The history of banning books in the United States goes back to the 17th century, ironic for a nation that prides itself on freedom of speech and press. Books are typically banned for exploring themes like religion, race, identity, and politics. Book banning has been getting more and more popular in recent years with December 2022. Based on an article from Education Week, in 2023 the number of books targeted in censorship increased by 65%.
Take To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood for example. These books hold up a mirror to society, forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about power, race, and identity. When we ban these books, we’re not just silencing authors—we’re shutting down the vital discourse they provoke. And in today’s world, we can’t afford to avoid these conversations.
Classic dystopian works like 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley warn us about the dangers of censorship and power gone unchecked. History backs them up. In Nazi Germany, books by Jewish authors, Marxists, and anyone deemed “degenerate” were burned in a chilling attempt to erase their influence. But censorship isn’t just a relic of totalitarian regimes. It’s happening here and now.
In the 2023-2024 school year alone, PEN America reported over 10,000 books removed from public schools. That’s almost three times more than the year before. Let that sink in. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a red flag for the future of education. When we ban books, we’re not protecting kids—we’re depriving them of the chance to grapple with complex ideas, to think critically, and to see the world through perspectives different from their own.
Books like The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison and Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe are frequent targets because they dare to tackle topics like race and sexuality. Let’s call it what it is, an attempt to erase the lived experiences of marginalized communities. These stories might be uncomfortable, but they’re also essential. Ignoring them doesn’t make the issues disappear—it just ensures we stay ignorant.
For young adults, these books can be lifelines. They reflect struggles with identity, belonging, and understanding a hostile world. Removing these books sends a clear and damaging message: your story doesn’t matter. But it does. Banned books challenge us to confront uncomfortable truths and expand our empathy. Without them, we are left blind to true realities that demand our attention.