Here’s a new and unusual gift idea for the holidays — banned books. The Hoboken Public Library has made a list of books that have been taken off the shelf at a library somewhere. Library Director Jennie Pu said this is a slippery slope.
“People see this list, we hope that it generates some curiosity too, like gosh, why was that banned,” she said. “And that’s the point, is that once someone starts to ban one thing everything else is in play.”
She said banning can boomerang. News that a book has been banned can actually have a promotional effect.
“We want to make sure that people understand that these stories need to be told and deserve to be told, and we hope they find a book that they wouldn’t have thought to read,” said Pu.
One of the books on the list: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sánchez – which tackles issues of immigrant identity and mental health. Some others are Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, and All Boys Aren’t Blue by George Johnson.
There are books about teenagers dealing with various struggles and about those who defy traditional expectations, such as Speak by Laurie Anderson, meant for teenage girls, especially those who may feel voiceless or struggle to speak up for their own safety.
Pu said the stories may be different but there are common themes.
“It’s about marginalization and erasure and ultimately it’s about others trying to control the narrative of what’s an accepted way of life, way of thinking, and way of being in this world,” she said.