1619 Freedom School Read-In 2026
About this Event
Iowa ranks among the worst states in the nation for book bans. The 1619 Freedom School Read-In wants to counter that.
Award-winning, #1 New York Times-bestselling authors Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Renée Watson will join 1619 Freedom School founder, Pulitzer-Prize winner and Waterloo native Nikole Hannah-Jones for a free event that will put thousands of books in the hands of children and families.
WHY THIS MOMENT MATTERS
Across Iowa, hundreds of books have been challenged or removed from school libraries — disproportionately titles by and about Black and brown people, the very books that help children see themselves, their families, and their history reflected on the page. At a time when access to culturally meaningful literature is under threat, the Read-In is a direct, joyful act of resistance: a community coming together to put books into the hands of young readers.
This year's event features bestselling authors Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Renée Watson — writers whose books have appeared on ban lists across the country and whose stories belong in every child's hands.
Join us and founder Nikole Hannah-Jones for readings, moderated conversations, and live engagement with three of today's most celebrated authors. We're giving away approximately 3,000 books to families — free of charge.
This is literacy as celebration. And as resistance.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 15.00
