I had originally planned to write this on Monday, but since I'm a procrastinator, it's being written today - Friday. I know. Good job, Jenn. But the point is that I'm writing it, and that's what's important, yes? Yes. So, let's get to the good stuff.
This week is/was Banned Books Week. A week where we as readers challenge those who seek to "protect" us by reading the books they seek to ban. There are so many out there, and they are really such good books. I haven't read all of them, though I definitely respect anyone who has, but I've read some and I must say, a lot of these books are excellent. I won't talk about all of the ones I've read, but if you don't mind, I'm going to touch on a few.
Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson - This book was challenged this year in Missouri for being "soft-pornography" and "glorifying drinking, cursing, and premarital sex". Now, when I read this, my first thought is to get angry. It's about a 15 year old girl who is raped at a party and feels like she can't tell anyone. But as I think about it, I just feel sad for these poor people who failed to see the beautiful story of a girl who faced something horrific, her struggles in dealing with her pain, and eventually overcoming and facing her attacker to save her friend. It's beautifully written as she tries to communicate with her parents, her friends, even to herself about what happened, and what to do next. It's sharp and honest and even a little funny as she observes the people around her. You go on this journey with her, and it's an incredible read.
The Hunger Games trilogy - Suzanne Collins - These books were challenged in New Hampshire by a parent that said it gave her 11 year old child nightmares and would make other children numb to violence. I can see where she's coming from, since other adults have shared this fear. However, there are two points to this problem. They are intense books. Age and maturity of the reader should definitely be considered - but by the parent of the child/teen reading it. Not someone else. (I have no problem with parents controlling what their own child reads, but I get annoyed when they try to control what other kids read.) As for making kids numb to violence, that's kind of the point the books are trying to make. We live in a world filled with war, video games and movies of war, and while it's horrific and tragic, there is already an aura of glory around it. Could her world be possible someday when teens already think nothing of a bloody game or movie? It's an exquistely written series that - for me - raised a lot of thought provoking questions. I wish these books were required reading in high schools, because there is SO MUCH there to discuss. Maybe someday.
The Twilight series - Stephenie Meyer - These books were banned from primary and some junior high schools for being too racy and going against religious beliefs. They were taken out of school libraries and kids were even banned from bringing their own copies of the books to school. This seems silly to me, since there is a fair amount of kissing and sexual tension but no sex, except after a marriage has taken place. And even then, there is nothing explicit. These books, to me, are simply fun reading. They don't have a moral agenda or anything like that, they are just enjoyable books to read. It's a good story. I am a Twilight fan, and I'm not ashamed of it. These books were my "gateway drug" to the incredible world of YA fiction. I had been extremely narrow minded in my reading choices, but after multiple people told me I would love them, I gave in. And they were right. I LOVE them. And by realizing how I might have missed out by being stubborn, I now put no restrictions on what I read, leading me to some INCREDIBLE books by AMAZING authors. These books put me on a path that led to my discovery of wanting to write YA fiction myself. So, needless to say I have a soft spot for these particular books. ;)
The Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling - When these books started becoming very popular, there were several school across the country that wanted them banned for promoting witchcraft and other satanic overtones. These parents obviously never read the books. While there is witchcraft (they are all wizards and witches, so that's obvious) the overall arc of the books doesn't really focus on that. And there are no satanic overtones. They are about intense friendship and loyalty to those you love, choosing right over wrong no matter what the circumstances even when it's not the easiest choice. Good overcoming evil. Fighting to make the world a better place, even when you feel like you can't possibly to do much to help. And love. First loves. The love of friendship. And the binding love of family. These books led to a huge boom in the amount of kids and teens who never read much to wanting to read more. They found there were books out there that peaked their interest, spoke to them, made them excited to find even more books that fired up their imaginations in a similar way. We should be GRATEFUL for these books, and the generation it inspired to READ AGAIN.
There are so many more that I could go on and on about, but I won't. This post is very long as it is. But I hope that as this week comes to a close, you go out and look at the lists of books that have been challenged or banned and challenge those people right back by reading it anyway. You never know what you could be missing out on. :)
Until next time, happy reading and writing everyone!
