When I first heard of book banning and burning, it was in reference to an ancient culture, and I presumed the practice had stayed in the past. It wasn't until an incident involving Harry Potter that I realized book banning was still alive and well. Book banning has always deeply bothered me. Maybe it's how I was raised, but the thought of it repulses my mind and sickens my stomach.
Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings. ~Heinrich Heine
A couple years back one of my favorite authors posted a video to his brother, Hank, about one of his books being banned. He explains the situation around the ban, and then explains what the disputed scenes were really about. (Oh, he also stands up for young people.)
Earlier this month, the school system of a town near me banned The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie from the classroom because of language and sexual situations. Keep in mind, this is a ban for high school class room. I have yet to read the book, so I cannot speak to the supposed vulgarities, but I'm familiar with some of the town youth and I hardly think they'll learn any new words or behaviors from reading the book. I take that back, in reading the book, they might pick up the behavior of reading critically and thoughtfully.
I was blessed to be raised in a house where I was allowed to read any book whenever I expressed an interest. My mom even pushed me to read several banned books I might not have been interested in until much later. The following are some common or recently banned books I've read.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
Animal Farm, by George Orwell
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank
Bridge To Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
Animal Farm, by George Orwell
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank
Bridge To Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
Fahrenheit 451, by Ray BradburyThe Giver, by Lois Lowry
Harry Potter (series), by J. K. Rowling
James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene
To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Twilight, by Stephanie Meyers
Where's Waldo?, by Martin Hanford
The Witches, by Roald Dahl
Harry Potter (series), by J. K. Rowling
James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene
To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Twilight, by Stephanie Meyers
Where's Waldo?, by Martin Hanford
The Witches, by Roald Dahl
I love so many of the books on my list. My favorite is a real toss up between Fahrenheit 451 and To Kill A Mockingbird, both have played such a large role in my life. However, just because a book is banned doesn't mean it's a great book. I'm not a fan of Twilight and book has a dichotomous effect on me. On the one hand, it kills me that such a badly executed story is selling so well. On the other hand, it makes me hopeful for my own career. Despite my many criticisms of the book, I hate that it is skyrocketing up the banned books charts.
All books are not created equal, but all books deserve equal rights.
See a list of commonly banned books and then tell me your favorite banned book in the comments!
