Why are Books Disappearing?
Krystal Singh
January 14th, 2025
Some states in the U.S., like Florida, Iowa, and Texas, have banned a large number of books from public areas in the last few years because they have LGBTQ+ content, sexual content, use of drugs, etc. Some of the books challenged are even childhood favorites like Captain Underpants, The Lorax, Where’s Waldo, and Tango Makes Three. They have also challenged some classics like The Hunger Games, Of Mice and Men, and Harry Potter. They have been banned from many schools and public areas, which makes them hard to find. This article will go into detail about how the book ban works, what books are banned, how you can still access them, how it can affect daily life, how you can prevent book bans, and who and/or what is banning them.
Challenging vs. Banning
Challenging books is an attempt to restrict or even remove books from public areas. It happens when a person expresses their point of view so they can get the material removed from public view. People who attempt to challenge have the intention to “protect” young readers and families from different ideals. Sometimes challenges can be unsuccessful and may not work. One of these groups that attempt to challenge books is Moms For Liberty. Moms for Liberty is a group of moms who attempt to ban books that talk about racism, LGBTQ+, pornography, etc. as an attempt to erase these books from public areas. They go and request that some school boards or libraries get rid of these books because they don't want their children to learn about them. They have appeared on Fox News multiple times as a group of moms who just want to fight for what's right but in reality, many feel that they only harm. They compare LGBTQ+ to groomers who want to take advantage of their children and one of the directors has even quoted Hitler when he said, “He alone who owns the youth, owns the future.” Challenging is harmful to many people and restricts what young readers know about the world.
Parents have the upper hand when it comes to banning books, they complain to school boards or libraries that the available books shouldn't be able to be accessed by their children. In 2019 someone even went as far as checking out four copies of This Day In June by Gayle Pitman from the Orange City Public Library and burned them live on Facebook. People did raise money to donate and pay for all damages and to be able to replace the books. Even if books do get challenged by parents, there isn't a large chance that it will work.
Banning books is when the material is removed, and when challenges are successful. You won't be able to access them anymore in libraries, and schools. If a book is banned it will be restricted from the public view. Moms for Liberty has banned almost 58% of books from school districts and libraries countrywide.
What Books are Banned?
Most of the banned books are ones that are deemed “inappropriate” for children. The main reasons for being inappropriate include offensive language, unsuited to age group (violence, slurs, drugs LGBTQ+), and religious viewpoint. The American Libraries Association (ALA) has information about what books are being banned and a list of the top 10 most banned books. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe is just one example of the many books being banned, specifically for its LGBTQ+ content. Iowa with over 3600, and Florida with more than 4500, have the most books banned from school districts in the U.S.
How Can I Still Access These Books?
You can still access banned books by checking in with libraries to see if they have the certain book you're looking for. California doesn't have many banned books so far but states like Florida, Texas, and Iowa (the more conservative states) have the most books banned. Thankfully the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) has a program called “The Banned Books Club” that has free e-books of books that are challenged so people can still access them despite where in the U.S. they live.
How it Can Affect Daily Life.
Challenged books can be hard to find for some people as they can’t be found in public libraries or schools anymore depending on the state you live in. Andrea Osejo, a teen librarian at Monterey Public Library was asked about how her job could be affected by the mass book banning. She said “As a librarian, book bans affect me because I won’t be able to do my job. In other words, I have a responsibility to add books (regardless of my own opinions or biases) to the teen collection that are being requested within the Young Adult community. As a reader, it affects me because I won't have access to read the books that are within my own right to read.” Osejo’s job can be affected because the more books that are challenged, less amount of books are added to the teen collection which can affect her pay. She as a reader also won't be able to access books that she thinks she should be able to read. Book bans are harmful to society as people won’t have easy access to materials that they have a right to be able to read.
How You Can Prevent Book Bans.
People don't try to get books banned much in California but the U.S. as a whole has many banned books. Brady Hollis, an English teacher at Seaside High School was interviewed and was asked how we can prevent book bannings. Hollis stated, “Contact your local representatives, spread awareness about the importance of preventing book banning, and most importantly READ! The more books are preserved and read the less likely people are to ban them.” If everyone starts reading books before they have gotten banned is a great way to help maintain books that risk being banned. Osejo has said that the ALA has updates on book bannings and donates to places that can help us prevent book bannings. She also said “Governor Gavin Newsom signed an assembly bill 1078 and 1825 where it prohibits book bans at school districts and public libraries in California… In many of these cases, when a book is being challenged, it’s more likely for a book to be re-shelved to the adult section depending on what is decided by the library board.” We won't have to worry too much about book bans in California as the books challenged will just be reshelved.
Even though California doesn't have many banned books it's still banned in other states making it hard to learn about history, restricting what young readers know about the world. As our young readers are the future, we don't want to repeat the past. We have a lot of growing to do as a country and as more books get challenged by others because they don't match their ideals the more we become the past. Even though not many people read books anymore, books still shouldn't be banned because it's a way to get information on anything.
#1 Protester saying that Moms for Liberty do more harm than good
#2 The book gender queer which is the most banned book in school districts
#3 Protester that says banning books is banning history