Welcome!

Do you like reading inspiring tales of adventure, romance, mystery, and science fiction? Unfortunately, over the last year, there have been over 414 attempts to ban over 1,128 unique titles from libraries, schools, and bookstores (Book Ban Data, n.d.).

About Me

My name is Travis French, and this is my blog, Save The Books. I am an avid reader and doctoral student in a clinical psychology program. My strengths lie in understanding both sides of this social injustice. Not all books are meant for everyone at every age, and this should be considered when choosing books to read. This does not mean that certain books should be banned from libraries. My first encounter with the book ban was when Dr. Seuss's books were getting banned or altered at my local bookstore. The idea of changing someone’s life's work because it offended some people did not sit right with me, and I believe this should not become a social norm.

Information

In the 2023-2024 school year, over 29 states showed signs of book banning in schools, with Florida leading the way with the most banned books (Book Bans, n.d.). At the time of the survey, Florida recorded 4000 to 5000 banned books. The total amount of books banned in the United States was recorded at 10046 for the 2023-2024 school year. The banned books included titles featuring people of color and the LGBTQ+ community.

The American Library Association’s Office has reported that the number of titles being challenged and banned has increased by 65% from 2022 to 2023 (Book Ban Data, n.d.). These books are banned not only in schools but also in public libraries. At the time of the survey, over 4,250 unique books had already been banned from libraries, with another 1,247 being demanded to be banned or censored. The current book ban and censorship initiative has people wondering who has the right to ban books and why they would

Who is Banning Books?

The United States Constitution gives every American the right to freedom of speech. This freedom extends to written words, and we have the right to allow our children the opportunity to decide what they want and do not want to read. Unfortunately, local education boards do not think this freedom should extend to schools and libraries (Yeban, 2024). The local board has the authority to add and remove books from school criteria if they deem them unsafe for school-age children to read. Once a book has been allowed into a school or library, the school board's responsibility is to leave it in the school or remove it. The education and school boards must evaluate books before they can be banned, and the main reason behind the banning of books is due to obscene content (Yeban, 2024).

Importance of Books

Psychologists have used reading and books as a form of therapy known as bibliotherapy for years. Studies show that reading aids mental and emotional needs in young adolescents (Lawrence, 2023). Reading helps children overcome family issues and their lack of friends by providing them with security and feelings of belonging. Difficulties in reading have also been linked to serious personality problems. Psychotherapists are often used during times of remedial reading efforts to try and understand these personality problems and possible mental disorders.

Social Change Movement: Unite Against Book Bans

The social movement known as Unite Against Book Bans believes in five core principles. The first principle is that books are tools that help us understand complex issues (Unite Against Book Bans, n.d.). The second principle is that today's youth deserve a chance to explore and see themselves in the books they read. The third and fourth principles are that parents should not control what other parents teach their children and that they should trust their children to make good decisions about what they want to read. The last principle states that limiting access to books does not protect children and may hinder them when faced with complex life challenges. This movement provides vital information to the public about book bans while advocating for a society's right to read what they want. They mobilize into action to help defeat attempts by the government to censor books and other reading material. Unite Against Book Bans is an initiative of the American Library Association.