I’m guessing they will soon be banning the hit TV series as well? There’s nothing free about the country. They’re trying to create a wire do his supporters want this? I guess it doesn’t matter if you’re dumb as a box of rocks and can’t read.
The majority of these were required reading as part of English Lit when I was in high school. My eyes were opened by these books, they shaped my world view. It's disgusting that these titles would be banned. There is already an issue with lack of education critical thinking ability in our country.
1984, Animal Farm, A Brave New World and Lord of the Flies were required reading when I was in school. Of course that was before electricity but who’s counting? Knowledge is power. Information is knowledge. I follow a few independent news publications and Bluesky for my own personal research.
That’s exactly the problem; books that were required reading for us are being taken out of the curriculum for the new generations. These books are so important for kids to experience.
Absolutely right. My A-level English Lit coursework was on 1984, Brave New World and The Handmaid's Tale, comparing and contrasting the different systems of control in each. It's now impossible for me not to see it when it happens in real life, and I'm so grateful for that education.
Thank you!! I've read almost all of these & just ordered the missing ones from my home library so I have physical copies. Also replaced my copy of The Giver.
Remember not every kid has the means or the freedom at home to buy books - if schools and libraries ban them, there are whole groups of people out there that will have no other chance to read them.
The difference between a book being required reading in schools 20 years ago and not allowed in the school library now is huge. Just because they can get the books other places doesn't mean they will, or even know that they should.
Some places do have "outdoor libraries". Heck, even one of my local libraries has a "take what you need, give what you can" box outside the front door where people take/give food usually. If anyone can afford to do so, donating those banned books to similar spots would be awesome.
I honestly tried to post my recent book haul - just pictures, no talking or word's and I get an account warning. If you see what I have posted in past it's like 8 videos tops of my kid, the dogs, and messing with filters.
Another that's been challenged in some schools is "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen. It was pivotal for me as a kid to understand the Holocaust, its causes, and get a perspective of what the consequences were. I highly recommend parents read this with their kids. Adults would benefit too.
Interestingly enough, it's been challenged because of "satanic inferences" which is a clear sign that the morons challenging it were simply going off the title. It has no satanic inferences.
It’s hard to fathom that several of these were required reading during my high school years and they made a MAJOR impact on me as well as others in my generation (X). Hence why they are now banned.
I don’t know that it was ever banned, but “The Iron Heel” by Jack London is about fascists seizing power as a socialist movement gains traction. Orwell stated it was a strong influence on his own work.
1984 is on deck for my advanced kids because AP allows for more titles. Night will be next for the Juniors. Their final will be an independent novel study with many of the remaining titles you posted as their options.
*Most* teachers will always do their best to fight back.
I recently finished 1984, after reading “Imperialism the Highest Stage of Capitalism” by Vladimir Lenin and “Industrial Society and Its Future” by Ted Kaczynski. Which made the book all the more interesting. I wrote a comparative essay about the 3 afterwords and it kinda changed my view on life.
Yes to ALL of these. The Book Thief is the only one I haven't read. Basically predicted as early as 1960 where we are today and where this ship is headed if we DON'T turn it around. TY for that post.
R 💙
Public schools in several states. It will likely move to a federal ban for several books in all public schools under the current administration. Along with gutting public libraries for the general public and threatening to criminally charge librarians, they will remove free access to these books.
I own and have read or am in the process of reading most of them. I answered the question of what radicalized me the other day. Aesop's fables. Simple stories that clearly explain and demonstrate a moral. I read them as a child.
I agree that everyone should read The Handmaids Tale. But it is seriously the most horrifying thing I've ever read. Especially because I see us being walked straight into it.
It’s crazy that a lot of the books you suggested were required reading in my high school. The fact that millions of young people will never read these is beyond sad.
Animal Farm was removed from the HS curriculum in Florida where I previously taught, and Fahrenheit has also been a topic of discussion for removal but has not been officially removed yet.
We just spent the weekend shopping at used book stores and building our ‘banned book library’. I highly recommend everyone do the same - before they disappear or are edited.
I read animal farm as required reading in HS. The only book that stuck with me, because it terrified me. The pigs have began wearing clothes and playing cards.
The people who ban books don't even see the irony in banning Fahrenheit 451. Maybe if we put on a slip cover that says Celsius 232, we could sneak it past the morality police.
This whole list is basically the old Canadian high school English curriculum. They aren’t banned and a lot of teachers still teach them, or other books with similar themes.
And please try to purchase physical media if able. Local book stores, https://Thriftbooks.com. Digital copies, like Kindle, can be taken away even if purchased. You’re buying the permission to access the book, but they can take that away at any time.
If you’ve read 1984 you know this to be true. They’ll change the text or take them away altogether and tell you they never existed. So yes. DEAD TREE EDITIONS FOREVER.
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Fuck the “bans”. It’s still accessible.
We should drop copies of those books in spots right outside school boundaries, tbh.
-To Kill a Mockingbird
-Inherit the Wind
-Diary of Anne Frank
It is extremely dangerous to teach/lie to, kids about white America never existing on the wrong side of history.
Also this red is YOUR COLOR!!
*Most* teachers will always do their best to fight back.
R 💙
Would add To Kill a Mockingbird to this list.
I’m still a BlueSky novice, so I’ll figure it out. 😊