Get inspired by people’s reflections on the banned and challenged books that moved them, taught them, made them laugh or cry, and opened up their minds to new possibilities! Check out the reviews below and add these books to your own reading list!
Submit your own review on the Submit a Review Page!
Kahlan F (Age 15)
Title: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Review: Reading 1984 by George Orwell made me think more clearly about how governments can control people—not just through laws, but by shaping language, limiting information, and watching everything people do. The story shows how dangerous it is when no one is allowed to question authority or speak freely. What I learned from the book is that protecting truth, privacy, and open discussion matters more than we sometimes realize. If those things disappear, people can slowly lose the ability to think for themselves. It’s also pretty ironic that 1984 has been banned, since the book is literally about censorship and the dangers of controlling what people are allowed to read or say. Trying to ban it just proves the point it’s making, which is why it’s important to keep it available.
I recommend this book because of the reasons above, and additionally because of what is happening in our own country right now, with the tariffs and government control.
Anna R (Age 17)
Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Review: I loved reading this book for freshman english class. This book gives readers a look into the racism and prejudice in the antebellum south. It is sorrowful and heavy at some moments, but also shows a very sweet story of compassion and courage. The most surprising thing about this book was the parallels it draws to the justice systems today. So little has changed, and this book gives really good perspective to readers about how much progress needs to be made.
Vega Z (Age 18)
Title: The Hate U Give
Author: Angie Thomas
Review: This book was my first introduction to police brutality. It was a valuable resource in understanding how police brutality affects black people, especially children, and how important community support is to change these systems.
Julia H (Age 18)
Title: A Light in the Attic
Author: Shel Silverstein
Review: This book was a figure stone in my childhood. This poetry book by Shel Silverstein is filled with amazing poems that tackle everyday issues with imaginative and silly characters. This book helped me to want to be my authentically silly self and helped cultivate my creativity and imagination from a young age. This book made me feel like I could take on anything and taught me the importance of thinking outside the box. I think everyone should read this book if they are looking to peak your curiosity and be silly.
Brendan K (Age 24)
Title: Persepolis
Author: Marjane Satrapi
Review: This story is a moving example of the power of one individual. This book was impactful in showing me the story of a far away country about which I knew little. It opened a new history through the lens of a childhood, which was impactful in my understanding of another culture. It also introduced me to a new medium of literature, which changed the way I view literature as a whole.
Owen B (Age 24)
Title: Never Let Me Go
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Review: Never Let Me Go is one of my favorite books. The story reckons with growing up, finding your place in the world, and what it means to be human. Ishiguro’s style brings you into the characters, allowing you to understand and empathize with them in a way that is truly rare. I recommend this book to anyone who loves character-driven, dystopian, or science-fiction stories!
Dawn S (Age 55)
Title: The Bluest Eye
Author: Toni Morrison
Review: I read this book, cover to cover, on a bus trip. Toni Morrison’s writing was a revelation. The book moved me to tears; I was crying openly on the bus. I immediately had to go read all of the rest of Toni Morrison’s books. This book is tied with Faulkner’s Light in August for my favorite book ever.
Kate W (Age 55)
Title: Lawn Boy
Author: Jonathan Evison
Review: This book is set where I live–on Bainbridge Island–but it tells a story very different from mine: it follows Mike Muñoz, a young Mexican American man from a working-class background, as he navigates dead-end jobs, family struggles, and questions about his identity. It’s an important book, beautifully written; it’s both moving and funny, specific and universal. The fact that it was banned (largely because of a scene involving two children curious about their bodies) is outrageous to me. If anything, we need *more* stories that expand our understanding of what it means to chase a dream, to feel stuck, and to keep going anyway. Background on the banning
Read Banned Books 