Malverne students fight against banning books

On Oct. 2, Malverne High School students participated in an interactive lesson that shined a light on their favorite childhood books that are currently at risk of being banned at schools and libraries across the United States.

During the presentation led by librarian Jacinta Bowman, the students learned that books including Barbara Park’s “Junie B. Jones” series and classics like “Hansel and Gretel” and “Charlotte’s Web” are under threat. The students each selected a book, researched the motives for the bans and presented to the group their opinion on whether the book ban was warranted and why.

The students expressed disagreement over the bans with many suggesting that the decision on what to read should be left to families and that the books should remain available to those who wish to read them.

Banned Books Week is an annual event sponsored by the American Library Association that celebrates the freedom to seek and to express ideas and draws national attention to the harms of censorship.