Banned Book-A-Thon: Potential TBR & Recs

So you know how I LOVE to participate in read-a-thons last minute…. WELL, here’s another one ✨

I definitely understand the reason behind banning some books, but when the reason for them being banned is because they deal with mental illness, LGBTQIA+ themes or racial issues then I have a problem. I know that today it’s hard for a book to be truly banned because of the internet, but not everyone has access or ways to purchase books and they rely on libraries for their books. It makes me upset that they’re potentially missing out on media that could be so helpful in making them feel less alone because certain people are extremely ignorant.

The lovely Catriona over @ Little Book Owl is hosting this read-a-thon to coincide with Banned Books Week. It’s running from the 25th September – 1st October and the only guideline is to read banned or challenged books. Even better the optional theme for this year’s read-a-thon is DIVERSITY!!! For more information you can follow the Banned Book-A-Thon Twitter and watch Caz’s announcement video below:

Obviously, we all know that I’m a Distracted Mood Reader™ so this is an extremely tentative TBR and I’ll see what I get to!

  

George by Alex Gino: When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl. || Reasons for being banned: I couldn’t find an exact reason but from Googling, it was mostly challenged by certain Christian groups who claimed it would “brainwash” and “confuse” children about their gender.
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin: A groundbreaking work of LGBT literature takes an honest look at the life, love, and struggles of transgender teens. || Reasons for being banned: Anti-family, offensive language, homosexuality, sex education, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“wants to remove from collection to ward off complaints”)
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan: Based on true events, two 17 year olds are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS. || Reasons for being banned: Homosexuality and other (“condones public displays of affection”).

  

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi: Persepolis is the story of Satrapi’s unforgettable childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution || Reasons for being banned: gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint. Additional reasons: “politically, racially, and socially offensive,” “graphic depictions.
Saga, Vol 3 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples: Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. || Reasons for being banned:  Anti-Family, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker: Taking place mostly in rural Georgia, the story focuses on the life of women of color in the southern United States in the 1930s, addressing numerous issues including their exceedingly low position in American social culture. Reasons for being banned: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group. In 1963 in Ohio this book was banned from a class to read because parents thought the book to be “anti-white” and “obscene”.

  

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher: I know a lot of people have a problem with this book but as someone who has actually been suicidal I thought it did a brilliant job of portraying the less socially accepting side to mental illness.
The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: The fact that this is banned blows my mind because I 100% believe that it should be required reading. Even if you don’t like it deals with so many things that teenagers could be going through.
Looking For Alaska by John Green: Again, I know a lot of people don’t like this but I fell in love with it. Alaska Young is honestly one of my favourite characters ever.

 

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott: This isn’t an easy read, but if you can handle the subject matter I can’t recommend it enough. I think we all need to remember that there are truly awful things happening in the world and be more empathetic.
Saga, Vol 1 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples: I definitely understand children not being allowed to read this, but the fact that it’s been banned for being “anti-family” confuses me because the two main characters are literally doing EVERYTHING to stay together and keep their child safe. This is such a great comic full of sci-fi and diverse characters.  

TW: All of these books besides Saga involve themes such as mental illness, suicide and abuse

There’s also Harry Potter, but I’m pretty sure I don’t need to recommend that to anyone 😅 Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth and The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead have also been banned/challenged. Along with pretty much everything John Green and David Levithan have written.  And. So. Many. More.

• ALA Banned Books
  
• Banned Books Bibliography by Robert P. Doyle
• Banned Books Week
• Frequently banned books by year
• Frequently challenged books with diverse content
• Frequently banned and challenged comics and graphic novels
• Frequently challenged YA books

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How do you feel about books being banned?

If you’re participating in the read-a-thon I’d love to hear what you’re planning on reading!

I hope you’re all having a fantastic day xx