PHOENIX — Co-owner of Changing Hands bookstore, Cindy Dach, is proud of the "Banned Bookstore" pop-up shop she and her staff have created, showcasing titles that have been banned in classrooms, libraries, and even in state legislation across the country.

But she wishes it wasn't necessary.

“There’s always been banned books, and I think people have always been aware of it, but until probably the last four or five years, we didn’t see the impact it was having,” Dach said.

The Banned Bookstore pop-up shop is part installation, part bookstore, and all dedicated to helping people learn more about book bans across the country. It debuted earlier in 2025, during Independent Bookstore Day, and has returned for Banned Books Week.

As people look at the various titles, there are mixed reactions.

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