Think about your favorite book from high school. What was it about the book that struck a chord with you? Now, search the internet with the title of that book and include the phrase “banned book.” Chances are your favorite book from high school has been banned in at least one school district in the United States. Look at the basis for the ban and then ask yourself whether the objections reflect what you remember about the story. Depending on the degree of passion you hold for the book, or how recently you may have read the book in high school, you may have strong objections to the basis for the ban and may find yourself defending the book and the substance. You may, in fact, find yourself thinking, “I’m glad I was able to read the book; such a shame that other students may not have the same experience.”

So: who really gets to decide whether a student has access to a book during their school career? Should it be parents? Should it be school administrators? Should it be school board members? Should it be an inherent right of the students themselves? How should book banning decisions be made and on what basis?

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