Alli the Book Giraffe

Hello readers! This week’s LTB was a freebie, so I went back through the prompts and picked the one from December 2022 about banned books.

I think I did make a post about this in the past, but I’m ready to talk about it again. This is one of my absolute favorite things to talk about.

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme that was originated by Eternity Books and is currently hosted by Book Nook Bits. The accompanying thumbnail was also designed by Book Nook Bits. Each Friday, bloggers craft posts where they engage in discussions centered around the designated topic for the week.

Prompts: Do you think banning books is fair? Should students be allowed to read what they want and be able to get it from their school library? In a more broad sense, how do you feel about books that have been “banned?” Do you think that it’s a crime to ban a book, no matter what it contains, or are there cases where it’s alright? 

This may be a hot take, but I really don’t believe in banning books at all. Even for kids.

I am not saying that kids should just have the ability to read whatever they want. BUT, I think it’s overstepping for a random person to decide what my child can and can’t read. Especially because many of the books being banned are being banned because they are educating kids on certain topics. The only people that seem to be banning books are super religious people who think they know everything.

I want my child to know that I will always love her. I wouldn’t want her to think she has to be afraid to come out to me one day, if that is what happens. All kids should be able to see themselves in a book.

One example is Captain Underpants. I LOVED this series as a kid. It was challenged and banned for encouraging disruptive behavior, and because of a same-sex couple.

Gen Alpha knows this author more for the Dogman series, but I’m sure some read this series as well.

This one, like many on the ALA list every year are just homophobic for no reason. Also, how does it encourage disruptive behavior? It’s a teacher who is also a superhero.

The Hate U Give being anti-cop is also crazy. The purpose of this book is to raise awareness about police violence against black people. It even talks about lynching.

I don’t know if you guys know this, but lynching only became a federal crime in 2022. It was even named after Emmett Till, who she mentions in the book specifically. Anyone who challenged this book was probably just a racist person.

This book has been banned so many times. It’s on the top 10 most banned books almost every single year. And, it always says something different.

In my opinion, this book is clearly being banned because it centers on an indigenous person and brings up some really good points. What was the derogatory term even? Was it the fact that he goes to an all-white school and the mascot is an Indian?

I wrote an entire paper in college about racism and mascots, and I can easily say that types of people should not be represented as mascots. If there can be chiefs, redskins, or even Indians for a mascot then why not crackers for white people, or any other stereotype for another race?

It is just so crazy to me how often the books being challenged or banned are by either people of color or are LGBT friendly.

It just feels like the far right and Fundamentalist Christians are trying to push their opinions on all of us. I can decide for myself what books are appropriate for my kid because I know her more than anyone.

For instance, I would never let her read a Goosebumps book because she is literally afraid of everything. I know she couldn’t handle that sort of book.

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On the other side of it, I think these people who challenged books are doing it to limit knowledge. The only language they speak is fear.

When you go to a library, they will give you books with all sides of a story. That is their job. I don’t think anyone can make an informed decision if they don’t know all sides of a story.

These book banners fear everyone knowing the truth. If they can’t convince you, they’ll take away your right to know they are wrong.

One thing they can never take from you is information. Once you have it, it’s yours forever. And, that is what they are so afraid of.

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This post was created by Allison Wolfe for www.allithebookgiraffe.com and is not permitted to be posted anywhere else.

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