Reviewed by: Caleb Turrentine
Meet the Alabama author who bought an old pickup truck to sell banned books
Reading time: 5 minutes
Karie Fugett, author of memoir “Alive Day” and a military widow, envisioned starting a bookstore for years. But when she found an old truck on Facebook Marketplace, those dreams began to take shape into goals.
Now, she is the proud owner of a 1940 Ford pickup truck that will one day bring banned books to the streets — after she picks up some mechanical skills.
“I fell in love with this little truck the moment I saw it. Not only that, but the previous owner loved the idea of turning it into a bookstore. It just felt right. I love that I get to give this old lady a new life, new purpose.”
Get ready to meet “The Banned Wagon.”
Exposing more folks to challenged books
Fugett’s original bookstore visions were more traditional — brick and mortar, selling books of all kinds — but that changed as the Baldwin County native watched the battle over Fairhope Library books take place over the last few years. As an author herself, she knew something had to change.
“Some people are so afraid of ideas they don’t understand, and it’s frustrating. Partly because I think reading the very books being banned is what could ease some of that fear.
“As a mother myself, I want my daughter to have access to perspectives that differ from her own, because doing so promotes empathy and compassion and, my goodness, the world could use more of both right now.”
Some of the books being targeted by local political organizations include English-teacher-favorites that have long been assigned to high school students: “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Homegoing,” “Beloved,” “The Color Purple” and “Brave New World,” to name a few.
Books like these — in addition to others pertaining to LGBTQ+ topics, race and societal inequalities intended for audiences of all ages — have been challenged for years, meaning some folks want to make them more difficult for those under 18 to get their hands on.
As a mother, this issue is personal to Fugett.
“Let me decide what is okay. I trust libraries. I trust teachers. I trust parents. And, of course, I’ll always create a space where my daughter can ask questions and have discussions about the things she’s read that she doesn’t understand. Because that’s my job as her mother.”
Getting ready to roll
Of course, this won’t be an easy road for Fugett or her new-old Ford.
When she pictured her bookstore on wheels, she wanted something “nostalgic” that “carried stories of its own” — “something oozing Southern charm.”
She scored exactly what she was looking for, but now it’s time to get The Banned Wagon rolling.
“I have no mechanic experience, but I’m lucky to know people who do.
“That said, I’m actually eager to learn now. I would love to get to a point where I can work on her myself. I’ve already started watching YouTube videos. Luckily, these older vehicles are much simpler than they are today.”
For now, she is asking the community for help to get the truck up and running and ready to sell books.
“By supporting this project, you’re helping fuel a movement to keep important stories alive in a place that desperately needs them…
“My dream? A little truck full of banned books, rolling through the South, spreading truth, freedom and hope — one story at a time. I would be humbled and so so grateful if you’d be a part of it.”
She doesn’t have a set-in-stone launch date since she wants to make sure she gets everything just right. With the help of a friend, she is converting the truck bed into the bookstore.
“The truck runs, which is great, but it’s got a lot of little issues. Things like the driver’s side door not opening from the outside and a hole in the floor. In fact, there’s a squirrel that’s been sneaking in and pooping all over the seat. I feel like … ya’ know … maybe I need to get some of those things repaired before I take it into the world.”
Fugett plans to do a “mini launch” online at some point in the future to sell branded merch like t-shirts, totes and a select few books. She has plans to have a blog associated with the store as well.
“The more I work on this, the more ideas I come up with. I’m just so excited about all the possibilities. I don’t want to just sell books, I want to put these books in hesitant hands and have real discussions about what they say, why they’ve been banned, and why it’s important to read them anyway.”
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