Guess what? It’s Banned Books Week, an event sponsored by the American Library Association to highlight the importance of free and open access to information. The ALA wants to make sure that you know that people and organizations still try to restrict access to books, and that book lovers must fight censorship and protect the freedom to read.
My word today honors Banned Books Week. If you like learning about words, visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion for Wondrous Words Wednesday. You can comment on other people’s words and add your own in a blog post.
Censor \ˈsen(t)-sər\ from Latin, Roman magistrate, from censēre to give as one’s opinion, assess
- A person who supervises conduct and morals: as
- an official who examines materials (as publications or films) for objectionable matter
- an official (as in time of war) who reads communications (as letters) and deletes material considered sensitive or harmful
- one of two magistrates of early Rome acting as census takers, assessors, and inspectors of morals and conduct
- a hypothetical psychic agency that represses unacceptable notions before they reach consciousness
Censorship
- the institution, system, or practice of censoring
The photo above comes from the novel All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. It’s a letter written by young Werner, a German student at a prestigious school supported by the Nazis. It’s a work of fiction, but let it be a bold reminder that we do not want to practice what Nazis did.
Word Nerd Workout
Tell me what you think about banning books, and if you think it qualifies as censorship. I’m a conservative mother, and I’ve banned books from my children’s eyes, but I would never try to take books out of a library. Where do you stand?
More workouts
- For more information about Banned Books Week and frequently challenged books, visit the American Library Association website.
- For more posts about Banned Books Week, visit Sheila at Book Journey. She’s sharing Banned Book Posts and highlighting giveaways all week.
- Come back here on Friday to read my post Five Things You Need to Know About Banned Books – I’ll be giving away my own prize – a Barnes and Noble gift card so that you can purchase and read a book that has been banned.
- See a list of the most frequently banned/ challenged classics. (Includes To Kill a Mockingbird!!!)
- Read a review of a banned book featured on Diary of a Word Nerd:
Don’t forget to visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion.
Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!
I do like to review what my kids read beforehand to make sure it’s age-appropriate.
As an aside, I met an author once who loved being on the banned books list. She thought it meant that her works had something really interesting to say–and it boosted her sales sometimes.
Jen, I like to review what my kids read too. That’s just good parenting. And, what a cool perspective on making “the banned books list”. Thanks for sharing.
Books and censorship 🙁 … it just shouldn’t happen. It should be about choice! People can choose to read or not read a book, but don’t take that choice away from me or mine. I guess books are a little like movies, would I show an R 18+ movie to a 10 year old … no, but it’s just about appropriateness isn’t it. I never prevented my boys from reading anything but can’t say they ever made terribly inappropriate choices, maybe a few not so great choices but that’s ok.
I’m almost 50 and while my parents were very, very strict, strangely books were never restricted. As a 13 year old I was reading adult fiction, very little went over my head and it’s a legacy I really appreciate from my parents.
Great post!
Great thoughts! Thanks for stopping by. 😉
This is the perfect word for this week! I never stopped my son from reading anything but I did try to dissuade him when I thought a book was inappropriate or too difficult for him. I think everyone should make appropriate decisions for their own children and only their own children.
I wrote about this in the comments at Book Journey today, also. I don’t have a problem with people monitoring their own children, but insisting that something is so horrible that NO ONE should read it or see it is crazy and un-American. As a former teacher, I was on the committee several times when parents wanted to ban a book from even being on library shelves and we never removed anything. And the book stayed on the shelves until the decision was made.
In my opinion, the words censor and censorship go together well with the practice of banning books. It’s basically one person, or a group, who believe they have the right to tell me what I can or cannot read. That doesn’t make for a free society. As you mentioned with your example of a censored letter, some people have extended censorship to include what people write, see, say and think. Obviously, I’m opposed to any of those practices with the exception of national security issues during a time of war.
On the subject of “censorship” as a parent, I think that’s a matter of making sure content, whether its books, movies, games,etc. is age appropriate. That’s just good parenting. I do believe that some parents extend that control far longer than they should. When my kids hit 12 or 13 I lifted my censorship reins. Some said that was too young, but I let them read/watch whatever. At first they had to discuss the choice with me or my husband after they were done reading/watching. We did have some discussions that were, at first, uncomfortable for them. After all, what 13 year old wants to talk about a smutty book with their mom?
Gradually, all three of my kids became very discriminating readers/viewers. Their interests are far ranging and quite eclectic. In my opinion, that’s how it should be. Let each person be their own censor.
I love this Margot! I’ve definitely been a censor for my kids. My oldest is 15, and I realize it’s time to lift the barriers, as long as we can talk about controversial material. My parents never monitored anything I read – and I read a lot- and I think I’ve turned out ok. Thanks for the support.