The Banned Book List: A Censorship of Education

By Catherine Polatidis '26

The Banned Book List is a carefully curated catalog of books that are outlawed in American public schools across the 50 states. Currently, this list totals more than 16,000 works, sensoring youth’s access to education and classic literature. As a country that champions its freedom of speech and liberty, many consider the United States book ban ironic and backwards-thinking, labeling it as censorship and restricting access to information. 

     Currently, the Banned Book List limits access to many notable pieces of literature such as the classic To Kill a Mockingbird, the iconic The Color Purple, and the uncanny The Handmaid’s Tale. Many of these books were deemed too controversial or inappropriate for children and young adults. Although protecting the youth from egregious information is an important responsibility of our government, our democracy is threatened by the censorship of harmless literature.

      Individuals are especially anxious about the banning of books that speak on oppressive regimes and governments. Books such as 1984 focusing on a totalitarian government where people are controlled, Fahrenheit 451 about a society where all books are censored and burned, or the autobiography Anne Frank detailing a young Jewish girl’s life under the Nazi Regime have all been banned from many American public schools. 

          Specifically, districts in the south are notably more affected by book bans while more liberal northern districts tend to allow access to all literature. In New York City, we

are fortunate enough to have a very limited interest in book banning. New York is home to book stores dedicated to featuring banned books on their shelves along with public libraries that hold events on banned books. I personally work at the Brooklyn Public Library where a huge banner is displayed voicing our acceptance of all literature and dismay at book censorship.

As a nation that’s founding principles are freedom of speech, access to information, and equality, the Banned Book List raises alarm for our democracy's future and our country’s underlying respect for our education.

All Photos Courtesy of Catherine Polatidis

Sources: pen.org and nytimes.com

Edited by Mikaila Rivas '26, Catherine Polatidis '26 and Ms. Brilliant

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