September 25th to October 1st was Banned Books Week, a week long celebration of reading and the freedom to read. While that may not sound like fun to most people, it's actually a pretty big deal. It's important to clarify the difference between banned books and challenged books. Banned means that they have been pulled out of libraries and off other public bookshelves. Challenged means that the book in question has been found to be offensive for any number of reasons. A person or group of people must first challenge a book before it can be considered to be banned. In fact, the majority of the books we consider banned have only been challenged.
In order to fully understand this issue, we have to ask ourselves two questions: why it happens, and why you should care.
Why are books banned or challenged? The answer varies from book to book, but the three most common reasons are:
1. They are sexually explicit.
That's not to say they actually contain mention of any acts. If a book has a slight undertone of this theme it could be challenged. Consider "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald or "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles where any sexual actions are left up to the interpretation of the reader. The messages and stories of these books are not solely about the acts or actions in question, they could simply be mentioned in passing as a plot device to further the story.
2. They contain explicit language.
This reason is pretty self explanatory. However, I have to say, it's unfair to ban a book simply because of it's language. Sometimes harsh words are necessary to help move the story along or to add another layer of meaning. This makes books relatable, and what has insured their continued popularity.
3. They are considered unsuited for the age group that they were written for.
I've found myself questioning this one once as I walked through the children's section of the library and found the entire Harry Potter series. When I asked the librarian, he kindly informed me that, yes, they were suppose to be there. The reason being that they started out as a young children's book, and despite the books becoming more complex as both, the main character and the audience, grows up, the whole series is still considered children's. A book may very well be aimed towards a different age group despite what the labeling may say, that does not mean we have to ban it from everyone.
While the person or group in question undoubtedly is challenging or trying to ban a book for a very noble reason, it's important to remember that what's good for one person is not necessarily good for another. Self-censorship and censorship of a minor in your care is OK and within your personal rights, but limiting other people's exposure to something because you find it offensive is wrong. For example, parents have the right to censor their children, but only their children.
Why should you care if books are banned or challenged? What do you have to lose?
The unlikely answer is our freedom of speech. By limiting what creators can put in media, we are indirectly limiting what we can say. It's an endless cycle that gets worse with each round, it limits our exposure to different ideas and opinions. Eventually, we stop asking questions because we can't get answers. We need to be exposed to thought provoking material, to stories that make us uncomfortable, they help us grow and come up with our own ideas. Above all, we need to remember freedom of speech is for everyone, not just the people you agree with.
So before you start blacking out words or burning books, think about what you could learn from those novels. Think about the beautiful imagery or symbolism, the sophisticated prose, or the questions it brings up that could solidify why you believe you are right in your opinion. And at the end of the day understand that everyone has their own opinions and that is helping make the world a better place. If you're curious to find out more visit the American Library Association's page on banned books or visit you're local library and pick up a challenged book for yourself.
