Happy Banned Books Week!
Every year, the American Library Association releases a list of the top 10 most frequently challenged books to raise public awareness about censorship and free access to information. (A challenge is when a library or school receives a formal, written complaint asking for materials to be removed because of appropriateness or content.)
And every year, librarians, booksellers, publishers, teachers and other book lovers participate in Banned Books Week to celebrate “the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment,” in the words of the ALA. This year, Banned Books Week is from September 24 to October 1, so let’s party down with some censorship-themed journaling prompts! Grab your journal, your pen and maybe your favorite banned book to get inspired.
3 Journaling Prompts for Banned Books Week
1. Browse through the list of frequently challenged books of the 21st century and the list of banned or challenged classics.
Do you recognize any of your favorites? In 2010, among the top 10 challenged books were Aldous Huxley’s classic Brave New World and the immensely popular young adult novels, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Over the years, other books that have caused controversy include:
• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Animal Farm by George Orwell
Select three books from that made an impression on you, whether it was in your high school English class or as an adult. Write about each book in your journal, describing why it had such a lasting effect on you. What did you take away from each book? Why do you think each book was banned? How would you defend it to its critics?
2. Reflect for a few minutes on your own beliefs about censorship. Do you think it’s ever acceptable for libraries or schools to limit or remove content that might be offensive or inappropriate to some audiences? Should there be different rules for what children and teenagers can read, or is that a decision for the parents? If you are a parent, what are your rules for what your children can read? Do a free-writing exercise using these questions to get you started.
3. What is a controversial book (on the Banned Books Week website or not) that you have always wanted to read? What about it intrigues you? Why haven’t you gotten around to reading it yet? Write a short reminder to yourself, listing all the reasons you should pick this book up at the bookstore or library the next time you go.
Which of the journaling prompts did you answer? Feel free to share your responses below!
Need some more Journaling Prompts? Here are hundreds for you to choose from.
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