Lock and Key: The Truth Behind the Book Bans

Growing up, storytime was undeniably the most exciting part of attending school. Because In-between hammering our times tables in math class and watching science videos, storytime served as an outlet of what all children craved most; an outlet itself. For each child, that “outlet” likely meant something entirely different. For some, it was simply a means of relaxing from the voracious schedule of early childhood. For others, it meant entertainment in a bleak school environment. But for myself and many others, storytime meant something relatively unique. It meant hearing stories and applying them to reality, making connections, and learning about the world and its wonders. Such deep insight often came from literature which was rich in thought and was decorated with hundreds of metaphors that accurately described the world, and more specifically America, which provided millions of children with skills and lessons that they would have otherwise had to learn by making the mistakes illustrated in books themselves. 

But now, that world is shrinking. The stories that once opened doors to new ideas, new perspectives, and new dreams are being shut out. These stories that shaped our world are being actively pulled from library shelves and classroom reading lists under the guise of “protecting” children. Yet, what these bans really protect is a narrow version of reality, one that avoids the messy truths and diverse experiences that make us who we are. While metaphors are now something that, with bitter irony, is now being turned against the children of America, it remains imperative that we can apply them to the situation at hand. To put it simply, Books are keys, and when they are banned, doors are locked away entirely. These doors lead not just to the idea of stories themselves, but rather everything that stories have to offer to the world; understanding, empathy, and freedom. Without access to diverse stories, children are left to navigate a fragmented world with limited understanding of their own identities and those of others. They lose the chance to challenge their assumptions, to feel seen, and to develop the compassion necessary for a truly democratic society.

What’s more, these bans send the chilling message that certain voices and experiences are too dangerous or uncomfortable to be heard. They teach children that some truths are inconvenient, some people less worthy, and some histories best forgotten, and while to an educated adult these ideas are easily reputable, to children, they become facts. Shielding young minds from difficult realities does not make those realities disappear. Instead, it risks creating generations ill-equipped to confront injustice, inequality, or even their own biases. George Orwell puts it best in his essay entitled ‘The Freedom of the Press’ when he states that "If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” In the United states of America, a place which claims to have a firm grip on its embodiment of liberty, we can clearly see that these book bans are representative of that liberty being slowly stripped away. The  removal of specific literature which spreads ideas that the government deems unsafe for children is in stark contrast to the core definition of liberty. Because even if some would consider certain themes in literature offensive or even disgusting, freedom of speech in America should mean that those ideas remain publicized, regardless of the fact that some people don't want to hear them.

The consequences of these bans are far-reaching. According to the American Library Association, over 1,600 books were challenged or banned in 2023 alone, many of which addressed race, LGBTQ+ identities, and social justice issues. I think that it is safe to say that these book bans aren't really about books themselves, but rather about erasing the stories of entire communities, silencing voices that are critical for fostering empathy and understanding in an increasingly diverse society. By limiting access to these stories, we risk teaching children a sanitized, incomplete version of history and culture, one that leaves them unprepared to navigate the real world. It becomes imperative that we ask ourselves how we can possibly expect the next generation to challenge injustice, to advocate for equality, or to build bridges between communities if they’ve never been exposed to those struggles and perspectives? The irony is stark: in a nation that prides itself on freedom and democracy, we are witnessing an alarming erosion of those very principles within our schools. Education should be a place where ideas flourish and critical thinking is nurtured, not where fear dictates what knowledge is permissible.

Truth be told, we owe it to ourselves and to future generations to stand against this wave of censorship. Protecting the right to read diverse and challenging literature is not a radical act, it is a defense of democracy itself. Because stories are more than just words on a page, and to know this, all you must do is remember what shaped you. Bring yourself back to your kindergarten classroom and recall the lessons you were taught through stories. So, the next time someone tells you that banning books protects children, remember this: the greatest protection we can offer young minds is the freedom to explore, to question, and to learn without limits. Books are keys that unlock doors that deserve to remain wide open, so that children may walk through them, unafraid. So that adults may continue to write them, unapologetically. And so that none of us forget what it means to live in a country where ideas are free.

Sources

Orwell, George. The Freedom of the Press. 1944. Animal Farm, Secker and Warburg, 1945. Appendix.

The impact of book banning in schools: American University. School of Education Online. (2025, February 5). https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/impact-of-book-banning/ 

American Library Association. “American Library Association Reports Record Number of Unique Book Titles Targeted for Censorship in 2023.” ALA News, 14 Mar. 2024, https://www.ala.org/news/2024/03/american-library-association-reports-record-number-unique-book-titles.