Banned Books or Recommended Reading?
The list is astonishing! I have added only a few books that topped the banned book list for 2024-2025, but it’s a good start on a recommended reading list.
The surprise is that most of these books have been required reading in many educational institutions… and should continue to be.
For a more in-depth look, hover over a book title and click. (If you purchase a book from the list below, we may be paid a small commission from the bookseller.)
When Did We Become Afraid of the Written Word?
What is happening? Banning books? Beyond belief!
I read Huckleberry Finn as a child and was captivated by the story. I looked at the Cape Fear River, near where I lived, and dreams of an adventure-filled life filled my head.
Now the tale of an abused young lad’s adventures with an escaped slave is banned in many places. Can you not see the connection between Huck and Jim, both of whom attempt to escape the lives they were born into?
Mark Twain’s novel of adventure contains racial slurs, racial stereotypes, coarse language, and controversial themes. The book should make new readers uncomfortable. Perhaps, it makes them think!
One of the main complaints against Huckleberry Finn in today’s society is the use of the N-word. I agree that the word is offensive, and although it is no longer used by decent people today, it was used in the 19th century. We cannot change our history. We can learn from it.
Others complain that the language is coarse and unsuitable for readers, especially the younger readers. The language is coarse in some parts of the book. But, friends, let’s be honest with one another. Is there a child in the world today who has never heard a foul word, even in their own homes, perhaps? I agree that the book isn’t suited for the very young or the innocent, but teens and adults should not be deprived of the option to read Mark Twain’s work. And shouldn’t the decision on whether a child is allowed to read a book rest with their parents?
One of the most specious complaints is that the book is written by a white man who has no right to write about racism. What can he know about racism? What can he know about something that didn’t affect him? Does that also preclude black authors from writing about the issues primarily surrounding white people? Once that door is closed, it is closed for all.
What a slippery slope we are sliding down! We should look beyond reasons to be offended and use Huckleberry Finn as a study of the 19th century. (The 19th century! Two centuries ago.) The book is a literary history lesson if we only take the time to look. As a people, we cannot undo our history, but by studying it, we can learn from it.
I use Huckleberry Finn as an example. Other banned books have been chosen as unfit for reading for various reasons, too numerous to cover here.
To those petitioning for book bans, I suggest that if you don’t like the book or if it offends you, don’t read it. Life is so much better when we stop looking for reasons to be offended.