SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
The American Library Association and PEN America say there's been a sharp increase in the number of books pulled from school libraries over the past two years. One complaint that a book is obscene or offensive from a parent or, increasingly, a group can be enough to have it removed from the shelves. The books that get singled out often feature main characters who are LGBTQIA or people of color. Many address racism, child abuse, sex, suicide and other topics that young people may want help understanding. Some of the most-pulled titles include "Gender Queer: A Memoir" by Maia Kobabe, "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas, "Looking For Alaska" by John Green, and "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison.
I wonder if those who want to keep certain books out of school libraries have thought through how many teens and adolescents react when they're told not to read something. They do it anyway, and avidly. They wonder - I certainly did - what are adults trying to keep from me? If you read an unapproved book, there are no pop quizzes. You don't have to highlight, underline or answer test questions like, what's the symbolism of the penguin in the garage on page 87? There is no 500-word essay with the thesis paragraph in quotes. You can just enjoy it or not. No teacher will scold, can't you see it's a classic? You can read books you're not supposed to for fun, excitement, to learn something, or just to get lost in the story.
But Laurie Halse Anderson, the acclaimed writer of young adult novels, cautions me. Her much-honored novel "Speak," narrated by a teen rape survivor, has been pulled from quite a few library shelves, too. Even if bans or challenges make a book more intriguing, Laurie reminded us, many of our nation's children will not be able to access books that are removed. Millions of our families can't afford to buy books. Countless families live in library deserts, areas without a reachable public library. And libraries across the country are struggling with horrifying budget cuts. Libraries are meant to be places where you can wander, browse, try on thoughts, read, reject, rejoice or simply brood about the world. Books shouldn't be treated like landmines that have to be removed before they can light up our minds.
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