Dear Ms.Berner,
Over the past few years many people have been trying to ban book from school libraries. Personally, I believe that people should not be able to ban books in our 6th grade library.
One reason that we should not ban books from our 6th grade libraries is is because sometimes books have serious topics that can help kids. Books can help kids going through severe problems because the characters in the books are going through the same issues. These books can show students how to deal with conflicts. An article by Sherman Alexie, the author of many books including The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (which deals with issues such as rape), is about how books written with true horror some times can be the best types of books. In this article, "Why the Best Kids Books are Written in Blood," Alexie says "And now I write books for teenagers because i vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don't write to protect them , it's far to late for that. I write to give them weapons in forms of words and ideas that will help them fight their monsters," Alexie describes how books can really help kids. Like he said, we can't solve their problems but we can help them get through it by using YA books. Another author that writes about serious issues is Ellen Hopkins. She wrote the book Crank, which deals with durgs and the issues of addiction. In an article in the Huffington Post, Hopkins says, "I have received tens of thousands of messages from readers, thanking me for turning them around, giving much needed insight, even literally saving their lives." From this you recongize that books have a great impact on some, and it can be life changing, in a positive way. Also in a BCC news article discussing putting age restrictions on books called "Age Rated Books: Right or Wrong" it says,"They identify with characters who are older, and with those who are younger- the reason authors go through such trouble not to pin ages onto characters." This shows that authors purposely make their books for kids to relate to, so that they can possibly even help out a child going through traumatic obstacles in their lives. Protective parents who are trying to ban books realize how strong an impact a book can have on someone, especially if they are going the same or similar issues that are being discussed in the book.
Another reason I think the book should not be banned in the sixth grade libraries is because if we did we would be protecting the sixth graders from the issues that they're going to eventually find out about. For example in the article "Age Rated Books:right or Wrong" from a BCC News article it says "Children read up and read down. They read over and over again. They read the same book at two different ages and get something totally different out of the experience each time." Even if kids don't have prior knowledge of the topics being discussed in their books, as they read the book more then once, they start to get a better understanding. Also in the article my Sherman Alexie, he says "they are trying to protect the privileged children." He then talked about a boy in private school read his book and didn't quite comprehend at first the conflict of being sexually abused. He soon stared to understand from Alexie's book, the trouble people face day to day. Reading books can help kids understand conflicts that they may not face, but it helps them get a better depiction of it through the book, and makes it easier for them to comprehend the world around them on a more sophisacated level. It makes them learn what their peers are going through.
Although I think we shouldn't ban books in the 6th grade library, some people would argue against me. For example in the article by Meghan Cox Gordon called "Darkness to Visible" about how books are too dark for kids to be reading, she says, " 'Rage' teenage Missy's secret secret cutting turns into a nightmarish after she is the victim of a sadistic sexual prank ... Missy survives." Gordon believes "Rage", a book about a young teenager who cuts, should be on the banned book list. The thing is, a lot of people do cut, and people who might cut could read this book an possibly get faith, have someone to relate to, or even just learn how to cope with their issue. While Gordon thinks it's "gruesome", other people find it to be somewhat helpful. Another example of people who believe in banning books is Tania de Luzuriaga from the Globe Staff who writes in the article "Man from Ministry Bans Potter," that "removed the books [Harry Potter] declaring that the theme of witchcraft and sorcery are inappropriate for catholic school." People in my opinion, are overreacting. Do they think witchcraft and sorcery will influence the kids in Caltholic schools. It's a science fiction book, a story that is clearly fake. Harry Potter is one of the most popular books today, and no one should be robbed of the opportunity to read it. This is how I feel about all books.
As you can see, books shouldn't be banned from our sixth grade library. Books can help kids in many ways. 6th graders should have the chance to read the books that they want, and we should not be restricting them. Like Noam Chomsky said, "If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.”
Thank you,
Isabel Learis 811
