Is Banning Books Necessary?

Emma Malcolm 802

Dear Ms Berner,

Potter Stewart, a past member of the Supreme Court once said, “Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself.” In the United States today, over 11,300 books have been banned due to censorship. All over the country, libraries and schools pull books away from students in fear of the content being inappropriate. There’s a lot controversy over how much a teen can handle when it comes to gruesome topics like murder, rape, suicide, and others. However, constricting book access to teenagers is impractical, because dark and depressing topics can expose kids to the world, and can help them withstand it. Schools shouldn’t limit students access to certain books, because grim young adult novels can be beneficial to teens when applied to life.

“If subjects like these [depression, self harm, etc] are in YA books, it’s to show that they are real, they have happened to others, and they can be survived.” Says the article, “Yes, teen fiction can be dark-but it shows teenagers they aren’t alone,” by Maureen Johnson. Growing up as a teenager is challenging, and there are many difficult situations one must endure. A woman struggling through a methamphetamine addiction, for example, was saved by the YA novel Crank. “Banned Books Week 2010: An Anti-Censorship Manifesto,” by Ellen Hopkins explains how a woman, “...saw herself in those pages, and suddenly knew she didn't want to be there. That book turned her around.” The depressing and dark novel was able to guide a woman from her addiction. Think of how many other people could be saved daily by these novels. For instance, if a self harming teenager reads about another teen in the same situation, she would know she’s not the only one struggling. Maureen Johnson says, “For teenagers there is sometimes no message more critical than: you are not alone,” and proposes, “If the character overcomes her complication, a kid reading could get the courage to do the same.” Sherman Alexie the author of, “Why the Best Kids Books are Written in Blood,” explains “Now I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers...I write to give them weapons–in the form of words and ideas-that will help them fight their monsters.” Those who have survived gruesome events can use their experiences to assist others.

        Grim young adult novel plots tend to be based off real life situations and, “Fiction is a safe way for kids to explore these issues,” as described in “Books Bring Dark Issues To Light For Teen Readers”. These YA books can help a teenager learn about their world through a character's eyes, instead of living it firsthand. YA novels “make [teens] ask questions about the world they live in and the choices they make.” Through books, teenagers are able to see different perspectives of a known issue, and the world itself. Many young adult novels are raw, and don't sugarcoat the problems described, this way teenagers are able to see their environment in a realistic way, even if it can be gloomy and frightening. They are able to fully understand issues in the world. “Are Teen Novels Dark and Depraved- or Saving Lives,” brings up the idea that, “Books...deal with millions of subjects that are sometimes uncomfortable to deal with. It’s the way we deal with and introduce subjects into the consciousness.... We can use those resources in art and literature as ways of understanding them.” Dark novels can bring difficult topics into discussion, and cause awareness.

There are many people against the idea of topics like depression, or child abuse, in the minds of teens. Many worry the popular YA novels will normalize intense problems facing the country, and could even encourage teenagers to try them out. It’s been said that it’s "also possible...that books focusing on pathologies help normalize them, and in the case of self harm, may even spread the plausibility and likelihood to young people who might otherwise never have imagined such extreme measures," explains the article, “Should Young Adult Books Explore Difficult Issues”. However there are many accounts of teens showing the opposite effects that were accused. In the article, “Banned Books Week 2010: An Anti-Censorship Manifesto,” Ellen Hopkins exclaims, "I have received tens of thousands of messages from readers, thanking me for turning them around, giving much needed insight, and even literally saving their lives”. YA books encourage teens to avoid the situation described in the book, because most novels show the terrible outcome these situations have on the character. Young adult books do not convince kids to follow the footsteps into a terrible addiction for example, they convince kids to avoid the addiction entirely, or to get themselves out of it.

There is no real reason to ban books. Banning books would make it more difficult to get the book, but not impossible teens can access censored books on the internet, or from friends.  The world can be a scary and dark place, and YA books are the survival guide. They don’t exaggerate the dark parts to life, they simply don’t try to hide it. Teens deserve to learn about problems they could face in the future, or may already be suffering through.