Banned Books: Once Discouraged, Now Celebrated

By Shreya Rohatgi

In mid-September, Owasso High School’s librarian, Melinda Gallagher, aimed to promote reading by highlighting books that have sparked controversy across the nation. These so-called ‘banned books’ range from the classics like The Adventures of HuckleBerry Finn to modern day novels like the Harry Potter series. But what qualifies these books as banned? 

In an interview with Mrs. Gallagher, she mentions that these books are sent in to the American Library Association from various people (of different origins) who have issues with topics in a book. “Typically, it is a parent or a teacher that says ‘this book is disgusting because it has sex or something else I don’t want my kid to read about.’” She explains that, though the parents have the right to control what their child reads, they don’t have the right to limit everyone else’s access to books. 

One of the most prominent examples is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This novel has been challenged several times because of its language, yet it’s still commonly taught in our current education systems. In response to this, Mrs. Gallagher states, “You have to remember the time period in which it was written. It was a different atmosphere, and authors used that language to achieve an authentic time and setting.” She continues to express that the classics still portray many life lessons despite the severity of the language in today’s climate. Mrs. Gallagher also mentions that we shouldn’t restructure our core curriculum around a few opinionated beliefs. 

“I believe everyone has the right to choose what they want to read.” If this is so, wouldn’t the act of implementing a Banned Books Week make the situation a bit ironic? Well, at the high school, no books are truly banned. This week simply serves as a time to highlight our unrestricted access on whatever reading material we desire. She also goes on to explain, “It gets kids interested if you say this book used to be banned, but overall, it opens a dialogue that we all have the right to choose.” Having these books on display means that more students will not only be drawn to the story written between the covers, but potentially spark a conversation with their peers about what they have been reading.