Today is the start of Banned Books Week, and we’ll be covering two Young Adult banned books each day to commemorate the occasion.
It’s Banned Books Week, which is an event that brings awareness of the freedom to read. Most bans were because of complaints or outcries from parents and/or some educators, feeling that some of the books were unsuitable for teens or pre-teens.
For each day of Banned Books Week, we’ll be presenting two young adult books that are/have been banned from schools or communities due to its contents. Let’s begin.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Why it was banned: Excessive violence, strong language, suggestive racism
Why it should be read: It was an exploration into the human psyche from a young person’s developing mind. It inspired other writers, including James Dashner, who wrote The Maze Runner trilogy. It was also unlike other stories I’ve read at that age. It was scary and thrilling and sad and harsh. The story itself wouldn’t be expected in real life, however, the emotions of the characters are realistic.
Oddly enough, I wasn’t much of a reader in high school. However, Lord of the Flies was probably the only novel that I really got into.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Why it was banned: Sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group
Why it should be read: The realism of those dealing with terminal illness and the eventual mortality of their situation is something that young adults should try to grasp.
The characters just feel very real, and despite their illnesses, they are people that the reader can connect with fairly easily. It’s harsh and it deals with death, but it’s not without hope.
