We here at Bookstr are strong advocates for reading banned books. Oftentimes, these books contain powerful messages about race, sexuality, and gender, and are worthwhile reads for anybody looking to expand their knowledge. We’ve created a list of our team’s favorite banned books. Read on to discover them!
Kindred by Octavia Butler
I had a lucky experience with my AP English Lit class because I got to choose some of the books I read. At the beginning of the semester, we had to pick two books from a big list of classic literature. One of the books I chose was Kindred. I was drawn to Kindred because I knew Octavia Butler was a contemporary sci-fi legend and acclaimed Black author, so, of course, I had to pick it up. It was a weird read, a mix of sci-fi elements and historical fiction that captured the brutality and cruelty of a plantation. Even though it was published in the 1970s, it’s a timeless exploration of the impact of slavery and the dynamics that motivated it.
Abby Caswell, Editorial
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This book came out in 2017, but its narrative highlighting the anxieties and atrocities inflicted on the main characters seems to be even more relevant today and in the following years after its publication. Even though this is marketed as a young adult novel, I feel one can pick this book up even in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, and so on and still be engrossed in the events that transpire. And it should absolutely be a book on everyone’s to-read shelf. Literature can be a form of protest, and I feel like Angie Thomas brilliantly embraced that message within this novel.
Monica Mendez, Outreach & Editorial
1984 by George Orwell
My favorite banned book was assigned to me to read in high school, and it is an alternative history novel that describes a dystopian reality where, after a nuclear fallout as a result of World War 2, the world was controlled by totalitarian governments. The main character works for one of the governments, and his job is to rewrite history to fit the political views in favor of the government he works for. The main character grows to rebel against the government and is eventually caught and brainwashed by those in power. This book interested me as it points out the ideas of misinformation and totalitarianism, which are important concepts and realities to understand and defy. This book is graphic in its portrayal of these concepts, but I believe it illustrates the extreme realities of a tyrannical power and the anxiety that this would induce on the unfortunate people in that situation.
Louis, Graphics Intern
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
There are sadly so many banned books to choose from, and I didn’t realize some of the books I was assigned in high school and college have been banned, such as Of Mice and Men and Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, and they continue to be targeted throughout the US and other countries. But my favorite has to be The Handmaid’s Tale. The current reality we’re living in isn’t too far from becoming the plot of this book. Average women are made into Handmaids, whose sole purpose is to be baby-producing machines. This is against their will, and it takes away their autonomy and independence with an authoritarian regime forced upon them in Gilead. This is a harsh truth. But if you haven’t read the book or watched the series, I highly suggest you do because it brings to light the future of women’s rights and everything our ancestors and we have worked on toward a state of equality.
Dunia Matta, Editorial
We hope you’ve enjoyed this roundup of our favorite banned books! There is so much to learn from each of these.
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Discover more of our favorite banned books here!
