Argument Essay on Book Banning

           “And then, he opened up the door, crept into the room and BAM!”

            Wasn’t that exciting?  Thrilling?  How much tension was put into that one sentence? This could be in one of many different YA books.

            YA books may be about variety of topics but deep down they’re all serve the same purpose.  They all teach you about life, love, and learning.  They all make you feel something.  Something sad, something great, yet there are some who would like to take that away. A lot of adults feel that young adult novels can contain dark and graphic material. They think that access to YA fiction should be limited.  Many conservative teachers and overprotective parents have tried to ban certain books from libraries, schools, and districts. They feel these books send out bad messages or emphasize inappropriate things.  Although young adult books can contain controversial material they can also inspire kids who are similar to certain characters in books to deal with their own conflicts.

            Authors write for an inquisitive audience who are essentially a younger version of themselves.  When authors write YA fiction, their target audience is kids who’ve struggled with things that are similar to the battles in the book.  For instance, Sherman Alexie had a rough childhood that was ultimately his motive for writing his book.  In writing a scenario where the hero has closure, he and the intuitive readers had closure as well.   By closure, I mean an ending that is not necessarily happy or sad but some sort of struggle is resolved.  If Alexie’s hero felt that way, in a sense he did too.  He says, “I think I wrote my YA novel as a way of speaking to my younger self…” I believe he says this because as a teen he may not have received the support he needed. Since an author is most aware of who their book impacts, Alexie must have seen the effect it had on many teens across the nation.  The readers of his books get the help they need because his tone of writing is incredibly relatable. Limiting a teenager’s choice of reading will change all that. Authors write books to show these naïve teenagers that they are not alone.  That is what makes reading YA books so essential.

            For some teens, the solutions in books can help them find solutions to problems in their own lives.  Teenagers are still growing and learning so their problems need answers that will benefit them.  Even Meghan Cox Gurdon, a firm believer in creating some type of limit on YA books, wrote that teens could find comfort in their YA novels. People read for different reasons, and a majority of readers read to find answers. In his article Alexie stated, “I read books about monsters… because they taught me how to battle.”  This evidence shows that Alexie read for a purpose and got the help he needed. A majority of teens don’t have the luxury of having a person or thing to confide in or receive advice.  A YA novel can open the door to teens that are drowning in their worries and experiences, regardless of if the book has writing that could be deemed inappropriate. If adults or officials can see the direct effect certain books have on teens then a limitation on those books shouldn’t be necessary.  Putting a limitation on the books a teen can read isn’t about the book, only about details, and adults need to see the big picture.  By banning, we’re not only taking away the details but the story. Initially, that is not the intent of most adults, but seemingly the outcome.

            Some say that the graphic and mature content in YA novels should not be exposed to children.  In a video where a Missouri town tried to ban Alexie’s book, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” they claimed his book contained many sexual references and scenes. Because of this, they thought it was not suitable for children. However some in the video believed the message of the book outweighed the inappropriate manner in which it was written. One teen explained that Alexie’s book was inspiring and has caused her to make changes in her own lifestyle.  This intriguing teen perspective shows that teens benefitted from the book despite the harsh details.  If the people reading YA fiction are teens, then teens should make the decision to exclude it or not.

             Overall, the life lessons and messages of the YA books are more important than the amount of slightly profane details.  Many towns and schools feel that these details bring about messages that could be deemed inappropriate. I used to think that if something said or written could offend someone then it shouldn’t be said. But now I know it is up to society to decide if the content offends you or not. Those who wish to ban books should think about if the questionable material outweighs the benefits of quality fiction that can change the perceptions in your life.