Liz Reed is an Adult and Information Services Librarian at
the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, Massachusetts. Read Liz’s column in
the September 27, 2018 issue of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
As Americans, we take a lot of our freedoms for granted.
Other than yelling “Fire!” in a crowded theatre, we don’t even think twice
about our right to say what we want when we want. We trust that law enforcement
cannot enter our homes without a warrant, and we know that the freedom of
religion is an ideal on which our country was founded.
But imagine a reality in which we couldn’t read what we
wanted. The freedom to write books of varying opinions and subject matter is
protected by the First Amendment, under the freedom of speech. Have you
considered that this extends to protect your freedom to read? Protecting
everyone’s freedom to read what they want is a bedrock of librarianship, and
it’s more of a constant concern than you might expect. There are frequent calls
to censor books people don’t agree with or find objectionable in some way. If
the move to censor a book is successful, it may be pulled from the shelves of
schools, public libraries, and even booksellers.
A surge of book bans and challenges in the 1980s led to the
banding together of people across the book trade to protect the freedom to read
and draw attention to banned and challenged books, and thus Banned Book Week
was born. Typically held the last week of September, Banned Book Week celebrates
the most challenged books of the previous year, inspires advocacy around the
need to protect our freedom to read, and highlights the value of free and open
access to information. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or
restrict access to books, Banned Books Week underscores the harms of
censorship.
Curious about the most challenged books of 2017? The
American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom compiles lists of
the most challenged books across the country. Last year, the Top Ten Most
Challenged Books were (quoted directly from the bannedbooksweek.org website):
Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher. Originally
published in 2007, this New York Times bestseller has resurfaced as a
controversial book after Netflix aired a TV series by the same name. This YA
novel was challenged and banned in multiple school districts because it
discusses suicide.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by
Sherman Alexie. Consistently challenged since its publication in 2007 for
acknowledging issues such as poverty, alcoholism, and sexuality, this National
Book Award winner was challenged in school curriculums because of profanity and
situations that were deemed sexually explicit.
Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier. This
Stonewall Honor Award-winning, 2012 graphic novel from an acclaimed cartoonist
was challenged and banned in school libraries because it includes LGBT
characters and was considered “confusing.”
The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini. This critically
acclaimed, multigenerational novel was challenged and banned because it
includes sexual violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and “promote
Islam.”
George written by Alex Gino. Written for elementary-age
children, this Lambda Literary Award winner was challenged and banned because
it includes a transgender child.
Sex is a Funny Word was written by Cory Silverberg and
illustrated by Fiona Smyth. This 2015 informational children’s book written by
a certified sex educator was challenged because it addresses sex education and
is believed to lead children to “want to have sex or ask questions about sex.”
To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. This Pulitzer
Prize-winning novel, considered an American classic, was challenged and banned
because of violence and its use of the N-word.
The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas. Despite winning
multiple awards and being the most searched-for book on Goodreads during its
debut year, this YA novel was challenged and banned in school libraries and
curriculums because it was considered “pervasively vulgar” and because of drug
use, profanity, and offensive language.
And Tango Makes Three written by Peter Parnell and Justin
Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole. Returning after a brief hiatus from
the Top Ten Most Challenged list, this ALA Notable Children’s Book, published
in 2005, was challenged and labeled because it features a same-sex
relationship.
I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings and
illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas. This autobiographical picture book
co-written by the 13-year-old protagonist was challenged because it addresses
gender identity.
There’s an interesting and unintended consequence to banning
books however. Prohibiting something gives it the allure of being taboo;
telling people, especially teens, that they “can’t” do something only makes
them want to do it more. Banning books can actually catapult them into
popularity.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and choice of reading
material is often a matter of taste. People who challenge books disagree with
their content, opinions expressed, etc – and that’s fine. We’re never going to
all agree on what constitutes offensive content, and what a boring world it
would be if we only ever saw our own values reflected back to us. The problem
doesn’t lie with differences of opinion, but instead with restricting others’
access to information and books they might want to read.
In a famous passage discussing Voltaire, historian Evelyn
Beatrice Hall wrote, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the
death your right to say it.” And librarians will continue to protect your right
to read. Help us celebrate Banned Books Week 2018 this week, September 23-29.
We have a display of banned books on the second floor – some of the titles
might surprise you! – and we can help you find other titles you might be
looking for.
