Summer reading in the era of book bans

Summer is the perfect time to dive into a good book for learning or pure pleasure. Although there are plenty of options to choose from, schools and libraries across the country, including Massachusetts, are facing a historic level of requests to ban books.

The American Library Association says just over 2,500 titles were targeted for censorship last year, with the majority of those books written by or about members of the LGBTQ+ community and people of color.

Boston Globe culture columnist Jeneé Osterheldt told Greater Boston the concept of banning books and preventing young people from gaining knowledge is irresponsible but expected in this country.

“This is a country that has been bent on indoctrinating people into a certain way of thinking and kind of forcing a certain narrative onto people and stripping people of their truth and of their history and also of their imagination,” said Osterheldt. “Because if you can control the imagination, you can deny people of hope and a graciousness to challenge systems.”

The first book banned in the U.S. was in Massachusetts. Thomas Morton's 1637 book "New English Canaan" mocked the Puritans, who subsequently banned it. Since then, censorship has been present in this country.

Osterheldt said Toni Morrison’s books are often the target of book bans, with “The Bluest Eye” and “Beloved” frequently removed from school and library shelves.

“The attack against the book 'All Boys Aren't Blue' is about controlling the queer community. Certain books you see readily challenged and it’s an attack on freedoms, period,” said Osterheldt. "I feel like when you hear this negative discourse in the media about book bans and reading, it has kind of discouraged kids to some degree.”

But, young people are voracious readers, said Frank Wilkins, the associate director of online operations for the youth empowerment program More Than Words. The Boston area nonprofit helps youth between ages 16 to 24 take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business — and that business is a bookstore.

“To see people getting encouraged about reading, about being around books and going through books every day, to see their interest piqued, it's a beautiful thing,” said Wilkins.

WATCH: Summer reading in the book ban era