Your Thoughts

Which of these have you read? Tell us about it! If you haven't read any, look at the reasons these books are banned and think of your favorite books. Could any of your favorites be banned based on previous reasons?

"The Catcher in the Rye along with others but I consider Catcher as one of the most important pieces of literature ever written and I consider it a personal favorite of mine, and to ban not only this but controversial literature limits and hinders us a society because if we can't deal with a piece of fiction having content deemed, "Unsafe or obscene" then what will our future generations have to learn if everything is taken from them?" 

"I've read Animal Farm by George Orwell. It's funny in a sort of unhinged way. It basically tells the story of the Russian Revolution and the rise of Communism in place of the monarchy. It does inspire a sense of justice in knowing that the animals become the superiors in a situation that would have had them slaughtered. Kudos to them, honestly."

"Harry Potter, by J.K Rowling - this isn't super what you'll want to hear but its a trash series, the writing is lazy, the worldbuiding and magic system is both hollow and overcrowded with useless and confusing details, the characters are often offensive stereotypes, and the main character is so bland that his tragic backstory is literally the only defining character trait that he consistently shows. plus J.K. Rowling wants me and people like me dead. so yeah not my fav of all time. but it still shouldn't be censored, people should be allowed to read whatever they want, even if its not that good lol."

"Slaughterhouse Five and Cat's Cradle are some of my favorite books ever. I was planning on doing an art thing that required chopping up a book, and picked up slaughterhouse five. I ended up reading it and finished it the next morning. I really really love Kurt Vonnegut's work, and I've read all his works that he himself has rated C and above(he rated all his books in Palm Sunday. I saw it online and I need to read his memoirs and stuff). Cat's Cradle is one of his best books, with a great theme of nuclear danger and religion. My favorite book of his is probably Sirens of Titan. I'm shocked that other books of his aren't banned, but they aren't as popular as the two listed. Especially Breakfast of The Champions, it was very vulgar, sexual, and out of pocket in a way that honestly hurt the book. I also read Invisible man and enjoyed it, and have been meaning to Satanic verses, I read somewhere that the author of the Satanic Verses was attacked and a lot of important religious people really don't like him. I have just read the list on the website linked and a fatwa was issued for the authors death, and it's banned in many countries, including Venezuela, which I think is strange, and 2 publishers have been murdered."

What are your personal thoughts on censorship in school? 

"I think it goes against the entire point of being in school, which is to teach and open your mind, as it strips away all of these ideas from a multitude of perspectives far outside your own. It also lessens creativity which should also be promoted and not silenced in school"

"Censorship such as banning controversial books should not be present in schools. Books give people access to different perspectives and to take that is to rob them of their personal growth and development."

"I understand why things are censored but I don't agree with it. I believe that no books or resources should be banned, but give a warning to students that could have possible triggers. I believe that adolescents should know about things that get censored so that they are aware of it and why they should not use it."

"I feel like it can be good in some cases but if they aren't bad books and they're are good but they just have things about race or something dumb that's been challenged for a long time I feel like those books should not be censored. If those books are censored no one can make their own opinions on what happened in that situation or time."

"I think censorship in school is extremely silly. If the government or school staff is so afraid of losing control that they have to ban a book in school, then they probably shouldn't be in control at all."