October 1-7, 2023 is Banned Books Week for 2023. During this week, people are encouraged to read books that are challenged or banned from schools and public libraries.
Here are some of the banned/challenged books I read in the past.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
This book has been challenged due to racism and offensive language, despite the fact it was published in the 1870s for a story that took place in the 1840s. I believe a lot of people use their presentist thinking as a reason to challenge this book and not take the historical context into consideration. This book, I have read several times, and it is one of my favorites.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
This book has been challenged because Anne Frank wrote about the changes in her body caused by puberty and her own sexual awaking. I believe she wrote those things because when she started writing her diary, she didn't plan on having it published. It was when she heard of a radio broadcast about collecting diaries after World War II that when she decided to change her focus from just writing for her own personal record for publication. When the diary was first published, her father Otto did not include those entries, but today's editions will have her original diary, her edited diary, and the diary edited by Otto. I have read at least the original edition of the diary and have not read the most recent editions in both print and graphic comic form yet.
The True Adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig by Steve Jenkins, Derek Walter, and Caprice CraneΒ
This one, while it's a children's book, it should have its own entry. Esther was adopted by Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter, who was at time, a same sex couple (I do not know if they identify as gay, bisexual, pansexual, or whatever, but I do know Steve had dated at least a woman in the past when he wrote the first memoir about Esther.) Steve's and Derek's relationship at the time (if you follow them on Facebook, you will know that they are now split) was the reason why the book was challenged. It's a good book to read to the kids, especially those who like pigs.
Other banned books I read include To Kill a Mockingbird, Slaughterhouse-Five, Cather in the Rye, Bridge to Terabithia, and Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.
Take the time to read a banned book for Banned Books Week.
