Freadom Books aspires to be beacon of literary freedom and advocacy for the Sunshine State! Our story begins with Autumn Doughton, a lifelong reader and a writer of young adult and romance fiction, who also serves as the Parent Liaison for the Gainesville High School Library Council, where her two daughters attend school. At the start of the 2023 school year, another Gainesville High School parent brought book challenges targeting LGBTQ+ materials and Autumn found herself in the middle of a battle she never expected – the book ban crisis in Florida’s public schools.

Witnessing firsthand the enormous and unfair pressure being placed on Florida’s educators and school libraries, Autumn and her daughters became determined to make a difference and ensure that all students have access to a rich and inclusive literary landscape. Thus, Freadom Books was formed with the mission is to promote and protect the right to read, supporting educators, librarians, students, and parents across the state of Florida.

Together, we can stand for literature, education, and the preservation of intellectual freedom, one banned book at a time!