Why You Should Write a Banned Book
Updated: Apr 7
Book banning isn’t a new concept and it has been an especially diabolical way to gain control over the masses. Most famously, Nazi Germany conducted book burnings during Hitler’s first year as dictator over Germany.
This aggressive censorship took place in hopes of destroying any content that went against Nazi ideals or promoted independent thinking. Ironically, The Book Thief continues to be challenged by religious groups to be taken out of schools because… “the plot is heavy.” As if religious content isn’t. This is clearly a fight over power and control.
Other reasons books are sought out to be banned include violence, offensive language, LGBTQIA+ Viewpoints, or simply because they are “unsuited to age group”.
If these reasons sound somewhat valid to you… here are some of your favorite books that have been banned.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Catcher in The Rye by J.D. Salinger
Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstien
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
The Diary of Young Girl by Anne Frank
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Great Gatsby by Scott F. Fitzgerald
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
Oh! And of course, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling. Obviously.
And that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Which is why I believe YOU should write a book that is bound to be banned.
Clearly, it will be beloved. Maybe even a classic.
You will probably need to challenge the status quo. Promote deeper thinking. Y’know like a writer should. I would write from your experience of the world. The hard realities we face daily would make for a quality story that should obviously be read by none.
Write about class differences in an intergalactic setting, or your roommate who just came out to you at 1:45pm on a Tuesday, or an animalistic metaphor about war crimes.
Or maybe you would rather write about vampires, wizards, or a children’s book.
Hey, maybe you could write about the Nazi’s burning book in the 1930s.
In reality, if you want to talk about our world’s controversial history or our world's controversial future, your book will be banned. Even if you simply want to write about human experience such as love, friendship, abuse, or the realities of growing up… your book will probably be banned as well.
Honestly, it's a compliment.
It means it is well written. It’s popular. It’s getting people talking.
It means you're changing the world.
Explore your freedom of speech. Write about what moves you, scares you, scares others.
History is ugly but our future doesn't have to be.
So start writing.
