I’m with the banned: A list of banned books to enjoy

Banned books are becoming increasingly common. The most abundant banned topics are books that amplify the voices of marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+ community and people of color (POC). 

Contrary to popular belief, bans on books do not make them completely unavailable to the public; they make them unavailable in schools and public libraries. This is as much of an issue as it would be if these books were made to be unavailable.

According to Tim Riley, a journalist and professor at Emerson College, banning books is a profound intellectual issue. Bans have the opposite effect that the people who write them are looking to achieve. They bring attention to these stories and entice people to read them to see what is so appalling that they are being banned. 

Recently, Illinois became the first state to adopt a bill placing a ban on the banning books. In recognition of this adoption, here is our list of banned books to read so that more states will adopt reforms around the banning of books. 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is set in a 1960s small town in Alabama. It is a coming-of-age story told through the lens of Scout Finch, as her town and family navigate the moral struggle of the false accusation against a black man in a rape case. The story was quickly picked up by schools as an educational tool, typically for English 1 courses usually taken by freshmen or 8th graders. The book, written by a white woman, contains time-period language used towards black people of color (BPOC), which is the main reason for its banning along with racial themes. 

A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

The “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series is a young adult fantasy following the life and events of the main character Feyre being brought to the Faerie land of Prythian. It was banned due to “sexual content.” However, it is not marketed towards young readers. It is most commonly read by older teens (typically 16-17) and adults. The books do contain romances between the main character Feyre and a few male Faeries. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” follows the life of a freshman ‘Wallflower’, or observer of life, Charlie, as he makes friends with two other students, Sam and Patrick, during his high school career. The book eventually shows Charlie grow and break free from the wallflower label, and step up to become an active participant in society. It was banned for including topics such as drug use, teenage sex, sexual abuse, and abortion. 

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel 

“Fun Home” is a graphic novel surrounding the life of author and illustrator Alison Bechdal. It outlines her life as a child and her struggles with her father throughout different periods of her life. It was banned due to LGBTQ+ relationships and “sexual content”.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

“Drama” is a graphic novel depicting a middle school girl who has no prior experience joining her school’s drama club for set design. She befriends 2 twin boys, one who is gay, and one struggling with his sexual identity. The book was banned due to “explicit sexual content” because one of the boys has to go on in the play as a female character. Because after the actress in the role couldn’t, he had to kiss another boy in a scene. 

Looking for Alaska by John Green 

“Looking for Alaska” follows the character Miles through the experiences of making friends and dealing with school bullies at boarding school. When something happens to one of his close friends, Miles and his friend Chip decide to further investigate what really happened and his grief process. The book was banned due to sexual content, bad language, normalizing bad behavior, hazing, underage drinking, and smoking.

This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

Even non-fiction is susceptible to book banning given the young adult non-fiction book, “This Book is Gay” is on the banned list. The non-fiction book is a memoir by Juno Dawson and features the story of a young LGBTQ+ person coming to terms with sexuality, as well as the process of coming out. The book’s inclusion of topics like sexual education, LGBTQ+ content in general, and sexual explicitness (the mention of the dating app Grindr, as well as diagrams of anal and oral sex), all contributed to it getting banned. 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The 1925 novel is set in the Jazz Age on Long Island depicting the life of Nick Carraway and his strange interactions with his neighbor Jay Gatsby. It was challenged and banned due to sex,  violence, adultery, and language.  

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Sallinger 

The 1951 novel “The Catcher in Rye” by J.D. Salinger was one of the most banned books in America from the years 1961-82’. “The Catcher in the Rye” follows the famously tragic boy hero Holden Caulfield through the expansive concrete jungle of New York City as he teeters on the fine line that separates childhood innocence and corruption. Caulfield is simply a teenage boy dealing with the loss of a younger brother and the trauma he gains from various run-ins with the harsh realities of the adult world. The book frequently references sexual and mature topics such as attempted sexual assault, prostitution, and underage smoking which are the same thematics that landed the book in both the bildungsroman genre and banishment. 

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 

In Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”, Guy Montag, a fireman, is tasked with burning and destroying any books as the government bans them. Fire is weaponized to emphasize control over the public to control its citizen’s thoughts, afraid that the circulation of complex ideas would lead to a strong-minded society. In a turn of events, Montag’s newfound personal beliefs cause him to reject the idea propagated by the government leading him to choose between what he’s been told is correct and what he believes. The book itself is a hard attack on censorship which is why it was banned.