October 5-October 11—Banned Books Week!
“Any book worth banning is a book worth reading.”
― Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. During his lifetime, Asimov was considered one of the “Big Three” science fiction writers. While I have never read any of his books that I am aware of, I love and totally agree with this quote.
Banned Books Week is dedicated to promoting awareness of the right to freely explore ideas, and highlights the value of open access to information. This year the theme is “Censorship Is So 1984 — Read for Your Rights.” The theme is inspired by George Orwell’s “1984,” a dystopian novel (https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2025/10/05/top-10-banned-books-week/86498998007).
The Southern Bookseller Review (September 30, 2025) states: “Book challenges have been especially aggressive in South, where book banning initiatives are being “normalized” by legislation. According to the American Library Association, what used to be a complaint made by a parent, now looks more like an organized and coordinated effort. Some states, including South Carolina and Tennessee, have tried to create “no-read lists” banning specific books from public schools statewide. Recent censorship data are evidence of a well-organized movement, the goals of which include removing books about race, history, gender identity, sexuality, and reproductive health from America’s public and school libraries.” https://thesouthernbooksellerreview.org
Personally, I do not know your take on Banned Books. But as a retired teacher-librarian, I’ve never censored books checked out by students. I considered it a matter of individual discretion, except in cases where parental guidelines have been clearly communicated.
For Readers and Writers: This week, you will possibly notice book displays about Banned Books in school libraries, public libraries, and independent book stores. Take a hard look at this display and check out or purchase one or more of these books. Make your own decision. Keep control of your choices—don’t hand them over; and refuse to be a passenger in your own life!
To gain more knowledge about Banned Books, check out the following websites:
https://www.ala.org/bbooks/banned
Thanks for stopping by and I invite you to join me again as I continue to explore literacy topics. And yes I have been missing for a year and a half, but I’ll update you the next time.
I wanted to give my full attention to Banned Books today!
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Retired Teacher-Librarian
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