The Banned Wagon is coming to Austin with books, advocacy tips and David Levithan

A banned book van is stopping in Austin on Oct. 15 to give away challenged titles and raise awareness of censorship across Texas and the nation.

In celebration of September's Banned Books Week, the Banned Wagon hit the road for its second cross-country tour. The trip comes at a time when book challenges remain high both across the country and in the Lone Star State .

The itinerary includes stops at nine libraries and bookstores in the American Midwest and South, specifically in communities impacted by book challenges. At each event, the Banned Wagon gives out free copies of 20 books currently being banned across the country.

In Texas, the van is visiting Black Pearl Books in Austin. The Black woman-owned, family-run indie bookstore promotes diversity, inclusion and representation through literature, according to its website .

The Banned Wagon event is Tuesday, Oct. 15 from noon to 4 p.m. at 7112 Burnet Road. Attendees can receive a free book (while supplies last) and learn how to fight book censorship in their communities.

Available titles include:

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," by Maya Angelou

"The Handmaid's Tale," by Margaret Atwood

"This Is Your Time," by Ruby Bridges

"Hair Love," by Matthew A. Cherry

"The Diary of a Young Girl," by Anne Frank

"Lily and Dunkin," by Donna Gephart

"The Fault in Our Stars," by John Green

"The Outsiders," by S.E. Hinton

"How to Be an Antiracist," by Ibram X. Kendi

"Two Boys Kissing," by David Levithan

"Last Night at the Telegraph Club," by Malinda Lo

"The Bluest Eye," by Toni Morrison

"My Rainbow," by DeShanna Neal and Trinity Neal

"Born Ready," by Jodie Patterson

"All Are Welcome," by Alexandra Penfold

"Milo Imagines the World," by Matt de la Peña

"I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter," by Erika L. Sánchez

"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," by Mark Twain

"The Color Purple," by Alice Walker

"Red at the Bone," by Jacqueline Woodson

Author David Levithan will be at Black Pearl Books, too, signing copies of his award-winning book "Two Boys Kissing." Published in 2013, it follows two 17-year-old boys who attempt to break a world record by kissing for 32 hours. The book discusses LGBTQ+ identity, relationships, coming out, hook-up culture and the AIDS epidemic.

"Two Boys Kissing" is frequently banned in schools and public libraries. It was the 18th-most challenged title in America between 2010 to 2019, according to the American Library Association .

The Banned Wagon project is a collaboration between publisher Penguin Random House and nonprofits Unite Against Book Bans, First Book and Little Free Library. Those who can't attend the tour can still participate by scanning the QR code in the photo below.

With each scan, a book is donated to a community in need through a partnership with First Book. The Banned Wagon also will put restricted titles in more than 50 Little Free Libraries along the tour route.

"We're excited to hit the road again with the Banned Wagon (...) to reach some of the communities most impacted by this critical issue and get more books into the hands of readers of all ages," said Alyssa Taylor, Penguin Random House's director of brand marketing, in a news release. "Books help us understand ourselves and the world around us. We all deserve the opportunity to read, think, and learn freely."