BHS held its first-ever Right to Read Night on Oct. 9, a national program run by the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). 

The event celebrated reading and brought attention to the increasing issue of book banning in schools and libraries.

This year, the featured book was Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, chosen nationwide for Right to Read Night 2025. 

“The purpose was to highlight how book banning and censorship have been increasing while celebrating reading, literacy, and the importance of a literate society.” Angela Maxwell said.

Maxwell explained that Mirica Woodley, who is library club president, and Charlie Soroka, a library club member, came up with the idea for the event and that Maxwell and the library club worked with social studies teacher Pam Crossman and Beachwood Schools Foundation President Shana Wallenstein to plan the evening.

“Many volunteers helped during the event and in planning,” Maxwell said. “Mirica and Charlie were the main student organizers, and students from both the high school and middle school attended along with parents, community members, board members and staff.” 

Students, parents, teachers and other community members attended the event.

Guests were welcomed with name tags, pizza and snacks before exploring educational displays. These displays focused on commonly banned books like Of Mice and Men, Harry Potter and A Thousand Splendid Suns, and included information about censorship trends in schools and libraries across the country. The displays showed how book challenges have affected readers nationwide.

The program began with a presentation about NCAC and the book Chains—a historical fiction novel about a young enslaved girl named Isabel during the American Revolution who struggles to gain freedom for herself and her sister while being torn between Loyalists and Patriots in war-torn New York. 

Afterward, participants joined a discussion about literacy, censorship and the importance of access to different types of literature. Students and attendees explored how books can offer new perspectives and connect people to experiences they might not otherwise encounter.

To wrap up the evening, everyone participated in a trivia game about banned books. The questions covered authors, challenged titles and historical censorship trends. According to the American Library Association, more than 1,200 books were challenged in 2023, highlighting why events like this remain important.

While BHS has held other book-related events, such as read-ins for Black History Month and student-led book clubs, this was the first official Right to Read Night. The program combined education, community involvement, and fun activities, leaving students and attendees more aware of censorship issues and inspired to read widely.