In schools all over the United States, a big debate is going on — should certain books be banned from classrooms and libraries? Some parents and school boards think certain stories are inappropriate, while students and teachers say banning books takes away their right to learn and think for themselves. Over the past few years, book bans have become more common. The American Library Association says that in 2024, there were more book challenges than ever before. Many of these books deal with topics like race, gender, or mental health. Some of the most challenged titles include To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Hate U Give.
“I understand that some parents worry about what their kids read,” said Mrs. Gomez, a high school English teacher. “But reading about tough topics helps students grow and see different perspectives.”
Students around the country are starting to speak out. In some schools, they’ve organized “Read-Ins,” where they meet in the library or cafeteria and read banned books together. “When people ban books, it’s like they don’t trust us to handle real life,” said 15-year-old Jordan Lee, who helped plan one of the events. “Books shouldn’t be scary — they should make you think.”
“I understand that some parents worry about what their kids read,” said Mrs. Gomez, a high school English teacher. “But reading about tough topics helps students grow and see different perspectives.”
Students around the country are starting to speak out. In some schools, they’ve organized “Read-Ins,” where they meet in the library or cafeteria and read banned books together. “When people ban books, it’s like they don’t trust us to handle real life,” said 15-year-old Jordan Lee, who helped plan one of the events. “Books shouldn’t be scary — they should make you think.”
On the other side, some parents believe banning certain books is about protecting children. “Some of these stories have mature themes,” said one parent at a school board meeting in Texas. “We just want to make sure students are reading age-appropriate material.” Another anonymous parent said, “It’s not about closing our kids off to learning, but its also not about teaching them something different than what they have been instilled with at home. Learning a viewpoint and pushing a viewpoint are two different things.”
But librarians say that removing books doesn’t solve problems — it hides them. “When we ban books, we’re closing the door on conversations that could help students understand the world,” said librarian Denise Harper. Even though the arguments continue, many students and teachers are standing up for the freedom to read. They believe every story, even the uncomfortable ones, has something important to teach. Still, parents have a right to know what their kids are learning in school. It’s a tough time, but in the end, we make up our own minds.
As Jordan Lee said, “Reading is how we learn about life. You can’t ban that.”
