Have you ever read “Charlotte’s Web” or “The Hate U Give?” “Looking for Alaska” or “1984?” What about the graphic novel “Drama” or even “The Adventures of Captain Underpants?” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower?” “The Catcher in the Rye?” “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?” You might be wondering what all of these books have in common. An assortment of genres, scattered across different age groups and reading levels surely couldn’t be at all connected, right? You would be wrong. The list above is just a miniscule fraction of thousands of books that continue to get banned year after year.
Each morning as I head to Paresky Commons, my attention catches on a small sign standing in the Head of School’s front yard that says, “Read Banned Books.” While the blue and white flag may seem like just a piece of decoration or even a nice banner to represent our school colors, not everyone might stop to ponder what it means. To me, it’s a constant reminder that something needs to change.
I first heard of this concept back in middle school when I walked into the library to find a recent display with a sign reading “Newly Banned Books.” A quick Google search let me know that this act of banning books had been happening all across the country. Having always been an avid reader myself, my mind was blown when I realized that books could be taken off of shelves just because of a simple request.
This idea of book banning came about in the United States during the 1600s when people disliked books that went against their religious values. However, this process has recently been regaining popularity for other reasons. The idea that a young reader’s mind will be swayed by reading a particular book has led many guardians to file requests and restrict access to the books in their children’s classrooms. While it’s not illegal to read these, labeling a book as “banned” removes it from areas of easy access such as libraries. The government has left the choice of choosing what books to allow in schools to local educational boards and administration.
Most of the banned books from this year contain subject matter pertaining to issues surrounding sexuality, gender identity, and race. People often group these subjects of books as topics that they don’t want their children getting involved with, and resort to completely removing them from the picture.
But isn’t the point of reading to introduce new information for readers to interpret? Present new arguments for them to consider? If they agree with them? Why they might not? Reading is a vital source of education and by placing a target on so many books, the information they contain is restricted, narrowing the content that young people have access to as they form their opinions. Without the opportunity to explore different topics through writing, children may be left to simply believe what they hear around them. Banning books takes away options and limits what people are capable of learning and experiencing from the book world.
Before becoming banned, a book must first be “challenged,” which is the initial attempt made to remove and restrict the material. After a challenge, the challenger is required to read the entire book and fill out a form explaining why the book needs to be taken out, with specific examples of where in the book they see offensive material. After this, the book will be shown in a hearing to make a determination.
The past week of October 1 to 7, 2023 marked the 41st annual Banned Books Week, a string of days dedicated to bringing light to books that have been removed from reading lists, libraries, and schools throughout the United States of America. Organizations such as Little Free Library, the National Book Foundation, Freedom to Read Foundation, and countless others, have joined together to spread awareness about banned books and their topics. Most of the banned books from this year contain subject matter pertaining to issues surrounding sexuality, gender identity, and race.
In order to combat this concern, steps can be taken such as contacting your local library directors, school boards, and book publishers to make your voice heard. One of the most important things to do is read. A great place to start is looking to the left of the information desk in the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library (OWHL), to find a display of banned queer books. Besides that, some of the top banned books at the moment include, “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” “The Bluest Eye,” “Flamer,” “Lawn Boy,” and “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” Reading these books shows that we want to learn more about these sensitive topics and make the information available to everyone. In addition to reading, making these books visible by posting a review online to share your opinion, talking about a banned book you read with family or friends, recommending it to people and sharing its title, and simply discussing the book helps keep it on the shelf.
So, next time you walk by Dr. Kington’s flag, take a minute to reconsider your next read.
