Stateside Stories

For a country that claims to be the leader of the free world and a beacon of democracy, the USA does like practising censorship. It especially likes restricting what people read, becoming a nation infamous for the sheer number of books that it bans. The book bans mainly target schools and libraries, usually under the guise of ‘saving the children’. However, these bans rarely take place because people actually care about what young people read. They usually occur because these books criticise the US political system, promote ideologies that legislators do not agree with or are just seen as ‘subversive’. This article will examine some of the books that have been banned in the US and why.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)

The Handmaid’s Tale has regained popularity over the last few years as it was adapted into a TV show in 2017. It is a dystopian novel which tells the story of women who are forced to be child-bearers for men. The novel has always served as a cautionary tale about the dangers of extreme misogyny. However, it has been heavily restricted in several US states for its themes of sexual abuse, exploitation and its criticism of religion in government. After Roe vs Wade was appealed in 2022, many believe that the book is more important than ever. Others disagree, with parents in South Carolina taking great exception to the book. It’s take on abortion had upset them, and debates are ongoing in that state as to whether abortions should be banned. The novel has also been banned in Florida, Texas and Oregon as parents believed that it would disrupt students’ learning. The book has been the subject so much censorship over the years that ‘unburnable’ copies have been made.

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (1970)

Toni Morrison has been no stranger to controversy. Her most famous novel, 1987’s Beloved has been restricted due to its portrayals of racism, slavery and abuse. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye also explored the topic of racism. It told the story of a young African American girl who wished that she had blue eyes and lighter skin. Many states such as Ohio have tried to ban the book in high schools due to the themes of racism, rape and child abuse. The novel was even labelled as ‘pornographic’, and ‘communist’. It was considered inappropriate for 11th graders (would be in sixth form in the UK) to read. Many people have objected to the ban that Ohio placed on Morrison’s novel, with some accusing school boards of censorship. Many have pointed out that it is important for young people to learn about the social issues that Morrison talks about in her work, and that issues such as racism cannot be ignored just because they are not nice to talk about.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1963)

This entry makes even less sense than the others. Where the Wild Things Are is a picture book that many people (including myself) have read as young children. It is considered a classic, and was adapted into a movie in 2009. It is a book that has stood the test of time and lasted for generations. However, it was quite controversial when it was first published over 60 years ago. The book centres around an 8-year-old boy called Max who is sent to bed without dinner for misbehaving. He imagines running away from home and discovering an island inhabited by ‘The Wild Things’ who decide that he is their king. Max eventually realises that he misses home and returns, where some dinner is waiting for him. The book was considered problematic in the 1960’s as many thought that it would be too scary for children. Many did not like the ‘supernatural’ themes of the book and even believed that it would be ‘psychologically damaging’ for young children. However, bans of the book have been overridden and it still remains a much loved children’s book today.

The ‘Harry Potter’ series by J K Rowling (1997-2007)

Chances are that if you are under 40, you’ve read the Harry Potter books. They are still much loved, even though J K Rowling herself has become the subject of controversy due to her anti-trans views. Many parents have been campaigning to get the Harry Potter books banned or restricted due to their use of witchcraft, magic and the occult. A catholic school in Massachusetts banned the books in 2007, as it was believed that they promoted sorcery, which was inappropriate. Some believed that the novels were too dark for children to read. Despite these concerns, the Harry Potter series have been extremely successful and have been turned into equally successful movies. The books have been read by millions, and any move to ban them has been met with much resistance.