learn, and grow.

Want to learn more?
Join MFFE for our first virtual convening on Wednesday, August 13th at 7pm Eastern. RSVP here.