Banned Books Argument Essay

Dear Ms. Berner,

The world will not censor the atrocious things about life, so why should anyone else? Many schools have been banning certain books becasue they beliebe the content is not suitable for teenagers. Our school administration should not ban books because books are realistic and honest about the world we live in and teenagers should not be sheltered from the truth.

One reason books should not be banned is, the authors are writing the truth about the world, not persuading teens to try dangerous things. For example, the article “ Yes, Teen Fiction Can be Dark- But it Shows Teenagers They Aren’t Alone,” states “There isn’t a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt youth. No one writing about self-harm is teaching how to self-harm. No one writing about rape is providing instructions on how to rape or how to be raped.” This quote clearly explains that authors are writing about situations people experience, not situations that influence teenagers to try dangerous activities. Another example is, the article “The Banned Books We Have Loved,” states “But here’s the ironic and wonderful thing that the book censors don’t seem to have realized: banning books doesn’t, in fact, hurt them much at all. If anything, it may inspire more interest in them, and sometimes sales, too.” This quote can represent to show that banning books does not prevent teenagers from reading them. When books are banned and teenagers read them anyway, it symbolises that the hard truth about the world can not be suppressed and that trying to keep something from a teenager may only increase their need to read them.

Another reason books should not be banned is, the plot and characters are realistic and show teenagers they are not alone. Whether it is their situation, feelings, actions, or relationships, they are not alone. For example, the article, “Yes, Teen Fiction Can be Dark- But it Shows Teenagers They Aren’t Alone,” states “For some teenagers, there is sometimes no message more critical than: you are not alone.” This quote is simple but powerful because it clearly shows that teenagers do not always need people hounding them with advice about how they are not alone, they need someone to relate to. Another example is, in the same article, it states “If subjects like these are in YA books, it’s to show that they are real, they have happened to others, and they can be survived.” Teenagers who think they are freaks because of how they are feeling need to know that they are not alone, and what they are going through is a situation others have went through and survived.

However, people think books should be banned because they are too harsh and obscene for teenagers to read. For example, “‘ If books are the world, teen fiction can be like a hall of funhouse mirrors, constantly reflecting back hideously distorted portrayals of what life is.’ So claims Meghan Cox Gurdon in the Wall Street Journal.” Teen fiction can sometimes be brutally honest and the truth hurts. Self harm happens; rape happens; death happens; all of these appalling things happen and teenagers can not be sheltered from it. Or worse victims should not feel alienated because of situations they were forced into and that they can’t control. Another example is, a parent was responding to the book The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. “...Karen Krueger, who felt the morbid plot, crude language, and sexual content was inappropriate for her children. “I just didn’t think it was appropriate for an 11- , 12- , 13- year old to read,” she said. “I was really shocked it was in a middle school.” The Fault in Our Stars is not morbid, it is a story about teenagers with cancer. Cancer should not be censored from teens or even preteens, because it is a cruel part of life that cannot be prevented! Teens need to know about it and how it affects people’s lives everyday. People with cancer need someone to relate with, and if cancer books are banned, they might feel is if they are not welcomed in society. No one should feel that way, especially if you cannot prevent who you are, whether race, sexuality, or you have diseases or disorders.

Books should not be banned because teens need to know that no matter who they are, what they feel, what they are going through, they are accepted. Teenagers also need to know about the world, because they are part of it, and life is not fair. Sheltering them from all of the cruel things in life is more harmful than them being naive and forced into the “real world.”