Banned books you should probably read.

As I write this, it’s Banned Books Week; by the time this is posted, it will be over, but that doesn’t mean we stop talking about it. I made a list of banned books that I think everyone should read.

(From Pinterest)

Before I get to the list, I want to talk about what a banned book is, since there's often some confusion about the term. Many people think that when a book is banned, it means that people are no longer able to get their hands on that book. So, people get confused when they hear that a specific book is banned, but it's available for sale at Barnes & Noble. When a book becomes a banned book, it means that it has been removed from libraries, schools, or an institution. Book bans happen at the local level instead of nationwide, usually initiated by local leaders, governments, churches, parents, etc. Another term that often comes up along with banned books is challenged books. A challenged book is a book that was up for consideration to be banned but wasn’t. Banned books are still available for purchase at bookstores since the First Amendment protects freedom of speech. If you’re interested in learning more about banned books, I would recommend checking out the American Library Association. Now onto the list!

My required banned book reading list

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

This book has been challenged so many times, and the reason centers around the use of racial slurs and the opinion that the book deals with racism in a painful way.

"The Handmaid’s Tale" by Margaret Atwood

This book has been banned because of its religious and political undertones, and for being sexually explicit, graphic, and “morally corrupt.” In response to her book being banned, Atwood made a copy of the book that couldn’t be burned.

"Animal Farm" by George Orwell

This book has been banned in schools because it was labeled as inappropriate because of its political philosophies. It’s a bit ironic that people living in a democracy support the banning of a book that critiques totalitarianism.

"The Hunger Games series" by Suzanne Collins

This book has received complaints because of its physical violence, dark tones, and for being anti-family and anti-ethnic. Many literary analysts state that the banning of this book has an underlying political motivation since the story centers around an uprising against the government.

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky

This book has been removed from shelves because of its depiction of adolescent issues, which include drug use, alcohol use, suicide, and sexual abuse. This book has also been banned for its LGBTQ+ themes and profanity.

"Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book has been challenged and banned because it deals with the trauma of the sexual assault of an adolescent, depression, and isolation. It has been targeted for its mature themes.

"Looking For Alaska" by John Green

Has been targeted for sexual content, explicit language, drinking, smoking, and suicide. These themes are shown through teenagers.