Books read in second marking period

The maze runner, the outsider, the scarlet letter, crank, glass, Percy Jackson #5

Roman Mueller 802

Dear Ms. Berner,

Recently, you may have been considering taking out a few banned books from our library because of the negative exposure they give to us as students. However, we can learn from this exposure and choose to change the way it affects us. For example, if a kid never touches a book which involves drug use, they may not understand how common this issue is in the world and that people have defeated their addictions. You should not take away any banned books from our library because they can teach kids how to deal with personal challenges someday or that in life you cannot pretend these issues do not exist.

First off, kids should be able to read banned books no matter the topic because it can teach them positive aspects of life. Kids will not always take banned books in a negative way. For example, in an article by Maureen Johnson, The title states “Yes teen fiction can be dark-but it shows teenagers they aren’t alone.” This proves that banned books can have a positive effect on a teen because they realize that someone has gone through the experience they are going through. They also realize that someone was able to defeat the problem they have right now and it could encourage them. Also, without reading any slightly mature books, a teen can remain naive and think that problems around the world don’t exist and they will never face an obstacle. For example, in the article Banned Books 2010: An Anti-Censorship Manifesto the author writes “They do explore tough subject matter--addiction, abuse, thoughts of suicide, teen prostitution. But they bring young adult readers a broader perspective of the world.” This illustrates how by reading these books, teens will have a better understanding on the outcomes or consequences of different choices.

Also, an author’s reason to write a book is often to teach the reader a lesson and not frighten or negatively affect them. The purpose of writing these mature YA books is not to ruin a kid’s life experience, but rather to save or help it. For example, in the article Yes teen fiction can be dark-but it shows teenagers they aren’t alone by Maureen Johnson, it states “There isn’t a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt youth.” This shows how the author wants the reader to benefit from the story and take it in a positive way. Also, in the article The Fault in Our Stars Has Been Banned in Schools by Joanna Robinson, John Green(author of Fault In Our Stars) responds to his book becoming banned “I am also sad because I was really hoping I would be able to introduce the idea that human beings die to the children...and thereby crush their dreams of immortality.” John Green is one of many authors who think this way and even though it may hurt a child by reading this, in the long run it will teach them to deal with issues (in this case it is mortality). All in all, banned books should not be banned and they will help more than do harm.

Some people think that banned books can influence kids to be racist, socially awkward, or change them in a negative way. For example, in the article Banned Books: Reasons for Banning Books it states why books should be banned...“Racial Issues: About and/or encouraging racism towards one or more group of people.” It also says “Blasphemous Dialogue: The author of the book uses words such as "God" or "Jesus" as profanity. This could also include any use of profanity or swear words within the text that any reader might find offensive.” However, a book with racial issues does not necessarily teach a kid to be racist nor compel a student to be socially awkward or use blasphemous dialogue. Quite the opposite.  Reading a banned book can have a positive effect on its reader. For example, in the article Yes teen fiction can be dark-but it shows teenagers they aren’t alone by Maureen Johnson, it states at the end “...those books you and those like you are so glibly dismissing...maybe you don’t like it. That’s fine. But that maybe a book that changes or even saves someone's life.” This illustrates how banned books, while they may have negative subject matter, in the long run, they can have a greater positive and helpful effect. Banned books can truly change someone’s life by showing them they aren’t facing problems alone or by giving them a perspective on how to deal with their problems. If banned books are taken out of the library, then teens will be missing out on this aid provided by those authors.

Overall, the point is proven that banned books, while dealing with the harsh realities of life, are for the greater good. They can teach a young adult that people go through problems and have to deal with them and defeat them. Also, they can comfort a naive teenager and help him/her understand situations better so when they do have to face challenges in his/her life, they can face them head on.