Books have been a part of life since human creation. Books and writings hold an impact on history, keeping us informed when the media cannot be trusted. As of 2024-2025, there has been a major spike of book bannings due to the ‘explicitly’ of them; such as equality, gender, pronouns, sexuality, race, inclusivity, mental health, and more.
The facts stand that the real reason these bannings are happening is because the government wants control. They want people to have no voice. No say in the matter. Human rights are being stripped. All the progress we have made is being erased.
According to the ALA (American Library Association), there was a reported 65% surge of bannings between 2023 and 2024 alone. The problem with this is that it is controlling what people read when people themselves should be able to make their own minds. Statistics show that in 2023, from the EveryLibrary Institute, that parents are a factor in book bannings.
67% of parents think banning books is a waste of time. 74% agree or somewhat agree books can warp a child’s mind into not making their individual decisions. Parents that think the bannings are a waste of time could feel either neutral or think that books will always be around, so what is the point of banning them? The parents that want books banned sometimes want to protect their children from having a set mindset at a young age.
Both parties are entitled to their opinion. The problem here is not the parents. It is the government spreading this agenda that speaking out about important issues is “terrible” or “illegal”; when all it is, is to spread awareness because the world has become so desensitized by violence and hatred that humanity has forgotten what it means to be human.
What Top Books are Banned and Why?
These books are from 2023 to 2024. Pen America: The Freedom to Write has not been updated for 2025.
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult; Nineteen Minutes is about the aftermath of a school shooting in a small New Hampshire town. It follows a number of characters reacting to the school shooting and how it affected the town as well as students.
Nineteen Minutes was banned for a depiction of a date rape and themes of identity.
Looking for Alaska by John Green; Looking for Alaska tells the story of Miles “Pudge” Halter who goes through something life changing which we will not know till later; befriending a girl named Alaska becoming quickly enamored.
Looking for Alaska was banned for explicit sexual content, smoking, drinking, drug use, and LGBTQIA+ content.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky; The Perks of Being a Wallflower revolves around Charlie, an introverted freshman who falls in love, and struggles with a traumatic experience.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower was banned for depictions of drug use, profanity, sexual abuse, and LGBTQIA+ themes.
Sold by Patricia McCormick (85 bans; Sold explores the story of a girl named Lakshmi who is from Nepal experiencing being sold into sexual slavery in India.
Sold was banned for depictions of sexual violence and themes of LGBTQIA+.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (76 bans); Thirteen Reasons Why is centered around high school student, Clay Jensen who receives tapes from Hannah Baker highlighting the reasons why she committed suicide.
Thirteen Reasons Why was banned for the graphic portrayal of suicide, sexual assault, and bullying. There is a worry that this book will promote “suicide contagion” and the romanticizing of suicide.
The United States is not familiar with book bannings and the overall controlling of citizens. According to Harvard Library, “What is considered the first book ban in the United States took place in 1637 in what is now known as Quincy, Massachusetts.” The New English Canaan by Thomas Canaan was banned for its “inappropriate” language toward the power structures of the Puritan government.
The cycle continues of censorship and government control.
The United States is “the Land of the Free”. Where is the freedom? Where are the people’s rights?
