Following Donald Trump’s second inauguration, a growing number of books are set to be “banned” across various U.S. states. Furthering his conservative agenda, books that explore sexuality, race, and gender identity are becoming increasingly censored from schools and libraries in an attempt to suppress these topics seen as a "harmful" influence to the American youth. The decision to remove certain books from school libraries is ultimately made by the state’s community, giving parents a say in what they believe is appropriate for children and young teens to read. However, given that Trump is in power again, the number of ‘red states’ form the majority in the U.S. and as a result, more novels that delve into the above topics are facing adversity from Republicans.
Texas and Florida for instance, both red states, face the highest number of book bans, suggesting that conservatism is at the epicentre of censorship. The censorship of literature isn’t a new phenomenon, it has been implemented across the globe on a large scale throughout history and is now of much discussion again in the West. So, in a time where the freedom to access certain works of literature is up for debate, reading challenged literature becomes a political act and one we should strive to implement if we want to inform ourselves on pressing topics.
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
“In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn; color your hair; watch a third of a hockey game. In nineteen minutes, you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you can fold laundry for a family of five.
In nineteen minutes, you can stop the world; or you can just jump off it.”
At the top of Pen America’s most banned books is Nineteen Minutes, a novel which explores gun violence in the U.S. following a school shooting in New Hampshire. Centring on character Peter Houghton, a 17 year old student subject to intense bullying, Picoult delves into the psychological development of a school shooter and the traumatic consequences on the community. Gun violence is a pressing issue in the United States, a country with the most mass shootings in the world. Picoult brings forward questions that often arise from these events: how did it occur? who is responsible? what drives someone to commit such a heinous act?
The U.S governments’ lack of urgency in even attempting to prevent gun violence is exactly why this novel is ranked at number one on the list. Picoult promotes critical thinking through the nuances of the characters, exposing the harsh reality of the U.S’ school environment and leading readers to question who those are responsible for this large-scale issue.
Nineteen Minutes is an informative and powerful account of a safety issue many American students have experienced, or fear to experience, making this novel a crucial read when educating ourselves on gun violence and its ripple effect within society.
Looking for Alaska by John Green
“Thomas Edison's last words were "It's very beautiful over there". I don't know where there is, but I believe it's somewhere, and I hope it's beautiful.” (p.59)
This bestselling debut novel by John Green showcases a raw and poignant coming-of-age story of main character Miles who joins Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama where he finds friends Alaska, Takumi, and Chip. These students experience the American boarding school experience in all its bizarre glory with ritualistic pranks and excessive drinking as rights of passage. Miles experiences many ‘firsts’ from his first cigarette to his first love, Alaska Young. Alaska’s character is unforgettable and truly leaves an impression - she’s carefree and magnetic which leads Miles to feel deeply drawn to her. However, because of a tremendous loss in her early life, her mental health becomes increasingly unstable and tragedy unfolds.
Green writes poignantly on areas deemed ‘too mature’ for young adults to read about: grief, guilt, and mental health issues, which sets this novel apart from other popular YA novels published in the early 2000s. But as with many coming of age stories, experiences of loss and low mental health are common themes because they are shared experiences with many young people.
Banning books like Looking for Alaska only contributes to the increase in taboo around these topics and strips away the representation it offers. John Green’s writing is wonderful in its depiction of coming-of-age experiences, lending a sensitivity and humour which makes this novel so special for many.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Another cult classic coming-of-age novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a story of loss, friendship, and self discovery. We follow high-schooler Charlie as he navigates his youth and whose character represents wallflowers around the globe. One of Charlie’s closest friends, Patrick, is a larger than life character. He is daring, extroverted, and comfortable in his sexuality, rejecting expectations of hyper-masculinity often pushed onto young teenagers including his closeted boyfriend Brad.
“It's strange because sometimes, I read a book, and I think I am the people in the book.”
The above quote from Chbosky encapsulates the power of literature as a mode of representation. Sometimes when we read, we relate to a character, their life experiences and the emotions they go through making us feel noticed in ways we may struggle to find elsewhere. The introspective nature and rawness of Chbosky’s writing reassured me, and many other readers, that the coming-of-age experience is far from perfect and that our differences should be embraced. In the U.S.’ Republican government, one which overlooks the scale of mental health issues in adolescents and refuses to embrace the existence of gay and trans people, The Perks of Being a Wallflower brings light to these topics and is a truly transformative book.
Sold by Patricia McCormick
“Simply to endure is to triumph.” (p. 17)
McCormick’s novel begins within the Nepalese mountains and follows Lakshmi, a young girl who is deceived by her step-father and becomes a victim of child trafficking and prostitution. Lakshmi and her mother Ama live in poverty, residing in a hut within the mountains of Nepal and after a monsoon destroys their only crops, Lakshmi is responsible for earning the family some money. She thus begins a heartbreaking journey to a brothel named “Happiness House”.
McCormick’s writing is painfully beautiful when portraying the small pleasures found during times of struggle, from the tender depiction of her mother’s beauty to the friendships Lakshmi creates with other girls being sexually exploited. Child prostitution is unfortunately very common in India, with hundreds of children getting trafficked into the trade. Many young girls have their childhoods ripped away from them as they are taken away from their families and sold for their labour, often tricked into the promise of a brighter future. Sold explores this devastating reality and offers a hopeful ending following a promise made by a customer. The U.S. state of Texas has banned this novel for being sexually explicit and depicting rape after being challenged by parents.
But for a vast proportion of young girls, Lakshmi’s experience is their reality. Awareness should be brought to these exploitative practices instead of them being covered up, and Sold is an illuminating read which should be encouraged if we want to open our eyes to this issue.
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
“How can I explain purposely setting foot on a path so blatantly treacherous? Was the fun in the fall?” (p. 100)
Crank is a multi-award winning bestselling novel which is required reading in many U.S. drug programs due to its coverage on drug abuse through the main character, Kristina Snow. Kristina is a straight-A high school student who, while visiting her absent father, becomes addicted to ‘crank’ after meeting a boy called Adam. Facing huge amounts of controversy because of its references to addiction, sexual violence, and abortion, this book has been banned in multiple U.S. states. The Republican stance on abortion particularly has been a highlighted topic of discussion within American politics over the last few years, and with Trump back in office, women’s bodily autonomy is only becoming more controlled. Crank is raw, gritty, and forthright in its portrayal of addiction, relatable for many who have been through similar experiences and educational for those who haven’t. Hopkins raises awareness of the consequences of substance abuse and doesn’t glorify or romanticise the experience, which popular media often does. Banning books like Crank prevents young people from learning about important issues which pervade our society. For people going through similar experiences as Kristina, censoring this novel only contributes to the shame and guilt people may feel in their addictions, making it harder to seek help. The more we lessen the taboo around these subjects, the better, and one way we can do this is by reading into them.
