Book clubs tend to have a tame--one might say, genteel--reputation. What could be more wholesome than a handful of people sitting down to discuss plot and theme, character development and motif? When done well, book discussion groups act as safe spaces to explore ideas and to question assumptions. They hone critical thinking skills and build community in a world where it is harder and harder to come by.
And when governments aggressively seek to silence dissenting voices and attempt to whitewash history by removing references to uncomfortable historical realities from their websites, archives, and facilities, gathering to read and discuss books becomes an act of resistance.
In March of this year, Ayania Hicks, Engagement Coordinator for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas,, opens a new window launched In the Margins Book Club in response to recent legislation that jeopardizes every Texan's constitutionally guaranteed right to read. HB 900 and SB 13 effectively take away parental decisions about what books are or are not right for their children and give it to elected or appointed politicians. As with book bans and challenges across the country, Texas' efforts have disproportionately targeted authors from historically marginalized communities.
"In the Margins emerged in response to some of these laws and the continued erasure of authors of color and LGBTQIA+ stories. We aim to create an alternative, community-oriented avenue for Texans to resist censorship and attacks on free expression," says Hicks.
The book club is about more than responding to current political realities. It's about creating the kind of space many people don't realize they've been missing. "We think of reading as a solitary act, but we are all so isolated. I think it's critical that we have a communal space with the sole purpose of us just learning and growing together, especially because so few of those spaces exist in adulthood."
In the Margins meets online on the third Saturday of each month, with occasional in-person gatherings. The club alternates between fiction and nonfiction selections, and every meeting features a guest speaker whose expertise helps expand the conversation beyond the book itself. Selections generally touch on one of ACLU of Texas' six issue areas: border and immigrants' rights, justice system and carceral reform, free speech and pluralism, reproductive freedom, LGBTQIA+ equality, and voting rights.
For Hicks, the book club is also an extension of her years as an English teacher and her belief that stories can change the way people see the world. "I have witnessed firsthand the transformative possibilities of literature. I'm just very grateful to be able to continue to create a space for people to think critically and be in community."
That emphasis on learning together also makes In the Margins unusually welcoming. Unlike many book clubs, there is no expectation that participants arrive having carefully annotated every chapter.
"You don't have to read the book. Come be in community. Come hear the speaker. And try again next month if you don't read the book this month," says Hicks
It's an invitation that reflects the club's larger purpose. The books provide a starting point, but the conversations and the people are what bring them to life.
Join ACLU of Texas In the Margins Book Club or RSVP for an upcoming meeting below
Upcoming In the Margins Book Club Selections
August 15
Guest speaker: Anne Russey of Texas Freedom to Read Project
September 19
October 17
Guest Speaker: Pretty author KB Brookins
Past Selections
More About ACLU of Texas
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas is a leading civil rights organization in the Lone Star State. The ACLU of Texas works with communities, at the State Capitol, and in the courts to protect and advance civil rights and civil liberties for every Texan, no exceptions. Learn more at aclutx.org
Related Content
HCPL News: ALA’s Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2025
Add a comment to: Reading as Resistance: ACLU of Texas’ In the Margins Book Club