Banned Book Week began Sept. 22 and will run through Sept. 28.
The week-long campaign, which launched in the 1980s, is a celebration of the freedom to read and draws attention to the harms of censorship. Chapel Hill is celebrating with a pop-up gallery of banned books and trading cards.
The type of book that is banned ranges from Harry Potter to Captain Underpants to Slaughterhouse Five, but recently there has been an increase in books being placed on the list for containing LGBTQIA+ stories.
Banning books from libraries and schools harms all students, but it is uniquely harmful for students of low socioeconomic status who may not have the resources to purchase books on their own. When books are banned, the subjects in those books are further stigmatized. Thus, it’s particularly harmful when children’s books that are meant to explain potentially confusing topics (such as gender identity, race relations, gay relationships, etc.) are banned.
With that in mind, here are five commonly banned/challenged books from recent years we encourage you to read or share:
- “The Hate U Give” is a novel about a young Black girl who witnesses her best friend get shot by the police. It is a poignant story about a girl caught between two violently different worlds and her personal struggles with police brutality. This book has been challenged for being “anti-cop.”
- “This Day in June” is a children’s book explaining Pride Month. It briefly dives into LGBTQIA+ history and explains the importance of a Pride parade. It’s beautifully illustrated and a great way to share Pride with a child. Recommended for anyone who has questions about Pride and wants to learn more. It was banned (and burned) for containing LGBTQIA+ content.
- “Sex is a Funny Word” is a comic book for children that explains gender, sexuality and changing bodies. It’s been praised for including answers to questions about gender identity. It's been banned because it addresses sex education.
- “Beloved” is a novel set after the American Civil War that follows a woman who escaped slavery to live in a free state. Although it was published in 1987, it was one of the top 10 most challenged books of 2012. This novel will stay with you, make you think and inspire you to read everything by Toni Morrison. It was banned for violence and a religious viewpoint.
- “And Tango Makes Three” is a children’s book about two male penguins who adopt an egg together. Recommended for kids who have questions about different types of families. This book was banned for featuring a gay relationship. It has been one of the top 10 most-challenged books for eight years.
In honor of Banned Book Week, we encourage you to keep telling stories that are underrepresented, to keep resisting censorship and to keep reading.
