Book Club: Banned Books 250 reads Malinda Lo's Last Night at the Telegraph Club

Discuss a powerful coming-of-age story set in 1950s San Francisco. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo follows a young Chinese American girl as she navigates identity, family expectations and first love against the backdrop of the Red Scare. Explore themes of belonging, secrecy and self-discovery in this award-winning novel.

This book club is part of Banned Books 250, a special exhibition on view May 16–August 29, 2026 at the American Bookbinders Museum. This 250-year retrospective traces how books have been challenged, restricted, and suppressed—from early colonial bans to today’s debates over identity, sexuality, and free expression—offering a deeper look at the ongoing struggle between censorship and the right to read.  View the complete Banned Books 250 exhibit booklist.