I am truly flabbergasted by how many people in various American states, cities, and school districts are trying to ban books. As near as I can tell, these people believe they need to protect children from learning about basic ideas such as racial disparity, gender differences, climate change, sex, and certain facts of history. These adults seem to believe that particular books will have a corrupting effect on kids. (It bears mentioning that many of these people haven’t even read the books they are working to ban.) So it goes.
Of course, many of these same adults have no problem with letting their children be exposed to abhorrent violence and exploitative sex in video games and movies. So it goes. The ’tween and teen years are some of the toughest ages for kids. In 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 14, according to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Kids need to know that they are not alone, that we’re all “different.” They need to see themselves in literature. They need answers to the burning questions that they are too uncomfortable to ask, or that the adults in their lives are too embarrassed to answer. They need to be able to choose for themselves the books that can help them make sense of the storm of emotions they are experiencing and the changes they are going through. I believe that education and knowledge are always appropriate and vital to the development of our youth. Without access to accurate and relevant information, how can we expect our youth to grow up to be healthy individuals and empowered, informed citizens? It is essential for kids to have access to the books they deem necessary. This is why we are creating Banned Books for All. Our goal is to make banned books available to minors ages 12 to 17 who ask—free and without limit, anywhere in the U.S. We will start with ebooks. If there is demand and support from the giving community we will expand to offering print books and, maybe, audiobooks. I hope you support this goal, by word, and deed. We are not yet able to accept financial donations. Keep checking back here: As soon as we can, you’ll see it here first! I believe that this is the right thing to do. I hope you accept the challenge to join me, and do the right thing, too.
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