"From Finding Alice to Crank: How Banning Books Hinders Our Ability to Learn and Grow"

As a book blogger and literature enthusiast, I am vehemently against the banning of books. It is a dangerous practice that undermines our fundamental right to freedom of expression and deprives us of the opportunity to explore diverse perspectives and ideas.

Living in New Zealand, I am grateful that the banning of books is not a rampant issue, as it is in many other countries. However, this is not to say that we should become complacent or turn a blind eye to the dangers of censorship. We must remain vigilant and stand up against any attempts to restrict access to information and literature.

For me, reading has always been a form of escape and a source of knowledge. Growing up in a Christian household, certain topics were considered taboo and were not discussed openly. It was through books and authors like Melody Carlson and Ellen Hopkins that I was able to find answers to some of the more challenging questions that I had about life and the world around me. Their books, such as Finding Alice, True Colours, Crank, Burned, and Impulse, tackled taboo topics head-on and helped me to understand the complexities of the human experience.

It is precisely because of books like these that I believe that banning books is not only a violation of our freedom of expression, but it also hinders our intellectual growth and deprives us of the opportunity to explore different perspectives. By exposing ourselves to a wide range of ideas and perspectives, we become more empathetic, understanding, and well-rounded individuals.

Banning books also perpetuates a dangerous culture of fear and ignorance. It suggests that we cannot trust people to make informed decisions for themselves and that certain ideas or perspectives are inherently dangerous. This is a dangerous mindset to have, as it leads to the suppression of dissenting voices and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and biases.

As someone who values the freedom to read and explore diverse ideas, I firmly believe that we must resist any attempts to limit our intellectual curiosity. We must celebrate our right to read and explore diverse ideas, and we must speak out against censorship whenever we see it.

In conclusion, I urge everyone to stand up against the banning of books and to celebrate our freedom to read and explore diverse ideas. Whether we are in New Zealand or elsewhere in the world, let us resist any attempts to limit our intellectual curiosity and remember that #SayNoToBannedBooks and #FreedomToRead are not just slogans but are fundamental principles that we must uphold in order to create a more just and equitable society.