Ytringsfrihetsbyen Stavanger: Banned Books

American author Maia Kobabe is the author of *Gender Queer*, one of the most talked-about and controversial books in the United States in recent years. The book, which has been removed from library shelves in several states, has placed Kobabe at the center of a global debate on censorship, freedom of speech, and the right to read. In 2024, *Gender Queer* was also removed from a school library in Norway.

They will also discuss why certain books provoke such strong reactions, and the consequences of restricting access to literature. What is at stake when others get to decide which stories can be told—and which ones can be read?

This event is a collaboration between Stavanger, City of Freedom of Expression, and Kapittel—Stavanger International Festival of Literature and Freedom of Expression, September 16–20, 2026. For more information, visit: kapittel.no. At selected events at Sølvberget and during the Kapittel festival, we will take photos and videos for documentation purposes and for use on social media.



The event is supported by the Arts Council Norway.