Five Banned Books They Don't Want You To Read

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Literary expression should be free. Books are a safe way to understand complex issues and while trigger warnings are a very important tool to protect readers, in the end, everyone should be able to decide what they want to read for themselves.

And yet, the American Library Association reported more than 729 attempted bans of 1.597 individual books in 2021 alone. At the rate it is currently goin, 2022 is well on its' way to exceed last year's record.

So here's my selection of books they don't want you to read!

Maus, by Art Spiegelman

Maus, a personal cat&mouse retelling of the holocaust won Art Spiegelman the Pulitzer Prize and redefined the graphic novel. It is also the topic of an ongoing cultural debate, as it is banned in many schools due to the use of profanity and the depicting of violence and suicide.

Art Spiegelman, the author of “Maus,” said he is baffled by the debate. “This is disturbing imagery,” he said in an interview.

“But you know what? It’s disturbing history.”

Buy this book: https://amzn.to/3UkWT4U

1984, by George Orwell

Winston Smith lives in a society where the government controls people every second of the day. He fights this world with love. But it's dangerous: love for another person can be punished by death - and Big Brother is always watching.

The book is often banned for its social and political themes, as well as for sexual content. It is often said to be 'pro-communism' and 'anti-government'.

Buy this book: https://amzn.to/3imaFH4

The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

The list of reasons cited for the ban of this book is long: profanity, overly sexual tones, being anti-Christian, featuring LGBTQIA+ protagonists and being overall morally corrupt.

The Handmaid's Tale has become a modern classic and a symbol of feminist resistance. It is both widely praised and actively fought all around the globe.

As an ultimate act of defiance (and clever marketing), Margaret Atwood even managed to create an 'unburnable' copy of the book.

Buy this book: https://amzn.to/3FiW8F8

Gender Queer, by Maia Kobabe

Started as a way to explain to the family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

This prize-winning graphic novel divides the room however and has been banned in many countries because of sexually graphic scenes. Earlier this year, a court ruling was asked in the US to prevent its' sale to minors, but luckily, the court ruled against it.

Buy this book: https://amzn.to/3uhWKEL

All Boys Aren't Blue, by George M. Johnson

Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy.

Ironically, this very content made it one of the most banned books in the US today, due to its' LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it is considered sexually explicit.

The New York Times Best Selling author says it only inspires him more to tell these stories.

Buy this book: https://amzn.to/3EZVpHy