“The Grapes of Wrath” is one of my favorite books. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is pretty high on the list as well. And like many people, I was swept up in the magical world of Harry Potter. But there are people who think that these books are obscene and have tried to prevent others from reading them; John Steinbeck, Harper Lee and J.K. Rowling are just three of the authors repeatedly targeted by those who want to ban books from libraries.

Tomorrow, Saturday, kicks off Banned Books Week. This annual event celebrates the right we enjoy in the United States to read freely, with a tip of the hat to the good ol’ First Amendment. It’s a time to thank librarians and booksellers who fight for books that others want to pull from shelves. Without getting too political about it, it’s hard to imagine more perfect timing for the event this year. We’re hearing a lot from people who trumpet their First Amendment right to say things, and this week is a celebration of our right to gather information and form opinions.