I Read Banned Books

This post has been in my drafts for so long; now is as good a time as ever to post it...

Two years ago, my local library gave away tote bags featuring the following message:

I READ BANNED BOOKS

Until then, I had never deeply considered banned books. The first ideas that came to my mind when the topic was mentioned were the Middle Ages, Fahrenheit 451, and The Satanic Verses.

I never thought I could live in a time and country where books are banned or challenged. I seriously needed to educate myself.

A book ban is not a simple concept. Books are banned for different reasons, in different places, to different audiences. There's a reason why a book written by a nazi leader is banned, another one why a book explains in detail how to end one's life, and yet another one why a book about a kid wondering why she was born with the body of a boy.

Because of the news, I decided to focus on books banned in some States and schools in the US. Most of the latest additions to the list are centered on Race, History, Sexual Orientation, and Gender.

So, at the end of 2022, I decided to focus on the topics, but I'll slowly add to my Banned Books Reading List in the upcoming months.

It's been eye-opening to realize what kinds of stories and topics trigger certain parents, politicians, and organizations.

I'm in awe of and very thankful to authors for giving kids the opportunity to learn about a multitude of experiences and realize that they might not be the only ones feeling these feelings or asking themselves these questions.

A benefit of this experiment has also been that the doors to a whole new facet of literature opened themselves to me: Young Adult Literature! I never thought to read books for kids, teenagers, and young adults in my adult life. It's so fun! And might make me a better gift giver!

I had always wondered about the cult book Charlotte's Web, which is, unsurprisingly, not as popular in France as it is in the US. Tired of hearing the reference and not getting it, I finally read it! I eventually read that it had been banned from a school library in Kansas due to themes of death and the fact that the main characters are talking animals!

The topic is complicated and sometimes hard to grasp, but it shouldn't be swept under the rug.

Action items

If you're interested in the topic of banned books, I highly suggest you:

• stay informed
• read banned books (support your local library)
• buy banned books (bonus points if you do so from independent bookstores)
• report the censorship of books
• speak out
• get involved in schools (even if you're not a parent!)

Resources

This article has many more suggestions (shall we start a banned book club?).

This podcast episode introduced me to Mike Curato's work and his book Flamer, and this other episode questions the concept of banning as a badge of honor.

Now, I don't feel like a fraud walking around town carrying my library tote bag. It sparked several conversations in various contexts, and so far, the feedback has been positive.

What should I read next?