Today, we’ll be branching out from book reviews and instead delving into the broader issue of censorship and the banning of books. Throughout US history, thousands upon thousands of books have been challenged. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous examples.
Firstly, we have Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. This story follows Holden Caulfield, a cynical and emotionally troubled teen wandering in New York after being expelled from school. Through his internal monologue, readers are given access to the life of a teenager grappling with alienation, grief, innocence, and the fear of growing up. It has been frequently challenged for its vulgar language and sexual references.
Another classic that all students have grown up hearing about is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Set in the racially segregated South, this story is told from the perspective of young Scout Finch as her father defends an African American man falsely accused of rape. The novel examines racism, justice, and moral integrity, and is often challenged for its use of racial slurs, discussions of sexual assault, and the debate over whether its portrayal of race is appropriate or outdated.
A more recent novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, has also been commonly disputed. Written as a series of letters, the story follows Charlie, a high school freshman struggling with mental health, trauma, and friendship. The novel explores themes of self-discovery and healing, yet is frequently challenged due to explicit content involving sex, substance use, abuse, and mental illness.
1984 by George Orwell is a story set in a dystopian society where the government (referred to as Big Brother) watches the citizens’ every movement and controls information, language, and even thought. Winston Smith secretly rebels against the government that uses such intrusive surveillance to consolidate and maintain power. This novel has been challenged for its sexual content and for being seen as disruptive or even threatening to certain political ideologies.
Similar to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is one of the most frequently challenged books due to its use of racist language and its portrayal of slavery. The story follows teenage Huck Finn as he fakes his own death to escape abuse and travels down the Mississippi River with Jim, an enslaved man seeking freedom. The novel provides a commentary critiquing moral corruption and social hypocrisy.
A novel that LHS sophomores will recognize, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, has also been frequently challenged. Set in a future, dystopian society where books are illegal, and firemen are instructed to burn them to suppress independent thought, one fireman, Montag, starts questioning the system and seeking knowledge. This novel is challenged for its themes of censorship, criticism of government control, and controversial language.
Finally, even beloved books such as The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins have been contested in the past. This well-known pentalogy follows Katniss Everdeen, one of several teenagers forced to compete in a deadly competition meant to control the population and entertain the wealthy. It explores inequality, resistance, and survival, and has been challenged for graphic and disturbing violence.
We can see from many sources, such as the American Library Association, that censorship and the banning of books are often driven by a desire to protect minors from “inappropriate” content. However, I believe that censorship shuts doors when the purpose of education is to open them and support students as they explore thoughtfully.
Let’s look at what one LHS faculty member stated about this issue.
From the start, they point out that there are different discussions to be had based on the context of a book challenge or book ban. It is important to consider where it is challenged (a community library, private vs. public vs. religious schools, a school library vs. a text that is taught in an English class (like Fahrenheit 451), middle vs. high schools), or whether it is banned or individually opted out by parents instead. There is also a difference between book bans, book challenges, and general censorship.
When asked how they think educators and schools can and/or should balance parental concerns with freedom of choice and students’ access to diverse views, they emphasized that we should always remember that teachers are also members of their communities, and many of them are parents or guardians. They describe how building trust as co-constructors of student learning, along with parents/guardians, is important because there is sometimes a disconnect between what is actually happening and what communities are told is happening in classrooms.
Additionally, when asked what impacts these restrictions or challenges may have on students and learning environments, they continued, “Book bans primarily impact students in low-income communities. This is because bans generally do not impact private establishments, such as book stores. Because protagonists and writers from marginalized groups make up a large portion of book bans/challenges/etc, this becomes a relevant pedagogical discussion. In literature, we often say that there are mirror books and window books: books that allow students to see themselves reflected and books that allow students to see into other lives and cultures.”
Therefore, in the context of schools and other educational spaces, I am against the censorship of books. The real danger is ignorance, not education. Of course, age-appropriate guidance, content warnings, and clear communication with parents and guardians are reasonable and necessary. Parents have the option, per the Supreme Court (e.g., Mahmoud v. Taylor 2025), to individually opt their children out of texts.
However, books are one of the safest first ways for young students to be exposed to difficult ideas and concepts. It is the duty of schools to educate, especially during times of significant global issues. It is important for children to see different perspectives— historically, books have been challenged for having “inappropriate” or “controversial” content about race, gender, sexuality, or historical issues that are uncomfortable or difficult to address. But as our faculty member stated, books allow students to see their own reflections along with those of other lives and cultures. Censoring certain novels can label experiences as “taboo,” shaping whose experiences are treated as acceptable or valid. Schools especially shouldn’t ban books because English class is the best tool to help students understand different points of view in texts and to help them interpret the meanings and themes.
While concerns about age and content should also be considered, when schools choose censorship over conversation, they not only limit access to education but also their ability to view the world fully.