5: Banned Books

To ban books or not to ban books?  That is the question.  Or is it? As with most controversial topics, the answer contains layers of meaning.

According to the American Library Association's top banned book list of 2017, I have read three of those on the list (Thirteen Reasons Why, The Kite Runner, and To Kill a Mockingbird) and have two waiting on me to read (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and The Hate U Give).  Based on this, I have a 50% rate of supporting banned books!  These books range from classics (TKM...which we teach to our sophomores) to recent releases (The Hate U Give).

Of the three I have read from the above list of banned books, I do see why some parents or concerned persons would consider these books not being appropriate for certain age groups.  This is where I stand.  I respect a writer's choice of topic, setting, conflict, culture, theme...but...these topics are not always appropriate for brains that are still developing.  I have chosen to not teach particular texts that my students should have the choice to read when they are more mature and are mentally more capable of deciding for themselves whether to accept or reject the beliefs being presented.

Banning books does an positive effect on sales, for just tell a person he/she cannot do/read...and that then becomes the goal to contradict!  Hummmm...need to use this reverse psychology more!  Blessed, we are, to be able to choose...or not.