When I was eight, one of my favorite books was “Ban This Book” by Alan Gratz. At the time, I couldn’t fathom why the novel’s fictional school board would want to restrict students’ reading material. Now, I realize it was because they wanted to censor the education and exposure of young and easily influenced minds to topics that they considered a “bad influence.” This book is now banned in Florida.
What topics are a “bad influence?” Well, that is subjective, and it’s also where controversy enters the topic of book banning. Those who decide to limit students’ exposure to subjectively intense or difficult topics are robbing these students of their moral right to form their own opinions.
Parents and authority holders prevent student exposure to topics such as school shootings, rape, suicide, LGBTQ+, drugs, death, talking animals, sex, illegal birth control, anti-religious sentiment, misogyny, racism, ableism, puberty, display of a negative stream-of-consciousness, intellectual liberty and criticisms of government. They allegedly ban these topics to “protect” young minds; this supposed protection is simply a hindrance of discovery and awareness in disguise. How else can parents and leaders expect students to learn about topics and establish their own views? Without a captivating story to teach them about such topics, students turn to likely biased sources to become informed. Whether those are parents, friends or social media, opinions that others have already established will eventually become the only opinions that the youth of today come to know after being robbed of the opportunity to form their own. Another dangerous outcome of banning books with these topics is keeping students oblivious. There is nothing worse for the future of a society than ignorance to the very things that can tear it down.
Not only does book banning prevent students from forming their own opinions on such topics; it also suppresses protest and retaliation where deemed necessary. It’s frightening to realize that our school boards and state and federal governments are willing to withhold or filter the information given to us just to keep us in the same cycle of ideas and ways of life — good or bad. Without protest, how can society ever progress?
Through the banning of books, people try to impose their own intolerance and prejudice on everyone’s education, which is simply unfair. While one family may want to restrict their own child’s reading and topic intake, it’s not fair to do so for every student. According to an article from George Mason University, “Banning books also has the potential to create significant gaps in knowledge for young learners. Whether it is a canonical classic or a new book that is banned, book banning and limiting access have the potential to leave students behind their peers.” When books are banned in certain districts or states but not in others, it creates a difference in the depth of education and the well-roundedness that books provide.
Aside from impeding depth and variety of education, banning books of the aforementioned topics may cause those who are part of minority groups or those who have experienced such subjects to feel silenced or unrepresented. According to PEN America, a non-profit that fights for free expression and tracks book bans in America, “Of the most commonly banned books in the 2023-2024 school year, 44 percent featured people and characters of color and 39 percent featured LGBTQ+ people and characters.” This is a blatant display of prejudice towards these two communities. This prejudice is not only frustrating, but also poses mental health effects. According to an article from the University of Florida, “As a high percentage of banned books focus on marginalized populations, people belonging to those groups experience negative mental health and psychological effects as it furthers stigma against them.” Those who have overcome hardship in the past (e.g. sexual violence) are negatively affected when books that showcase such hardships are limited as they use them to cope with their trauma. I believe it to be ironic how these book bans are to “protect” from subjectively difficult topics — these communities whose representations in books are restricted don’t seem to be very “protected” by these bans.
An article from the University of Florida stated that “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie was banned for including topics of sex education among others; and “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas was banned for its depiction of oppression and poverty.
How can society go about banning books that educate youth on the difficult but entirely necessary themes that are ever-present in daily life, representative of the vast majority but seemingly “offensive” to a select few? How can those in power call this “protection” when all it really is is control? How can they choose what students absorb and form their opinions around? We cannot just choose another book off the shelf when the subjects of reality are being snatched right off of them.
Books at Risk for Ban with Project 2025:
- “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling — cause of ban: accusations of promoting witchcraft
- “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series by Sarah J. Maas — cause of ban: sexual content, mature relationships, violence, depictions of trauma recovery, and war-related themes
- “A Game of Thrones” by George R.R. Martin — cause of ban: sexual violence, political intrigue
- “A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway — cause of ban: themes of war and love
- “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare — cause of ban: sexuality, magic, mistaken identity
- “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry — cause of ban: addresses racial segregation, highlights struggles for justice in America
- “A Room of One’s Own” by Virginia Woolf — cause of ban: promotes female autonomy and free thought (banned in some conservative communities)
- “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens — cause of ban: revolution, justice
- “Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson — cause of ban: death and religious content
- “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White — cause of ban: talking animals (considered against certain religious beliefs)
- “The Tell Tale Heart” and other stories by Edgar Allan Poe — cause of ban: violence, disturbing themes
- “Killers of the Flower Moon” by David Grann — cause of ban: tells the true story of the Osage murders and shows systemic racism and corruption
- “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur — cause of ban: poetry and prose on sexism, love, loss, trauma
- “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac — cause of ban: promotes “unconventional lifestyles”
- “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen — cause of ban: gender roles, marriage, societal expectations
- “Red, White, and Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston — cause of ban: LGBTQ+ content, explicit themes
Lisa Kirazian • Jan 24, 2025 at 4:56 pm
Wow – a powerful article with many salient points about how banning books can adversely affect our society and the well-rounded education of our youth and young adults.