GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Florida leads the nation in book bans, with more titles removed from school shelves than any other state. However, a Gainesville festival aims to flip that statistic into something positive, utilizing literature to foster connection, conversation, and community.

The second annual Gainesville Reads festival launched this week, centering on We’re Alone , an essay collection by National Book Award finalist Edwidge Danticat. Organizers say the choice was intentional: a collection that speaks to urgent issues while reflecting the voices of diverse authors often challenged in schools.

“We lead the nation in book banning, which is a terrible statistic,” said Viv Schnabel, events manager at The Lynx bookstore. “Access is one of our primary focuses throughout the year

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