Introduction
Banned books are a taboo topic. Many probably don’t realize what it means to “ban a book,” or why they get banned in the first place. In this article, I will explore what it means to ban books, some commonly banned books, and why it is important to read them anyway.
What does it mean to “ban” a book?
“Banning” a book means to remove it from a library because of content some consider to be inappropriate in them. There are several reasons, including racial, sexual, and violent content. Most often, books are banned in school districts due to backlash from parents. Despite this, no book has been banned nationwide. Most book bans are left to the school district or institution that controls the library.
What are some commonly banned books?
Here is a list of some familiar books that you probably don’t know have been banned:
-
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
– These classic books have been challenged before because they contain coarse language and racial stereotypes.
2. Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
-This book, commonly read when learning about the Holocaust, has been banned for mentions of puberty and teenage sexuality.
3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
-This classic dystopian novel has been banned for containing obscene language, references to smoking and drinking, violence, and certain religious themes. Some also argue that this book promotes terrorism.
4. The Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling
– Despite being the best-selling book series ever, these books have been banned for claims of being unsuitable to the age group, themes of witchcraft, religious viewpoint, anti-family, darkness/scariness/violence, and for setting bad examples to the children reading.
5. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
-The Outsiders has been banned for numerous reasons, including gang violence, the portrayal of underage drinking, violent themes (including murder), and strong language.
This is just five books out of hundreds, if not thousands, that have been banned across the country. Among these are books you should be familiar with and might have even read in school. Hopefully, this shows you the magnitude of this issue. So what can you do?
Why is it important to read banned books?
Reading banned books is important for four key reasons. The first reason is that it helps stand up against banning them in the first place by showing libraries how important they are. Next, it opens readers to new and diverse perspectives they might not otherwise access. Third, reading these books does encourage challenging ideas, let them navigate real-world issues, and in some cases, get both sides of the story. The last and arguably most important reason to read banned books is that it fosters empathy by teaching readers about diverse cultures and ways of life that they probably have never been exposed to before.
