Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week (Sept 26-Oct 2, 2021)

Books Unite Us, Censorship Divides Us

 

An annual celebration of the freedom to read, Banned Books Week spotlights current and historical attempts at censorship. Bringing together everyone in the book community, it shows the shared support of intellectual freedom, the right to freely express, publish, and access information and reading materials, even if considered unpopular or contrary to the beliefs of some.

 

“A truly great library has something in it to offend everyone,” is a quote by Jo Goodwin, and it is a true reflection of how committed libraries are to representing a myriad of viewpoints and opinions.  If you want to give space to everyone, then there are going to be conflicts, so it can be considered the measure of excellence in a library. 

 

While not every book is for every reader, the problem arises when one reader wants to ban that book for everyone. Generally, the censor believes they are protecting others, but the standard of what is offensive varies greatly from person to person.  Historically, the Bible has been one of the most challenged books of all time (for mention of incest, rape, child abuse, etc.), yet there are obviously people who would fight for their right to be able to access it freely.

 

Here is the list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020 and why they have been challenged:  

 

1.       George (Melissa’s Story) by Alex Gino. Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community.”

2.       Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. Banned and challenged because of the author’s public statements and because of claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people.

3.       All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism and because it was thought to promote antipolice views, contain divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive matter right now.”

4.       Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint, it was claimed to be biased against male students, and it included rape and profanity.

5.       The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of the author.

6.       Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin. Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote antipolice views.

7.       To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience.

8.       Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes and their negative effect on students.

9.       The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse.

10.   The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Challenged for profanity, and because it was thought to promote an antipolice message.