In a bold move against censorship, renowned Canadian author Margaret Atwood has unveiled a sharp-witted short story targeting Alberta's controversial book ban. This release follows the alarming news that Atwood's celebrated novel, *The Handmaid's Tale*, has been yanked from certain school libraries in the province due to draconian new regulations.

This rewriting of literary freedom comes hot on the heels of the Alberta education ministry's directive mandating that all school libraries remove books deemed to contain explicit sexual content by October 1st. Atwood, ever the provocative storyteller, crafted a tale for 17-year-olds featuring two excessively "good" children, John and Mary, who navigate life without a hint of reality's messiness.

Atwood's tale opens with a whimsical description: "They never picked their noses or had bowel movements or zits. They grew up and married each other, and produced five perfect children without ever having sex.” This satirical setup lays the groundwork for a critique of the current political climate, particularly aimed at Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, a staunch supporter of the book bans.

The author draws unsettling parallels between Smith and characters from *The Handmaid's Tale*, a globally acclaimed dystopian narrative turned TV sensation. Smith has been vocal about the removal of titles from school libraries, claiming that many, including Atwood's, don't fit the mold of the sexually explicit content the new laws are intended to address.

Book bans, initially rising in the United States, have now permeated Canadian soil, raising serious alarms amongst literary advocates. Atwood's displeasure with the provincial restrictions is not new; as recently as last Friday, she urged readers to grab copies of *The Handmaid's Tale* before the possibility of public book burnings looms.

"Don't read it, your hair will catch on fire!" she humorously remarked in a social media post, underscoring the dangerous implications of censorship.

While Alberta schools are under pressure to comply by October, some institutions have already disclosed lists of forbidden literature. The Edmonton Public School Board recently announced the elimination of over 200 titles, including multiple classics such as George Orwell's *1984*, Maya Angelou's *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings*, and Aldous Huxley's *Brave New World*.