A sharp rise in book challenges across Canada has prompted a Victoria-based charity to hand the keyboard to young readers themselves.
Story Studio partnered with Canadian Authors and Illustrators Against Book Bans (CAIABB) to launch Words Without Walls, a national writing contest inviting youth aged 12 to 18 to reflect on intellectual freedom and the right to read.
The contest comes amid what organizers describe as a dramatic increase in challenges to books in school libraries.
Victoria-based author Robin Stevenson, a member of CAIABB, said the numbers have climbed quickly over the past two years.
“In 2024, there were only 13 challenges to books in school libraries in Canada. In 2025, there was 224,” Stevenson told Victoria News. “There’s been a very, very sharp escalation on this side of the border.”
Stevenson, an award-winning author of 36 books for children and teens, said teenagers are the group most directly affected.
“The majority of the books that are being pulled from the shelves are being pulled from the shelves of high school libraries,” she said. “So teenagers are the group that is most affected, and I think it’s really important that their voices be heard in response to what’s happening.”
Organizers say entries have already come in from B.C. to P.E.I., with more than 100 submissions expected based on previous national contests.
For Stevenson, the issue is personal.
She said at least 10 of her books have been ‘challenged’ over the past decade, many of which were flagged due to LGBTQ+ references.
One high-profile case involving her book, Pride Puppy, reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
She said teens she has spoken with are thoughtful and articulate about how book challenges affect them.
“They were very passionate about the importance of being able to read freely,” Stevenson said.
Story Studio executive director Sean Rodman said the partnership allows the charity to expand its mission nationally at a time when debates around reading rights are intensifying.
“Story Studio has always been about empowering youth to find their voice,” Rodman said. “Partnering with CAIABB allows us to take that mission national at a time when protecting the right to read and write has never been more critical.”
Stevenson says the goal is simple: make space for young voices.
“I think it’s really important that young people know that their voices matter,” she said. “The more we can do to find ways for people to express themselves and have their voices be heard, the better.”
Words Without Walls invites submissions in prose or poetry, up to 1,500 words. Prompts are available online, and the deadline has been extended to March 13. The contest is free to enter and open to youth across Canada.
Finalists will have their work published in an anthology curated by Story Studio and judged by a panel of professional writers and members of the national anti-book ban organization.
A writer’s kit will be awarded to the first-place winner.
To enter the contest, you can visit www.storystudio.ca/write/.
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