Mary Wears What She Wants by Keith Negley | Banned Book Project

December 23, 2021 Cynthia Varady

Mary Wears What She Wants | Banned Book Project

Mary Wears What She Wants Synopsis:

Inspired by the true story of Mary Edwards Walker, a trailblazing doctor who bucked the gender expectations of her time, this is a fresh, charming picture book about a young girl who decides to wear what she wants: pants!

Once upon a time (but not too long ago), girls only wore dresses.

And only boys wore pants.

Until one day, a young girl named Mary had a bold idea: She would wear whatever she wanted. And she wanted to wear pants!

Inspired by the true story of Mary Edwards Walker, a trailblazing doctor who was arrested many times for wearing pants, this fresh, charming picture book encourages readers to think for themselves while gently challenging gender and societal norms.

Locations Challenged or Banned:

Cheyenne, Wyoming, 2021 – Enraged parents took several offending titles to the local police and filed an obscenity report. The police sided with the parent, and the titles are now on trial in a Wyoming court. The Friends of the Library have since purchased several of the titles objected to, and they are available on the library shelves. Mary Wears What She Wants underwent review by the library committee and was retained in the regular collection.