This story was originally published by The 19th.
Have you ever picked up a book only to find out that it was banned in public schools? Well, the number of books banned in public schools over the past year skyrocketed to more than 10,000. Shocking, right? Two states – Iowa and Florida – are primarily responsible for this surge, according to a report released by PEN America.
The report was released during Banned Books Week – an annual event that began in 1982 to emphasize the importance of free and openly accessible information. Imagine being deprived of the opportunity to read books that explore different perspectives and identities.
The rise in banned books during the 2023-24 school year is alarming, almost tripling from the previous year. The affected books primarily focus on themes such as romance, women’s sexual experiences, rape, sexual abuse, LGBTQ+ and racial themes, as well as characters from marginalized groups.
According to PEN America, many books by women of color made their debut on the Index of School Book Bans over the past year. Some notable titles include Julia Alvarez’s “How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents,” Amy Tan’s “The Kitchen God’s Wife,” and Ellen Oh’s “Finding Junie Kim.”
But the banning spree didn’t stop there. Timeless classics like “Death on the Nile” by Agatha Christie and “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith also made the list. The impact of these bans is far-reaching, restricting access to diverse voices and narratives.
Several new state and local policies have facilitated the surge in book bans. Legislation such as Iowa’s SF 496 and Florida’s HB 1069 have mandated the removal of books with certain themes, resulting in thousands of bans in the respective states.
Furthermore, the escalation of book bans poses a threat to intellectual freedom. Laws like Utah’s HB 29, South Carolina’s Regulation 43-170, and Tennessee’s HB 843 are expected to lead to more censorship in schools.
As Banned Books Week unfolds, the American Library Association (ALA) has also released data on censorship attempts in public, school, and academic libraries. Despite efforts to combat censorship, challenges to book bans persist.
The theme of this year’s Banned Books Week – “Freed Between the Lines” – underscores the power of reading to break barriers. Let Freedom Read Day, the culmination of the week, encourages communities to resist censorship and promote intellectual freedom.
It’s crucial to uphold the right to access diverse literature, regardless of our differences. Join the fight against book banning and celebrate the freedom to read!
