Book Bans Inch Closer to Home

By Rachel Nadelmann ‘25
What if you were at your school library and asked to check out a copy of the Bible and the librarian responded that a community member had requested that it be taken off the shelves and banned? Or perhaps the public library in your town banned your favorite book about a pioneer in the women's rights movement? You might think this is improbable, but it is now the reality in states not very far from New Jersey. 

The State of Florida recently passed a law allowing any resident to challenge the appropriateness of certain books circulating in a public school library or assigned for a class syllabus. The book would be removed until evaluated by the school board. This means that anyone, a parent or even just a local member of the community can suggest a book ban. Such challenges limit and strike at the heart of educational inquiry and freedom of thought. 
    Many of the books that students here, at Golda Och Academy, have read are among those that have been challenged or banned in Florida, with individuals in several counties challenging the appropriateness of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” and William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies.”
Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which some of Golda Ochs' sophomores read just a few months ago, has recently been banned from Florida as it discussed reproductive rights and feminism, and criticized fundamentalism. In fact, this ongoing ban on books parallels Atwood’s dystopian novel in that the 
​government suppresses people who speak out against it.
“One of the most frightening aspects of The Handmaid’s Tale is that, according to Atwood, nothing in the book is made up — every law in Gilead has been practiced at some point in human history,” said sophomore Shayne Cytrynbaum. “And I do not think it is hyperbole anymore to suggest that these extremist governors, such as DeSantis in Florida, are inching us closer toward a Gilead-style future when they repeat these historic attacks on women, LGBTQ+ people and people of color. As these states start banning books and restricting the ability to teach about past injustices, society will be doomed to repeat the same cycle of injustices, bringing us closer to the synthesis of injustices found in Gilead.” 
Beyond depriving students of a broad and multi-perspective education, the practice of silencing authors and their stance on societal issues is weakening America’s democracy. 
Governor DeSantis recently banned two books about famous baseball players Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente. There has not been an official reason given as to why these two books were banned, but it is largely speculated that they were banned because of their focus on racial issues. DeSantis and many others are constantly attempting to silence the voices that question problems in today's world. 
Author Jodi Picoult has witnessed 20 of her books pulled off the shelves of public schools in Martin County, Florida. Interestingly, only one parent, who has never even read the novels, is behind the campaign to outlaw all 20 books. She claims that she wants the books removed because they are “adult romance;” however, Picoult does not write adult romance novels. In reality, it is more likely that the parent wants the books banned because of the topics Picoult writes about including gun laws, women's reproductive health rights, gay rights and political movements. 
    The banning of books and a general disdain for knowledge is, unfortunately, happening with frightful frequency in the United States. One could even go so far as to suggest that the banning of books today is eerily reminiscent of what took place in Nazi Germany when books by great Jewish authors were burned. 
One may think this is solely happening in the far-off corners of Florida, but recently, the New Jersey library board has been debating whether to ban books discussing the LGBTQ+ community. Similar challenges are taking place throughout the country. Ultimately, the censorship of books is just the first step in an assault on democracy and freedom of thought.