Essay On Book Banning

Giselle Mata

4/28/23

Period: 4

Book Banning

Books play a crucial role in our society, by providing knowledge and empowering generations to come. According to PEN America, from July 2021 to June 2022 there have been 2,532 instances of individual book bans, affecting 1,648 book titles. Throughout the past years, long lists of book titles have been challenged for addressing LGBTQ+ themes or instances of racism and police brutality. It has become clear that any book can be challenged for anything no matter how minor, giving future generations minimal chances to learn their history. These banned books also provide kids with valuable reading experiences to learn about topics like grief, divorce, and assault. Learning about these difficult topics

Harris and Alter also mentions Laurie Halse Anderson, an author whose young adult books are frequently challenged. Laurie says, “by attacking these books, by attacking these authors, by attacking the subject matter, what they are doing is removing the possibility for conversation.” This highlights how crucial books that discuss difficult topics are to our society. When books are removed from schools it does not allow students to review difficult situations that can occur. Books do not isolate one individual and their personal experience but rather uses a fictional character to discuss sensitive topics in a way that does not make kids feel alienated and teaches kids to be more empathetic. Anderson further states that by banning books, you are essentially “laying the groundwork for increasing bullying, disrespect, violence and attacks.” By banning books it does not allow kids to understand others' experiences and the reason they may act in such a way, making them more prone to bullying. In a world where kids are not taught about the problems people have faced in the past they will not learn to empathize with one another leading to racism and a divided

They are incorrect because reading and learning about mature content can better prepare students for the future and difficult situations they may face. When books are censored and banned, it is not allowing kids to see the whole picture and how characters can go through impossible situations and the recovery process that follows. Books should not be banned for explicit content while kids can experience the same situations and it remains undiscussed. Harris and Alter writes, “Many school libraries already have mechanisms in place to stop individual students from checking out books of which their parents disapprove.” This shows that parents already have lots of control over what their students can and can not read, so why do parents feel the need to go above and beyond to ensure that no kids can read books of their choosing. Elementary, middle, and high schools are stocked with books that reflect their age and interest. Besides schools prohibiting young kids from reading books their parents view as vulgar, there is also the fact that elementary school students would not have the same reading level and vocabulary to understand large chapter books that may contain explicit