Utah read-in to celebrate banned books at Utah Capitol Friday
Students, parents, and community members will gather at the Utah State Capitol Rotunda this Friday, February 13, for the fourth annual Let Utah Read Read-In, a free event celebrating the power of reading and the resistance to book bans.
The two-hour event, starting at 3:30 p.m., will feature a community reading hour followed by remarks from authors, lawmakers, and advocates. Key speakers include Abdi Nazemian, author of the young adult novel Like a Love Story, banned statewide in 2025; Utah State Representative John Arthur; and Jason M. Groth, legal director of the ACLU of Utah. Student speaker McKenzie Compton and Cal Crosby, owner of King’s English Bookshop, will also address attendees.
“Books give us a mirror,” Nazemian said in a statement. “They let us see ourselves, even when the world says we shouldn’t exist.” The novel, set in 1989 New York City during the AIDS crisis, follows teenagers navigating love, identity, and activism.
The read-in was launched four years ago after rising concerns about book bans in Utah. Organizers say reading together is not only an educational experience but also an act of resistance that allows children and teens to see themselves, build empathy, and find belonging.
The event is sponsored by the Let Utah Read coalition in partnership with EveryLibrary, PEN America, Penguin Random House, the ACLU of Utah, the Utah Library Association, and the National Booksellers Association. More information at letutahread.org.
