With over 10,000 books banned in public schools in the last few years, and Indiana with only 18 books banned, it is rightful to question whether Warren has banned any. These are some popular books that have been banned somewhere in the country.
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” a novel by Stephen Chbosky with 85 bans, follows Charlie Kelmeckis as he makes his way through the difficulties of adolescence and adulthood. With high school, first dates, family drama, making new friends, devastating loss and young love, Charlie has a lot to deal with. This book is written as if the reader is a pen pal with Charlie. Some reasons this book was challenged are due to it being sexually explicit and having LGBTQIA+ content, while also mentioning rape, drugs and profanity.
“Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult, with 98 bans, is about the tragedy of a school shooting in a New Hampshire town where “nothing ever happens.” The daughter of the judge on the case, Josie Cormier, is supposed to be the state’s key witness, but she supposedly can't remember what happened right before her very eyes. While the trial goes on there are fault lines between the high school and community coming to the surface, destroying the closest of friendships and families. This book was challenged due to its mention on a single page that depicts a date rape and uses the anatomically correct terms for the body, not because it's about a school shooting.
“Thirteen Reasons Why,” written by Jay Asher with 76 bans, follows high schooler Clay Jensen after he comes home and finds a strange package waiting for him. Inside there are several cassette tapes recorded by a fellow classmate and his crush, Hannah Baker, who committed suicide two weeks prior. Hannah's voice tells that there are 13 reasons why she did what she did, and he's one of them. Clay spends his time pinpointing the things said in the tapes while he roams around town listening to them. With Hannah as his guide, he witnesses all of her pain, uncovering the secrets of many people in the school. This book became the third-most challenged book between 2010 and 2019. The reason for the challenge is because it addresses teen suicide, is sexually explicit, includes drugs, alcohol and smoking, and many consider it unsuitable for young adults.
With many other types of books being banned, Many schools are seeing a decline in student reading engagement. Students tend to read more when they have a free choice of what to read. While students can't read these books in some schools, most haven't banned them, and they can still be bought at bookstores.
At Warren Central High School, Principal Masimba Taylor said she doesn’t plan to ban books unless she’s forced to.
“There are certain books that will help to make [certain lessons] applicable for students and for learning, If I didn’t think that the banning of some books was more of a political thing than truly in the best interest of students, then I’d possibly have a different opinion on that.”