Second draft

     Books are one of the most important tools for learning in existence. Books can communicate controversial ideas and issues to those who need a solution or are just curious and want to learn about the world around them. Book banners may believe that by getting rid of books, they can get rid of topics that make them feel uncomfortable, such as suicide, magic or homosexuality.  They may think that without the support of popular literature in such subjects those subjects will just go away. This obviously is incorrect.

     Interestingly, many worthwhile pieces of classic literature have been challenged and banned. This shows that banning might not be wholly on content but be also based on popularity. Jen Doll of the Atlantic Wire said, "The list of “most frequently banned books is like a who’s who of great American Young Adult and kid literature.” Also, she said that authors take banning as a metaphorical badge of honor. These examples show that book banning is biased toward well known books.

     One negative outcome of book banning is that kids can’t learn about issues that have been controversial and concern them. Jay Asher, author of Thirteen Reasons Why, claimed that he received an email from a girl saying that his book kept her from committing suicide. If a book so commonly challenged can save a life, why not give all books a chance? Another book that  received challenges was And Tango Makes Three, the story of two male penguins hatching an egg. The authors said they were writing it for all the people with families like those in the book. It is always nice to know one isn’t the only one with particular problems and that there are other people experiencing these things as well.

     There can’t be really be any consensus about what’s appropriate for kids. For example, Harry Potter typically is seen as a wholesome book, but was banned by a Catholic school. On the other hand, Ender’s Game has very violent content, such as animal abuse and small children killing and beating each other up. Yet even though it is a very well known book, everyone seems to find it suitable for children to read. Which just shows all the varying views on whether books should be banned. And if so, which books?

     As a society, we may want to protect children from ideas and themes that are harsh or disturbing, but children will need to grow up and live in the real world. Parents should take responsibility for their children and monitor what they are reading when children are young. I agree that many books should not be available to children but book banning of any sort, no matter the intent, is unconstitutional. The first Amendment gives the freedom of speech which the banning of books restricts greatly. In a country that prides itself on being a "melting pot", no one voice should ever be allowed to quiet the others.


                                                Works Cited

CNN.com "Banned Books Week:'Captain Underpants' tops list of challenged books"
 Web. September 24 2013

Doll, Jen. "The Banned Books We Have Loved." The Atlantic Wire 12 April 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

DeLuzuriaga, Tania "Man from ministry bans Potter" Boston Globe October 17 2013