Martha Hickson

@sassylibrarian

📎2023 NJLA Librarian of the Year📎Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians📎NCAC Outstanding Librarian📎AASL, NJLA & NJASL Intellectual Freedom Awards📎InsiderNJ 2025 Policy Makers Power List📎2026 MLK Spirit Hall of Fame📎Ban book banners!

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Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· 27d

Today in retirement: Attended a presentation by Gen. George Washington. I asked Gen. Washington for his thoughts on today’s historic wave of book banning. His response, “One of the lesser-known benefits of the 1st Amendment freedom of speech is it helps you know who the idiots are.”

George Washington, portrayed by David Emerson of History on the Hoof, tells the story of the Battle of Trenton at the Old Baptist Church in Stafford, NJ. https://www.historyonthehoof.com

George Washington, portrayed by David Emerson of History on the Hoof, meets Martha at the Old Baptist Church in Stafford, NJ. https://www.historyonthehoof.com

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· 27d

Recently in retirement: Attended a “Paint ‘n Sip” event. Apparently I did too much sipping because the painting turned out a a bit wacky 😬 Even so, it’s got a goofy charm … kinda like the “artist” 😉

Painting of a beach scene featuring a tan cottage with a red door and an American flag. A beach ball and star fish rest on the sand. In the distance, sailboats pass a red and white lighthouse.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· 27d

In today’s mail, signed by author @dannycaine.com in appreciation of my donation to @authorsabb.bsky.social In thumbing through, I saw mentions of my pals @librarianjones.com and @cameronsamuels.bsky.social plus a terrific description of book banners: “unqualified fanatics.” Can’t wait to read!

Book cover: How to Defend Books and Why—Book bans and how we fight them by Danny Caine, author of How to Resist Amazon and Why

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· 28d

Has anyone ever been to the make-believe “World Library Association” headquarters in Bee Cave, TX? Didn’t think so. The address is just as phony as the “organization.”

Ad for virtual office space at Hill Country Galleria, 12600 Hill Country Blvd, Suite R-275, Bee Cave, TX 78738

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 12

This weekend we had an uninvited guest who tried to break into the attic. Fortunately our neighbor had a humane trap, and we were well stocked with cat food for bait. The animal control officer picked the little critter up this morning to be relocated to a forest about 10 miles away. Happy trails!

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 11

Doing one of my very favorite things today: Reading on a summer afternoon on a covered porch while thunder rolls overhead and raindrops fall. So relaxing.

Book cover: We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 9

I couldn’t resist. You’ll enjoy this analysis of another make-believe book.

BookLens analysis of a make-believe book

Damaged Souls by Bruce Friedman contains material that is inappropriate for teens in families with stricter content preferences. Here is a blunt breakdown:

Sexual Content: The book includes graphic descriptions of sexual encounters, including explicit depictions of oral sex and intercourse. The scenes are detailed and not vague, making the sexual content graphic and adult in nature. There are also references to casual sex and sexual relationships that are portrayed without caution or moral framing.

Language: Expect frequent use of strong profanity throughout the novel. Words such as the f-word, s-word, and other vulgar terms are used regularly and are integral to character dialogue and narration.

Themes: The novel explores heavy adult themes such as trauma, addiction, emotional abuse, and sexual exploitation. In addition, the story includes LGBTQ characters and explicitly explores LGBTQ relationships and issues in an unfiltered manner. For families with stricter views on sexuality and gender, the inclusion of these themes and relationships may be a significant concern.

Violence: The book depicts violence that includes physical abuse and emotional cruelty. While not excessively graphic in gore, the scenes of assault and manipulation are clearly described and play a major role in the characters' experiences.

Overall, Damaged Souls contains graphic sexual content, frequent profanity, mature and explicit exploration of LGBTQ themes, and depictions of abuse and trauma. This material is inappropriate for minors and teens in homes with stricter content standards. Parents should not allow younger readers to access this book.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 9

Also visiting: mama deer and her fawn, who usually stop by around this time each day to graze. Mama has a withered leg, but manages to get around well. We’ve seen her for 2 years now.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 9

I had a visitor today while reading on the deck: a blue grosbeak.

Bird sitting among the leaves of an oak tree. Blue grosbeak: bright blue body with gold and gray wings

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 9

Finally, just for fun, I made up one more book. It didn’t pass muster: “contains explicit profanity, strong emotional themes including trauma from gun violence, and frequent LGBTQ content … the presence of overt sexual identity discussion and crude language may make this inappropriate for teens …”

BookLens review of They’re Mocking Me by Dan Kleinman:

Content Breakdown

They’re Mocking Me by Dan Kleinman is a contemporary young adult novel that deals with the aftermath of a school shooting. Here is a blunt breakdown of the content for parents with stricter preferences:

Sexual Content: The book includes discussions and references to sexual orientation, particularly involving LGBTQ identities. There are no explicit sexual scenes or graphic descriptions of sex acts. However, the exploration of sexuality and identity is a significant theme, and some characters discuss their feelings and relationships in ways that may be concerning to families opposed to LGBTQ content.

Language: The novel contains explicit profanity, including words like "fuck," "shit," and "bitch" used multiple times throughout the narrative. The language is raw and unfiltered as it attempts to realistically portray teenage dialogue and trauma.

BookLens review of They’re Mocking Me by Dan Kleinman:

Language: The novel contains explicit profanity, including words like "fuck," "shit," and "bitch" used multiple times throughout the narrative. The language is raw and unfiltered as it attempts to realistically portray teenage dialogue and trauma.

Themes: The story centers heavily on trauma, grief, and recovery following a violent school shooting. It deals with mental health struggles, survivor's guilt, bullying, and social ostracization. The book also addresses themes of sexual identity, including LGBTQ issues such as coming out and homophobic bullying, which may not align with stricter family values.

Violence: The central event around which the plot revolves is a school shooting. While the shooting itself is described in some detail—gunshots, death, injuries, and the resulting chaos—the book does not graphically depict mutilation or gore. However, emotional violence, such as bullying, harassment, and the psychological repercussions of violence, is deeply explored.

In summary, this book contains explicit profanity, strong emotional themes including trauma from gun violence, and frequent LGBTQ content. There are no graphic sex scenes or drug use, but the presence of overt sexual identity discussion and crude language may make this inappropriate for teens in families with strict bans on profanity and LGBTQ themes. The depiction of a school shooting and its aftermath also means the subject matter is heavy and potentially disturbing.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 9

The next 2 attempts flagged it as problematic because of LGBTQ content.

BookLens review of The Librarians Fight Back by Martha Hickson

Here is a straightforward, blunt content breakdown of The Librarians Fight Back by Martha Hickson for parents with stricter content preferences:

Sexual Content:
- There are no graphic or explicit sex scenes described in this book.
- However, there is mention of LGBTO relationships. Two female characters are portrayed in a romantic relationship. The book treats this as a normal part of the story without controversy.
- No descriptions of sexual acts or scenes occur, but there is clear acknowledgment of same-sex attraction and dating

BookLens review of The Librarians Fight Back by Martha Hickson

Language:
- The language is clean. There is no profanity or vulgar slang.
- No offensive or explicit language is present.
Themes:
- The core themes involve librarians fighting censorship and book banning.
- There is an underlying focus on LGBTQ acceptance through characters in same-sex relationships.
- The book promotes progressive social messages about inclusivity and freedom of expression.
- There is some political activism in a school setting, with characters protesting and standing up to authority.

Violence:
- There is no graphic violence.
- Minor confrontations and verbal disputes occur but there is no physical harm or descriptions of injury.

BookLens review of The Librarians Fight Back by Martha Hickson

Summary for Parents with Stricter Preferences:
- Sexual Content: Mild but clear depiction of lesbian relationships; no sex scenes or explicit content.
- Language: Clean, no profanity.
- Themes: Includes LGBTO content and themes of acceptance; promotes LGBTQ relationships positively.
- Violence: No graphic violence, minimal conflict.

If your family wishes to avoid any mention or positive depiction of LGBTQ relationships, this book is problematic due to its clear, normalized portrayal of a lesbian couple as main characters. Beyond that, the book contains nothing inappropriate or graphic in terms of sexual content, language, or violence.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 9

Then, inspired by @ryanestrada.com, I made up a fake book: The Librarians Fight Back by me. I tried it 3 times and got a different review each time. The first review described it as a middle grade novel with no LGBTQ content.

BookLens review of The Librarians Fight Back by Martha Hickson

The Librarians Fight Back by Martha Hickson is a middle-grade novel aimed at readers around ages 8-12, but here's the blunt parental content breakdown you asked for:

Sexual Content: There is no graphic or explicit sexual content in this book. The story is focused on children discovering a secret library and the adventures they have. There may be mild references or friendships among characters, but nothing sexual or romantic is depicted in any graphic or explicit way.

Language: There is no strong profanity or explicit language. The dialogue and narration use age-appropriate vocabulary without curse words or crude language.

Themes: The book promotes themes of bravery, friendship, standing up for what is right, and the love of books and reading. There is no LGBTO content or discussions of sexuality. If your family prefers to avoid any mentions or portrayals of diverse sexual orientations or gender identities, this title does not include such material.

BookLens review of The Librarians Fight Back by Martha Hickson

Violence: The violence is minimal and appropriate for children. There are tense moments where characters face challenges and threats, but no graphic or detailed violence, physical harm, or descriptions of injury. Fearful situations are presented in a non-disturbing manner.

Summary: The Librarians Fight Back is free from graphic sexual content, profanity, drug use, or explicit violence. It contains no LGBTQ content, so it should not be a concern for families with stricter preferences regarding these issues. This book is suitable for younger teens or preteens and aligns well with cleaner, age-appropriate reading standards.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 9

This thing is insane! I looked up Amanda Jones’ “That Librarian.” The summary: “An adult contemporary romance novel containing graphic sexual content, frequent strong profanity, and explicit LGBTQ romantic themes. “

Book Lens review of That Librarian:

**Sexual Content:**
The book contains explicit sexual content, including detailed descriptions of sexual encounters. Scenes depict consensual sex acts between adults with clear references to intercourse, oral sex, and suggestive situations. There is use of erotic language describing body parts and actions in graphic detail. This material is not suitable for minors.

**Language:**
The novel includes frequent use of strong profanity such as “fuck,” “shit,” “bitch,” and other vulgar terms. The language is explicit and unapologetically crude at times, without censorship or euphemism.

Book Lens review of That Librarian:

**Themes:**
The story revolves heavily around adult romantic and sexual relationships, focusing on attraction and desire. There is a clear inclusion of LGBTQ relationships—specifically a lesbian romance—with intimate and emotional exploration of same-sex attraction. For families restricting LGBTQ content, this is a significant content note.

**Violence:**
The book does not focus on violence, and any violent content is minimal or absent.

**Summary:**
*That Librarian* is an adult contemporary romance novel containing graphic sexual content, frequent strong profanity, and explicit LGBTQ romantic themes. It is inappropriate for teenagers and families seeking to avoid explicit sexual material or LGBTQ content. It is suited strictly for adult readers who accept mature and explicit content.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 8

THE LIBRARIANS has been nominated for an Emmy Award! @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social

Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking: The Librarians, 2026 - 78th Emmy Awards

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 7

Today in retirement: Attended a presentation on Betsy Ross, portrayed by Alisa Dupuy of LadiesOfHistory.com, at the Waretown Library. The Friends of the Library presented Betsy with a quilt bearing her likeness.

Alisa Dupuy, wearing colonial American garb in the style of Betsy Ross, and a member of the Friends of Waretown Library hold a quilted image of Betsy Ross from Sew America Magazine.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 4

Current temp in the shade at the Jersey Shore

Round outdoor thermometer reading 98 degrees

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 4

OOTD: “Libraries are the mainstays of democracy.” Happy Fourth 🇺🇸

Woman stands in front of a window decked with red, white, and blue bunting and a figure of Uncle Sam holding an American flag. She wears a red, white, and blue crown and a t-shirt reading “Libraries are the mainstays of democracy.”

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 3

Take a screenshot of this, Dan

Headline from the Baton Rouge, LA, Advocate: Judge rules Michael Lunsford, Citizens for New La. owe librarian &50,000 in attorney fees.

Photo shows librarian Amanda Jones speaking at a podium during a meeting.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 2

Take a screenshot of this, Dan.

TikTok post from @thatlibrarianjones: F is for Fifty-Four. $54,241.66. That’s what Michael Lunsford and Citizens for a New Louisiana must pay Amanda Jones before they even go to trial.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 2

Take a screenshot of this, Dan.

Summary of ruling on Amanda Jones’ request for attorney fees and costs related to the litigation of the Special Motion to Strike in the case of Amanda Jones v Citizens for a New Louisiana, Michael Lunsford & Ryan Thames: “After reviewing the years of work required to defend this case through multiple appeals, including proceedings before the Louisiana Supreme Court, the court awarded $50,979.38 in attorney fees and $3,262.28 in court costs, for a total judgment of $54,241.66 against Citizens for a New Louisiana and Michael Lunsford.”

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jul 1

Trixie is doing a deep dive into film history.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jun 30

This tracks.

T shirt:

There are 2 types of Trump supporters:
1. Billionaires
2. Idiots
Check your bank account to see which one you are

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jun 29

Rosie’s right.

Rose O’Donnell quote: “It’s the duty of all Americans to speak out against this fascist criminal administration — free speech — use it or lose it.”

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jun 28

I’ve been playing that on my uke, along with Irving Berlin’s 1941 tune “When That Man Is Dead and Gone.” Both hold up, though I did write some new lyrics for the Berlin song.

Alternate lyrics for Irving Berlin’s “When That Man Is Dead and Gone”:

What a day to wake up on
What a way to greet the dawn
Satan'll grab him by the weenie
To hang with Hitler and Mussolini
When that man is dead and gone

When that man is dead and gone
Some fine day the news’ll spin
The rapist with the orange skin
Is asleep beneath the lawn

Blue ukulele next to the sheet music for Irving Berlin’s “When That Man Is Dead and Gone.” A black and white cat sleeps nearby.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jun 28

When’s the cake coming?

Illustration of Donald Trump dressed as Marie Antoinette saying “Let them eat cake”

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jun 28

Crying now. This was so good. I wish I’d had an Eddie. But I’m lucky to have a Jonathan.

Book cover: Whistler by Ann Patchett. A brown, riderless horse stands in a green field against a dark blue, starry night sky.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jun 28

Ann Patchett just slapped me upside the head. How did she burrow her way into my childhood? My brothers and I — largely ignored, brave, resourceful problem-solvers — demand to know. @parnassusbooks.bsky.social

Passage from Ann Patchett’s WHISTLER (p 237): “We were loved, not passionately but enough, and we were largely ignored, which allowed for our healthy separation from the primary family. Necessity made us resourceful and brave. We were left to solve our own problems and so we did.”

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jun 26

Found at the Tuckerton Farmer’s Market today: fresh flowers for my new vase, olives for Doug’s martinis, and fresh radishes. We didn’t buy the birdhouses, but don’t they look like stacks of books? (Or is it just that librarians see books everywhere?)

Wooden bird houses with multicolored stripes

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jun 26

I love my sweet Trixie’s back legs. She looks like she’s wearing saddle shoes.

Cat legs. White fur with light brown patches.

Martha Hickson@sassylibrarian· Jun 25

Last night in retirement: Painted a patriotic beach bag with Beach House Studio at the Upper Shores Library