Chances are that you’ve read at least one banned book in
your lifetime. Judy Blume usually springs to mind around this time of year, but
what about Shel Silverstein, Maurice Sendak, JK Rowling? That’s right, someone
read Silverstein’s A Light in the Attic
and thought, “Hmm, not appropriate for children.”
Guys. Guys.
Banned Books Week occurs every year and serves as a “celebration
of the freedom to read.” The reasons behind challenges to books can vary, but
they all come back to the same thing – censorship. Attempts to censor
literature often comes under the veil of trying to shield children from so-called
inappropriate subjects. Which is probably one of the worst things you could do
for a child’s curiosity. Taking away information doesn’t sate the hunger, it
only makes it grow stronger.
Banning books (or attempting to have them banned) is still
going on today, which is absolutely crazy if you think about what kids and
teenagers can more readily access on the internet. I am one Google search away from
videos about fetishes I didn’t even know existed. Exposure to difficult topics
inside the context of a story can be much more beneficial than a quick few
minutes on the internet, which lacks the nuance of characters and plot that can
put things in perspective.
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| They have no choice but to be nerds. |
What banned books have you read lately? Or were some of your
childhood favorites commonly banned or challenged?
I read about how some people wanted to ban the Diary of Anne Frank, and I loved (and still love) that book when I was a teenager. I think that people who want to ban books like that are trying to keep kids too sheltered, but what they don't realize is the value of what those books are actually teaching. Not to mention the kids are just going to want to read them even more if they're not allowed to read them.
ReplyDeleteI think that's a good point. Unfortunately, I many people who challenge books seem to feel that they are protecting kids from age-inappropriate behavior, and don't see their actions as really sheltering.
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