Banned Books Week

I have often struggled with Banned Books Week. Not because I believe in banning books, quite the opposite. I believe everyone has the right to read what they want to read without fear. My issue is that often the public is confused by the the name of the week. When I worked in the public library, a regular question about a banned books display was: Are you banning these books? This year, I feel that theme really says what is meant by Banned Books Week.

When we ban books, we silence the stories of others, we halt learning, we say to someone who isn't just like us that they are not worthy of sharing their story.

With a book, you have the opportunity to see yourself, to learn about others, and to imagine a different world. When we say we don't want a book in a library because it says something we don't like, we are saying that it's my way or no way. We have shut off our minds and imaginations to the rest of the world. It's funny because in a library there are thousands if not millions of books. Not one of them has a requirement that you choose it, read the whole thing, or tell anyone else about what you read. So why should we care if a book that we don't like is on the shelf? If you don't like it, don't read it. Simple as that.

But . . .

If you are the kind of person who understands that books can provide you with new viewpoints, teach you about things that you don't understand, then pick up that book that is not in your regular reading wheelhouse and read it.

This summer, I read George, by Alex Gino

You can buy this book or check it out from your local library

It is the story of a 4th grader named George who is realizing that she identifies as a girl. She knows she has male body parts, but everything inside her feels feminine and female. This book has been banned because it talks about this topic to middle grade children. The thing is, being who you are doesn't wait until you are an adult. Being who you are is hard even when your body matches what your identity as you approach puberty. I couldn't image what it would be like to identify as a male in my female body until I read Gino's book. What I liked about this story was that I was immersed in George's world as she figured out how to be herself. I felt her struggles. I learned from her family and friends. I gained hope that other children who are gender identifying differently from what their body shows, have encouragement to be who they really are. I feel that I learned how to be supportive to a person as he/she/they find themselves.

This past year, I received a grant from the school foundation to purchase books on diverse themes for my elementary school. I am so thankful that this grant was funded, it allowed me to build a better broad collection for the students. It was so much fun to buy books that have the ability to excite and offend people. The selection was broad to introduce children to other cultures, sexual identities, and physical and mental abilities. It was also a little bit scary as I made my choices because these are the books that are most likely to be challenged by people.

I will go back to where I began. There are no rules you must follow in your reading selections from libraries. If you don't like it, quite reading it. If it scares you, maybe it's worth looking into more deeply, there is likely something there that you need to learn about. Just because it's not for you, doesn't mean it won't be loved and special to someone else.

I have seen time and time again, the bigger the stink you make, the more others will make a big deal on the other side to make sure that all voices are heard. Back in the day, Are You There God, It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume was being banned because boys shouldn't read that stuff. Really?!! Judy Blume wasn't writing this book for boys. The only reason boys started reading the book was because their parent made a big stink about it. Maybe, just maybe, they began to understand girls and what they were going through in middle school. Or maybe it was there George. 

To learn more about Banned Books Week, follow this link.