An Analysis of Censorship and Banned Books in Children's Literature

This essay examines the phenomenon of censorship and banned books within the realm of children's literature, focusing on the 20th century. It explores the motivations behind censorship, including concerns about age-appropriateness, exposure to potentially harmful content, and the protection of children from ideas deemed unsuitable by various groups. The essay highlights specific examples of banned books and the diverse reasons for their censorship, such as racism, offensive language, and depictions of violence or sexuality. It also discusses the arguments of both supporters and opponents of censorship, considering its potential benefits, such as safeguarding children from inappropriate materials and promoting certain ethical values, as well as its drawbacks, such as limiting freedom of expression and access to diverse perspectives. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of libraries, schools, and governments in carefully evaluating books and making informed decisions about what children are exposed to, and the potential impact of censorship in an ever-changing social environment.

Running head: ESSAY 1
Children’s Literature
Student details:
7/17/2019

ESSAY 2
Censorship and Banned Books in Twentieth Century
Generally, the literature is considered as best as well as main part of human
experience. In general, the books are powerful and tell people about themselves as well
as everywhere in the world. The books are very useful for opening the door to new
concepts, modern viewpoints, as well as new experience. The best books deal with
complex, significant, and debated matters. The literature may be beautiful as well as
upsetting all at once. While the writer makes an internal consideration on a page to
comment in relation to world people live in, this is the gift for the individuals to learn from
as well as enjoy. The banned book, a form of censorship, is one that has been censored
by the authorities such as school system, government and libraries. The books are
usually banned with a good intention to secure the people, specifically children, from the
reading inappropriate information or contents.
In USA, the book banning is a most extensive form of censorship, with children’s
literature being a main target. The supporters for banning some books concern that the
kids would be persuaded by the information that they consider as risky. They also fear
that the publication would make the concepts, ideas, raise the question, and incite
critical inquiry amongst children that political group, religious group and the parents are
not ready to state and that they find unsuitable. Mostly, the bans, restrictions as well as
the challenges put focus on sexual content and racism. In most of the situations, the
books are restricted or banned by the parents who are very much worried in relation to
the materials their kids are considering.

ESSAY 3
Not every book is right for every person. Sometimes, the parents and school do
not want them to read something, which can be harmful, The adults frequently censor
the books from children if they realize that the books contain upsetting and
inappropriate thoughts or concepts in them. There are various books which are banned
because of its inappropriateness for the children and students. There are various
reasons to ban the books such as absence of literary merits, racism, offensive
language, sexual contents, violence, negativity, unsuitable political view and unsuitable
religious view (Laine, 2016). The Great Gatsby, Catcher in Rye, Grapes of Wrath, To
Kill Mockingbird, Lord of Flies, The Color Purple, and various others have been banned
for various reasons.
The book banning exists not to limit freedom of individuals, however to secure
them. Some books contain the racial themes. The score of books, from To Kill a
Mockingbird to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, has been banned to
explore the racial themes or describe the racism directed at different group of
individuals (Godayol, 2016). The best example of the book giving racist theme is “The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. In this book, the word “nigger” is used. It is a racial
insult. The other example is “Winnie the Pooh.” The Muslim community does not allow
reading this book because of the piglet. The reason is that Muslim nations do not permit
to read this book by the children because pig is dirty for this community. The censorship
regulations, particularly in books, may keep the individuals, specifically children, from
revelation to racial discrimination and pornographic contents. The books are the source
of data, covering some sensitive issues such as racism. Banning these things, whether

ESSAY 4
online or in written, may secure a person from being victim of racism and being
perpetrator himself (Reichman, 2017).
Further, it may reduce the risk in the national security. The censorship is useful to
keep the people and some sectors, if not all, from reading the content that may put the
safety of nation out openly (Web, 2018). The book banning can stop the things related
to terrorism. The children will not be able to read the books which give rise to terrorism.
In addition of this, the responsive and private military data would be kept out of hand of
terrorist if there are the limitations on access of content or data (Knox, 2015).
Furthermore, the book banning stops the airing of violence that may pollute mind
of people. The supporters are approaching for censorship. The reason is that it restricts
the children’s exposure as well as other person’s exposure to aggressive and offensive
contents of books that they believe may have the influences in a mind of people (Hobbs
& Roberts, 2018). There are various readable materials and books that promote the
violence openly with take no notice of to how this may influence the people. They also
indicate that these books and readable materials may encourage the persons to do
offences and wrongdoings. The complaint of challenger was long as well as diverse,
however most of the complaints came down to the violence: the book, in their view,
“glorifies criminal activities, have the inclination to dishonest juvenile, as well as
contains the description of bizarre violence, bestiality, agony, dismemberment, demise,
as well as the human abolition.” No one in fact found the lobotomy contentious, but the
challenger in the Washington high school district had issues with an approval of the
book of secular humanism. They have some story lines that border on adoring
offenders, wrongdoers and mass killers. The main benefit is that with censorship, the

ESSAY 5
balance can be made in the ethical values of the societies. It supports the thesis
statement seamlessly and works well to draw the reader’s attention (Petite, 2015).
Additionally, there are some books which depict the sexual scene, vulgarity, as
well as prostitution. There are some terms which are vulgar. These terms cannot be
correct for people particularly for the kids. The best examples are “The Lord of the Flies”
and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” There are some vulgar words are used in these books,
which are not required to be read by children (Web, 2018). In addition of this, there are
various books which don’t state ethical values. These books show disrespect as well as
use the name of Lord in vain. The best examples of these types of books are “Of Mice
and Men” and “Bridge to Terabithia.” Additionally, the use of fantasy and witchcraft may
also create confusion for the children. These are the reasons why “Harry Potter” is
banned in the school (Kipp, Beak & Graf, 2015).
The book banning may be helpful for the parents in nurturing their children in
spite of the busy schedule. It is always not possible for the parents to monitor the books
or materials children are reading. They can also not have regular check up on the
websites on which their children are visiting. By restricting the materials as well as
books, they may get access to, the parents are guaranteed these young ones are kept
from learning regarding the data not proper for the age. As for synchronized censorship,
it does not completely keep persons uninformed about the data but controls the data
which has significance for them. In addition, it prevents some groups, religious divisions
and the persons from getting insulted. The supporters of book banning argue that
without it, the people behind the newspapers as well as products would be careless and
bold in utilization of invective terms, scene as well as methods or approaches to obtain

ESSAY 6
what they desire. If it happens, other members of the societies, religious groups and
even private residents may obtain insulted from just reading the books. With censorship,
there would be monitoring or reviewing before the book is published. As per this, after a
review, if it is found that there are some inappropriate contents then those terms or
specific contents will be removed. If they are not removed, then those books will be
banned or further not available for the children or people.
There are books that are not good to read for children due to the violence and
depiction of offensive actions. As the children are not hitherto ready for these types of
situations, using these books would also cause them to be more interested. In addition,
there are certain books that show social issues like crimes, prostitution as well as use of
drugs. These books are correct only for the people who are open minded, not for the
children (Zanettin, 2018). The open minded people may take different concepts and
ideas in the societies. On the other hand, for the children, it is not appropriate. The
children are not mature to understand these types of data. The reason is that they are
very immature to understand the issues. Further, there are also some history books that
attack the nations particularly while the articles are about the war. This kind of data
normally humiliates the honesty and status of some nations. Because of these reasons,
these books are to be banned or censored (Knox, 2017).
Moreover, in the present world, the sexuality, racism and language are not only
reasons for banning the books. The sexuality, language and racism are the usual
reasons which are provided for the banning of books. Not only would these reasons
land the books on a top list of censors(Peleg & Wozniuk, 2019). The Satanism, New
ageism as well as various other isms, some of that will make a person laughs if an

ESSAY 7
implication was not so severe. There are also some books, which make children laugh
and come in the doubt. These books are also questionable. The books that motivate the
children to think, or inquire authorities, or the books that do not hit a person who reads
over the head with ethical lesson, are considered hazardous or risky (Wood, 2015).
In conclusion, it can say that as an author, having a book banned is normally a
best thing for a sale. The books that are banned draw the attention to core issues
whether persons advocating the ban feel it or not. The censorship is the powerful tool,
which may work for the persons, specifically children. Now, the burden lies on the
people who impose the banning of books. In this way, the book banning may be
advantageous and helpful in certain aspects. In school, the effect of censorship is
important in the light of a way of the world and in light of ever-altering social
environment. It can say that the library, school and government must be a judge of
which book is good for the children.

ESSAY 8
References
Godayol, P. (2016). Censorship and the Catalan translations of Jean-Paul
Sartre. Perspectives, 24(1), 59-75.
Schocket, A. M. (2016). Founding Visions: The Ideas, Individuals, and
Intersections That Created America by Lance Banning. Journal of Southern
History, 82(1), 143-145.
Hobbs, W. R., & Roberts, M. E. (2018). How sudden censorship can increase access to
information. American Political Science Review, 112(3), 621-636.
Kipp, M. E., Beak, J., & Graf, A. M. (2015). Tagging of Banned and Challenged
Books. KO KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION, 42(5), 276-283.
Knox, E. J. (2015). Book banning in 21st-century America. Maryland: Rowman &
Littlefield.
Knox, E. J. (2017). Opposing censorship in difficult times. The Library Quarterly, 87(3),
268-276.
Lewy, G. (2016). Harmful and undesirable: book censorship in Nazi Germany. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
Laine, C. (2016). Book Banning and Other Forms of Censorship. Edina: ABDO.
Marshik, C. (2016). Obscene Modernism: Literary Censorship and Experiment 1900–
1940 by Rachel Potter. MFS Modern Fiction Studies, 62(1), 176-179.

ESSAY 9
Peleg, I., & Wozniuk, V. (2019). Patterns of censorship around the world. Routledge.
Petite, S. (2015) Banning books in the 21st Century. Retrieved from:
<https://www.huffpost.com/entry/banning-books-in-the-21st_b_7228274>
Reichman, H. (2017). Censorship dateline. Journal of Intellectual Freedom &
Privacy, 1(4), 32-45.
Web, S. (2018). Book banning. Retrieved from:
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/986/book-banning
Wood, R. (2015). The Censor's Library: Uncovering the Lost History of Australia's
Banned Books by Nicole Moore. Interdisciplinary Literary Studies, 17(1), 152-
154.
Zanettin, F. (2018). Translation, censorship and the development of European comics
cultures. Perspectives, 26(6), 868-884.