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Description - 1984 is a dystopian book where the current world is in a totalitarian state of Oceania. Themes that frequent throughout the book are psychological manipulation, towards the people of the state and the readers, physical control over the people of the state, as well as controlling various aspects of everyday life like information, history, and technology. The communities who have banned the book range from the Soviet Union to local rural communities in some Iowa districts. The heavy social and political tellings of the book made it out to be one that’s too controversial, resulting in its ban. Even with the book being banned it’s still nationally recognized as being not only one of Orwell’s best pieces of literature but also being one that highlights flaws beautifully in our own government.

Analysis - The main argument for censoring this book is that it’s too political, too controversial, and too sexual. Many have called the book to pro-communist and wildly inappropriate. However, why so many have defended the book over the years is because not only is it anti-communist but anti-government as well. The book tries to warn readers against totalitarianism and its heavy influence on the citizens in said type of government state. An unusual standpoint that’s been made is that it’s too complex and overexaggerated but with the book being written around the end of WWI events it is a real depiction of what happens when the government has too much control over the citizens. When states like the Soviet Union or China banned the book it was because they deemed it as anti-communist. However when regions in Florida and Iowa banned the book they claimed it was pro-communist and too sexually explicit.

Interpretation - The issues with the book arose because people’s political beliefs and interpretations of social matters were being challenged and/or highlighted in an uncomfortable manner. The Soviet Union thought exposure to the book would result in the loss of trust from its people which would result in the fall of the regime. Even so, the book ban didn’t stop that from happening. When it comes to its ban in various states around the United States of America the ban seems to be more out of control rather than genuine concern. (Which is funny considering that’s something the book touches on quite well). Nonetheless, people protested and demanded the book to be banned and even with the First Amendment protections some states have granted the ban.

Evaluation - I am a personal fan of George Orwell’s works and like 1984 is nothing short of a completely accurate interpretation of societal and political stances both then and now. With the way things are going on not only politically but socially and within the climate I think literature like this is important. It expands your way of thinking as well as gives light to situations that you maybe weren’t completely aware of or even comfortable with. The ban of this book is one out of fear for lack of control and personal awareness within citizens and I think it is only fair that a kid and everyone else have the right to read it and interpret it as they please. No one should be banned from reading books just because another person didn’t like the way they interpreted it.

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Description - Looking For Alaska is about teenagers and how they handle various emotions including love, death, hurt, and grief. The novel explores themes of loss, the search for meaning, and the complexity of human relationships; especially at a young age. The issue people, mostly parents, found with the book is that it’s too sexually explicit. The book has been banned or challenged in many schools and libraries across various states in America including Pickens County Public Library (SC), Marion County High School in Lebanon (KY), Sumner County (TN) schools, and many more. Parents and local groups deem the book as too inappropriate for students and demand they be taken out of classes and off of curriculums.

Analysis - As the years went on more communities started to want Green’s book banned. It went from claims of being too sexually explicit to claims of having LGBTQIA+ content (something that could be debunked rather quickly with a simple read-through). Many defend this novel by stating its importance to highlighting humans' range of emotions when dealing with many things all at once. When dealing with trying to get this book banned, parents and other community members made it a point to highlight the sexual content within the novel as well as the consumption of drugs.

Interpretation - These issues arose because parents feel as if school isn’t a place that should teach or even show anything with even a hint of sexual content or drug use. However, these parents allow these small ticks they have with the book to completely ignore what it’s really trying to get at; that being the complexity of human relationships and emotions. I think the concern is genuine to an extent when it comes to this book solely because while parents are right that it contains sexual content and drug use amongst teenagers they fail to see that those aspects are mixed into the book for realistic purposes. I once again see no problem in expressing your dislike for something and even trying to suppress your child from reading those things. It becomes an issue, however, when you try to suppress people beyond your concern on the matter.

Evaluation - I don’t believe there is a completely wrong or right option in this book banning. While I personally believe that going to fully ban the book from certain schools is beyond what a parent should decide, I do see how some might find the context of some of the novel concerning. The only problem I have is that you shouldn’t try and limit another child's education and learning just because you don’t want it for your kid. That’s selfish beyond my understanding.