The Chicago Review of Books is proud to announce that Samira Ahmed, author and a national leader of Authors Against Book Bans, will receive the Adam Morgan Literary Leadership Award at the 2025 Chicago Review of Books (CHIRBy) Awards!
Samira is the bestselling author of more than a dozen titles, including the YA novels Love, Hate & Other Filters, Internment, and This Book Won’t Burn, which follows a young woman who moves to a new town and fights against censorship when she discovers that her local library has been the victim of book bans. She serves as a national leader of Authors Against Book Bans, a coalition of more than 5,000 writers, illustrators, anthology editors, and book creators who work together to fight the oppression of literature and protect our right to read widely. The organization provides a framework for local organizing and coordination of book ban alerts nationwide, as well as supports community members and authors when their books come under attack.
In the face of the continued assault on our freedoms, Samira’s dedicated work is an example of what’s possible as artists and literature lovers united by our shared belief that we need diversity in our schools, libraries, and communities. Samira and Authors Against Book Bans show us the power that writers have when we organize.
You can read more about Samira and her work with Authors Against Book Bans in our recent interview.
We’re thrilled to present Samira Ahmed with this year’s Adam Morgan Literary Leadership Award!
Tickets are available now for the 2025 CHIRBy Awards! Get yours today and join us on Thursday, December 11 at the Fine Arts Building as we celebrate Samira and this shortlist of incredible Chicago authors at our 10th annual awards ceremony.
