It’s Banned Book Week! This year’s theme is “Let Freedom Read!” In this blog post we are going to talk a little bit about the history of banning books, and give you a few suggestions on banned books that can be paired with specific History Unboxed® boxes. Let’s get started!
Banned Book Week was started in 1982. At that time book banning had really ramped up and activists wanted to fight to make sure books were accessible to everyone. Each year, The Office of Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association compiles a list of the most challenged books of the year. Additionally, Pen America tracks all of the school bans for the 2022-2023 school. All of these websites have resources, education, and ways to get involved in the fight to stop book banning.
When it comes to book banning, it’s important to understand what it means when a book is “banned.”
A book becomes “banned” when it’s challenged and then removed from the collection or access to the material is restricted. Restrictions can include a parental consent requirement or an age limit to view. Many books are challenged but not all of them become banned. The conversation about banned books is typically around their availability in public institutions like libraries and schools. However, because accessing books in other ways is not possible for many kids and adults, these books become effectively unavailable to large groups of people.
Books are banned for many reasons including profanity and violence, but the most common reasons that books are challenged is because of perceived “pornography.” Books that are challenged as “obscene” or “pornographic” must meet all three of the requirements in the Miller test, a well-established and respected legal method of determining whether a book is obscene or pornographic.
It feels like there has been an increase in book banning in recent times, but book banning or restricting access to information is nothing new. Throughout history books have been banned for many reasons. Historically, the restricting of information was an effort to control the populace, restricting access to ideas of freedom, self-expression, history, and political uprisings. Additionally, books that challenged religious ideas were also frequently banned. In more recent times, books that discuss puberty, sex, LGBTQIA+ issues, and race are the most common reasons books are challenged. Check out the graphic for a brief timeline of book banning throughout history. Want more history on historical book banning? Check out this post from Freedom to Read.
Check out this great video from PBS Digital Studios on The Fiery History of Book Banning
Learn more about the past and present of book banning in the United States in this article from LitHub.
What can you do as an educator and a learner? The simplest answer is to read banned books and talk about them! There are thousands of banned and challenged books. Check out the top 100 in this list from the American Library Association.
What can you do as an educator and a learner? The simplest answer is to read banned books and talk about them! There are thousands of banned and challenged books. Check out the top 100 in this list from the American Library Association.
Below are a few books that are related to topics in our history boxes….we included these books because they are banned and could be good discussion points on many aspects of history. Inclusion does not necessary mean that History Unboxed® endorses the content. Please be sure to preview these books before sharing with your kiddos.
American History
- The Fighting Ground by Avi tells the story of a teenager who runs away to fight in the Revolutionary War. Banned in Florida for use of profanity. Upper elementary and teens. Read with American Revolution Unboxed.
- Black Frontiers: A History of African American Heroes in the Old West by Lillian Schlissel. Banned in Florida for unknown reasons. Middle Grade. Read with Going West Unboxed.
- The Double Life of Pocahontas by Jean Fritz. An account of the life of Pocahontas. Banned in Florida for “content.” Middle grade. Read with our Jamestown Unboxed.
- The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. A young soldier on the front lines of the Civil War. Banned in the 1980’s for its graphic depictions of war. Read with Civil War Unboxed. Best for upper elementary and older.
- Learn about The New English Caanan by Thomas Morton. This was the first book to be banned and destroyed in the Americans in 1637. Part satire and part history, this 3-part set discussed the beliefs and practices of the Native Americans, the animals, the land, and how it was being mistreated by the Puritan colonists. Read in its entirely here. Pair with Plymouth Unboxed.
Ancient & Middle Ages History
- Read Ars Armatoria by Ovid with Julius Caesar Unboxed. The Emperor Augustus exiled Ovid in 8 CE for writing Ars Armatoria (The Art of Love) and kept that book out of the public libraries. There have been many instances of burnings and bannings of Ars Armatoria throughout history. Read more about the book here. Best for high schoolers, young adults, and advanced learners.
- Read the poetry of Sappho with Athens Unboxed. Her work was burned at the urging of Pope Gregory VII around 1076 CE. Review and decide if its appropriate for your child(ren).
- Many of the books banned during the Middle Ages were books that involved religion, politics, philosophy, and morality. The Catholic Church kept a list of books from that Catholics should not read called the Index Librium Prohibitorum. This list was in use from 1560-1966. You can explore the full list here.