Why Censorship is Evil

Today I came across a list of banned books and was somewhat disappointed to find that I had only read 15 out of the 100+ books on the list. I’m going to try not to make this a post about why I think censorship is evil, but many of the books on these lists are banned or being challenged for the most trivial reasons. Parents have the right to decide what their children can and can’t read, but as in most cases, that depends on the child. Censorship means that one person or on group’s ideas are being forced on everyone.

The majority of the books on these lists deal with issues that some consider risqué or inappropriate, but these issues aren’t being talked about enough, and in some cases these books provide valuable lessons that kids wouldn’t be able to get if their families shy away from such topics.

Here are some of the books that I’ve read from these lists, and why I don’t think think they deserve to be banned.

Anne Frank: A diary of a young girl

Anne Frank is banned in some places because it's - wait for it - too depressing.

For one thing, you cannot fault it as a book for being depressing when it was never intended to be published. It’s one girl's diary, and for another, Anne Frank: A diary of a young girl provides a real life account of what happened during the Holocaust. It’s not historical fiction, and it’s not some boring textbook, it’s a first-hand narration of what went on during that time. Yes, the subject matter is depressing, but that's no grounds to ban a book.

Feisty chick-o-meter: 8/10
Age rating: 12+
Rating: 8/10

Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging.
By Louise Rennison

This is about Georgia something-or-other who deals with life’s more important issues, like is her nose getting bigger? And how does she get this guy to date her? And is that hat really a good look for her?

 Honestly, if this book was banned from every library and store in the world, I really wouldn’t care, however, I don’t feel that there is anything that would constitute this book being banned, other than it being crap. She makes out with a couple guys, obsesses about her weight and chases some guys, and that’s about it. Trashy? Yes. Deserves to be banned? No, not really.


Feisty chick-o-meter: 3/10
Age rating: 15+
Rating: 3/10

TTYL

By Lauren Myracle

TTYL comes under the same category as the aforementioned trashy novel. It's got some stuff targeted at an older audience but really, just say it's for older teens, there's no need to ban it. As for subject matter, the amazon review says they talk about "clothes, the delicate high-school popularity ecosystem, boys, boys in French class, boys in Old Navy commercials, etc." Sounds profound, doesn't it? The entire book is in IM form and the story is told through IM conversations between the three main characters. This is a neat idea, and a cool way to tell a story, but maybe Lauren Myracle could have found a less inane topic.

Feisty chick-o-meter: 5/10
Age rating: 16+
Rating: 4/10

Stargirl

By Jerry Spinelli

This is probably one of the most beautiful books I've every read, and really deserves a whole post to itself. It's told from the perspective of 16 year-old Leo, but it's really about Stargirl who comes in to Mica Arizona and changes everyone's life. At one point Leo says "She was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl." It's one of those books that means something different to you each time you read it.

So why was it challenged? Because it's about a girl who refuses to conform?

Feisty chick-o-meter: 10/10
Age rating: 13+
Rating: 10/10

Catherine, Called Birdy

By Karen Cushman

Catherine, Called Birdy is about the 14 year-old daughter of an English nobleman, who is trying to avoid getting married off at all costs. She manages to offend or disgust every suitor she is paraded in front of, and that's just how she likes it. This book is written as Catherine's diary, where she writes down her adventures, as a strong woman in a patriarchal society.

I see no reason why someone would want to ban it. Did that person have something against sending the message that it's okay  to stand up for what you want? I don't see why someone would ban a book about a strong, witty, teenager, who doesn't let people push her around.

Feisty chick-o-meter: 9/10
Age rating: 10+
Rating: 9/10

A Light in The Attic

By Shel Silverstein

I would just like to start of by saying how fabulous Shel Silverstein is. He writes very funny, clever and witty poems for all ages and I have loved his poems since I was about seven.

That said, his book A Light in the Attic of poems is banned in at least one area, purely because one poem has "A suggestive illustration that might encourage kids to break dishes so they won't have to dry them." I don't think I need to say anything more.

Feisty chick-o-meter: Uhhhhh... Kind of irrelevant
Age rating: 6+
Rating: 10/10

****

So instead of banning every book that touches something controversial or risqué, why not actually talk about these issues? Two awesome quotes from Judy Blume, an author who has had several books banned and speaks out against censorship are:

"Let children read whatever they want and then talk about it with them. If parents and kids can talk together, we won't have as much censorship because we won't have as much fear." 

and

"Censors don't want children exposed to ideas different from their own. If every individual with an agenda had his/her way, the shelves in the school library would be close to empty."

Here's a list of challenged and banned YA books (that you may want to read) and also a really good article on censorship by the aforementioned fabulous Judy Blume.