Read What You Want: Banned Books Week Celebrates the Freedom to Read
By MVWG Member Jess Witkins
Reading has often been quoted as one of the best ways for people to gain empathy. Reading about someone whose life differs from our own allows us to travel in their footsteps awhile and gain understanding of their perspective. Yet, as long as books have been around, you can bet someone had a view on who should or shouldn’t be reading them.
Banned Books Week is September 27th - October 3rd this year and it celebrates the freedom to read. Responding to an exponential increase in challenged books across schools, bookstores, and libraries, the coalition of Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 and it continues to stand by the value of free and open access to information today.
As a library worker, censorship is a hot topic amongst librarians. Libraries remain one of the more vital spaces in our communities in which patrons can enter (well, at least pre-covid) and check out a wealth of materials from nonfiction engineering guides, study aids, primary source reference books, cookbooks, how to books, as well as fiction needs for all ages from board books for babies to large print editions for those that may be visually impaired. They carry audio options, digital collections, local and national news sources; many are now offering full kit collections for all ages that interactively educate on science elements, photography, building, and health information. Did I mention they offer this FOR FREE?!
Yet, when it comes to collection management, even librarians run into issues of whether or not to keep a book on its shelves. Take Dr. Seuss for example. The children’s author remains as popular as ever, though some of his most well known titles including The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, Yertle the Turtle, and Green Eggs and Ham have all been banned or challenged over the years for being too political and, in some cases, having racist themes.
When it comes to writers, we certainly want the freedom to write whatever we choose. We also know, all too well, that if we don’t portray our characters to the best ability we can, to make them truly feel like real people, then our readers are going to call us on it. I think we’re fortunate to be writers working now versus even a hundred years ago. We have more resources to shape well thought out stories. We have access to valuable critique from our fellow guild members and we have beta readers, sensitivity readers, editors, and agents who help us craft a better story. Ever read the acknowledgments in the back of the book? We don’t do this alone!
Why does this make a difference? Writing, and therefore reading, spark dialogue. They are crucial to the ongoing communication, education, and imagination of us all. And it’s proven that allowing young people to read what they like at an early age helps create lifelong readers. (I’m looking at you, anti-graphic novel people! It’s called VISUAL LITERACY!) What if you could only read books someone else said you were allowed to read? You may not find reading as enjoyable, or as challenging mentally. We need diverse books. They help us build critical thinking, process emotions (did you know reading picture books as adults is a form of self care?), and grow empathy for others.
Banning or challenging a book doesn’t make it a “good” or “bad” book. It’s one person’s, or one group’s, opinion. What shouldn’t happen is access to books being restricted or censored. So celebrate Banned Books Week with us. Check out one of the books on the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2019. Read whatever you want! After all, that’s the point.
So read on, and write on, my friends. It’s your f(read)om to do so.
Got a banned book you love? Tell us about your favorite! Or one that was particularly challenging and why. We love talking books with you, our readers.
Jess Witkins claims the title Perseverance Expert. From party crashing as an Oops Baby to paving her way through pop culture, Jess explores it all. Her special skills include: Pretending to be an orphan, severe allergic reactions to the sun, hanging out in coffee shops, and quoting movie lines from the Oscar winning film, Spaceballs. Hang out with Jess on her blog where she attempts to make pathetic look cool. You’re welcome to laugh with her, or at her, as I find the humorous side in life. Go ahead, SUBSCRIBE, you know you want to.