By Gianna Liantonio

The process of a book getting banned can go many ways. Some even go as far as being challenged in front of the Supreme Court. Others are simply a complaint that gets approved and is not able to be taught in schools or allowed in public libraries. However, it is hard to keep a book banned as the First Amendment states freedom of expression. Therefore, banning books is an unnecessary effort to control society into reading certain subjects and prohibiting other ones as the books will still get read. The real question is: Why? Why do books need to be banned? Of course, if it has offensive and controversial topics that are deemed not right for anyone to read, then it is fair to ban it. However, everyone has different views, ideals and ways of thinking. One may say a book is the best piece of literature and another may say it is not. 

Today, the top U.S. state that has banned the most books is Texas with a total of 438 books. The content of most of the books involve themes such as, the exploration of racial identity, racism, abortion and LGBTQ+ issues. The governor of Texas stated that he is signing a law that “gets trash out of our schools.” They try to keep books conservative and not have other views allowed in their schools and libraries. The most banned book in America is Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe where the author discusses her own personal journey growing up exploring her gender identity and sexuality. The act of banning books is essentially controlling what someone reads by concealing important topics that are meant to be read. We will never evolve and broaden our knowledge if we’re prevented from reading certain topics, even if they are deemed “unfit” by some people.

The most frequently banned book is 1984 by George Orwell. It has been constantly banned not just in the U.S. but the U.K. as well. It has actually been under review since its publication in 1949 but is still being scrutinized to this day. Some agree it is a timeless classic while others think it should be removed from the shelves. 1984 is a dystopian novel that takes place in 1984 Oceania under a totalitarian rule. Orwell’s goal was to exemplify negative ways in what the world would look and be like if the government took complete control. In the book, the regime of Oceania is able to manipulate their citizens in believing whatever they say. “Big Brother” is the term used for the totalitarian ruler who is calling all the shots. It was challenged in Florida, who coincidentally is the second ranked state who has banned numerous books with a total of 357. Florida banned it because it was “Pro-Communist and contained explicit sexual matters”. People say it has a scarily accurate parallel to the world we are living today and perhaps that is why some don’t want it read as a way to control our way of thinking and ability to see between the lines. 1984 has been banned and challenged for as long as it has been out. Libraries and stores have been asked multiple times to keep it off the shelves.

The fact the ban hasn’t stuck, and numerous people have read and enjoyed the book just highlights that the process is ridiculous to begin with.  There is always the case where when society is told not to do something, we do it anyway. In this case, when a book gets banned, that just makes the book more likely to be read. 1984 was never properly banned which seems like the trouble people went to prevent people from reading it is a lost effort along with hundreds of other famous novels. Subsequently, other famous novels went in the direction Orwell did such as, The Hunger Games, The Giver, The Handmaid’s Tale, and others that exhibit worlds under a totalitarian rule where there is a higher authority that manipulates the people into believing their words are law. This goes to show Orwell’s writing has had a positive impact for other writers and will continue to do so.