What do Judy Blume, Eric Carle, Roald Dahl, Dr. Seuss, Jim Henson, MadeleineL’Engle, Phillip Pullman, J.K. Rowling, Shel Silverstein, and R.L. Stein all have in common? At some point, someone has attempted to ban or burn their books. These particular authors are on the Frequently Challenged children’s book list. Don’t take away my freedom to read.
This week is Banned Books Week and it’s sponsored by the American Library Association to bring awareness to the threat against our freedom to READ! Banned Books Week was founded in 1982 and this year’s theme is “Censorship is a Dead End.” The ALA keeps track of attempts to ban or restrict access to books. Luckily, through the work of Librarians, Teachers, and others who stand up, the majority of the cases result in the book still being available.
I am always offended when someone tries to ban a book. I may not always agree with a book but I don’t try to ban it….I just don’t read it. It’s as simple as that. Let’s continue to make sure everyone has that choice. Read a book and support your Librarians.
There are lots of lists of banned books including Top 100 Banned Classics, Top Banned Books by year, and Top Banned Books by Decade. And, believe it or not, there’s also a list of the 11 Most Challenged and Banned Comic Books.
If you’re thinking of banning a book, then please read So You Want to Ban a Book for steps to follow prior to trying to ban a book.
Of course I’m sure we’d all agree that nobody should be banning books. But your post brings to mind a quote from Ray Bradbury: “You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.” We’d have a stronger country if American spent more time reading books and less time reading tweets and other social media.
You are so right. Parents, or religions, or cults that are afraid of ideas in books and stop their children or followers from reading them because they are afraid of the messages in their…these are the problems. Whether it’s purposeful to control people, which is the reason why cults and some religions do it; or purposeful to protect someone, which is the reason most (not all, but I’d say most) parents are doing it. But in all cases, they take away the reader’s free will. Their ability to form thoughts, ideas, and conclusions based on what they read. And they truly create a false narrative of what life is really like.
Thank you for this post. I practice personal boycotts all the time, if something is offensive to me I don’t read it or watch it our purchase it (if I find a commercial obnoxious, I am not likely to purchase the product advertised. But what you write is deeper than that. I agree that if a book is objectionable to you, do not read it, but do not take away my right to read it. Perhaps it is a case of too many people attempting to ‘judge a book by its cover.” I also agree with Tom’s comment that we would be a stronger country if we spent more time reading books and less time reading tweets and social media. Tweets have their place, but tweets and social media do not foster critical thinking (IMO) but reading does or can at least.
Yes, we would be a stronger country if we read more books than social media memes. Our biggest problem in that regard is the lack of education funding in the first place.
I grew up in a house of banned books. I wasn’t much of a reader at the time so I don’t know really how this effected me, because I didn’t really care.
My school on the other hand read books that are now challenged, and some I’m incredibly thankful for. More so now as an adult than I was at the time.
I’m glad TKAM challenged our classroom to actively discuss equality and prejudice in a town that still had to bus to avoid segregated schools.
I’m glad our school read the Great Gatsby so that we could discuss the corruption behind the American Dream in a town pumping fossil fuels into fortune.
It’s not that these things weren’t taught, between after-school specials, regular guest speakers, lectures over the loud speakers, we knew these things were bad. But weeks focusing, studying, relating to characters, and openly discussing with our peers brought more enlightenment, balanced perspectives, and connected us to the situations.
Banning books makes me so angry! I think it’s up to you to decide what you should or shouldn’t read personal choice! Totally agree with others people should spend more time reading than arguing on social media and help expand their minds.
Yes! But I also wish they would read knowledgeable stuff, not made us bs that comes out of places like InfoWars or Qanon. The outright lies that are being posted as truths on FB and other places are just so tiring.
I don’t know what has become of our nation. Shaking my head.
In India, books and movies get regularly banned. If one political party or religious group finds something offensive they demand a ban and get violent too. Sometimes they will just take something out of context and get offended by it! It really goes against the democratic rights that we all have!
That must be so frustrating.
I’m so against banning of books! I have read most of the banned classics list – Of Mice And Men was one of my English Literature school exam course books. One of my favourite classic books of all time is Great Gatsby. I read Lady Chatterley’s Lover twice – a thought it was boring when I read it as a teenager but loved it when I reread it again a few years back. I enjoyed reading Clockwork Orange – yes it is rather risqué reading but it shouldn’t be banned. And the classics of Ernest Hemingway …. I despair. I have read books that have made my stomach turn with graphic descriptions but that is all part of the reading experience.
Yes. I get so upset when children’s books are banned. One of my favorite authors from my childhood, Judy Blume, is on a lot of challenged and banned lists. And now, so is JK Rowling and the Harry Potter series.
Banning books is wrong, like you said, you gets to say? But then these lists are hyped, and people read more, so. What’s your favorite banned book?
So many of my favorites have been challenged or outright banned. When I was growing up, I loved Judy Blume and her book, Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret. It’s on the frequently challenged list.
The “Thought Police” are out there. I shudder to think if they get real power. Already this administration is talking about putting more “America First” history in our kids’ textbooks.
And unfortunately with textbooks created in Texas…its likely to happen.
It’s amazing that we still have to worry about our freedom to read whatever we want. It’s like going back in time.