September 28- October 2 Carmel Catholic celebrated Banned Book Week, a national event organized and supported by a coalition of groups that promote the freedom of speech and the intellectual freedoms that come from being able to choose what one reads, including the American Library Association (ALA).

Carmel kicked off Banned Books Week with posters around the school that advertised banned books taught in class, as well as some that students read as independent books. These posters also linked students via QR code to the newly refreshed CCHS Crossroads Newspaper Instagram page. Once linked to the Instagram page, students and faculty could view daily posts regarding trends of banned books, history of book banning, and the implications of banning books on the reader’s ability to access information. Poll questions that students could answer about banned books were also available on Instagram and Twitter.

Additionally, Principal Huther made a video announcement promoting Banned Books Week and advocating for the access to and reading of banned books because they promote empathy, freedom, rebellion and other themes that are vital to young people who are learning about the world and their role in their community.

In recent years, the list of banned books has shifted from challenging classics commonly taught in schools to books centered around the themes of inclusiveness featuring LGBTQ+ characters, books with violent plots and characters, and books with components of magical or occult aspects.

While banning books and censorship is an ever present threat to accessing information, the shift in focus of which books are banned reflects the growing diversity of our country.

For more information on which books are commonly challenged and why, and the repercussions of suppressing literature, visit these resources:

American classics among most ‘challenged’ books of the decade in US

Banned Books

ALA releases list of Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books of the decade