Ren Reads (and More) | Banned Books Week 2024

I am back! I want to start off by apologizing for my absence over the past two weeks. I was down in the dumps with COVID 19 and pneumonia, which landed me in the hospital for a few days.

But what better week to come back than this week? You might be asking yourself what the significance of this week is. It is Banned Books Week! What even is that? Who better to tell you than Lauren of "Ren Reads," huh? Without further ado, let us dive into Banned Books Week!

Starting in 1982, this week was trademarked as a response to the overwhelming amount of books being challenged and/or officially banned in schools and libraries, and even some bookstores. This week highlights books that have been banned at any point, location, and way as well as the reasons for the ban. Most importantly, Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom of reading/writing and encourages people to take part in reading banned books and to read in general. Each week usually has a theme, this week’s being Freed Between the Lines.

You might be wondering if you know any books that have been banned in the past or are currently banned. You would be surprised at what makes the list. I have included a few below and their basis for being banned. It is important to note that a book can be banned in several locations and does not have to be banned country-wide to be considered a banned book.

Banned and Challenged Book List

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: LGBTQ+ content

• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: Violence and claimed to encourage “anti-police” motives

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Racial slurs and depiction of the “Black experience” during the time period

• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: Offensive language

• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: Offensive language and sexually explicit content

These are just a few commonly banned and challenged books. If you would like to see a detailed list broken down by year, I highly suggest checking out the American Library Association website!

Why read banned books? Why challenge the system? Because knowledge is important. And free to everyone. The moment people try to take that away and censor the information that is out there is the moment we as a society should be concerned. If you have not read the book Fahrenheit 451, I suggest you do so. You will immediately know what I mean.

I would not be half the person I am today if it were not for the books that I have read and the information I have absorbed. Sure, some books are uncomfortable to get through. But they are necessary. We cannot ignore topics like racism, sexism, and any other serious situation. History will repeat itself if we do not learn from the past. Just because things are uncomfortable or something one does not agree with, it is still everyone’s right to be able to read and absorb what they wish since it does not cause any harm to others.

So, I encourage you to use the rest of this week to find a banned or challenged book and read it. Maybe this will spark something in you and you will continue to read all sorts of books after this week is over. Reading is like an escape into another world, always there for you in any situation.

Happy Banned Books Week to all to celebrate. Happy Reading!