That time my high school library pulled 'Slaughterhouse-Five' got me fired up as a kid

Back in 2005 when I was 15, my school librarian in Toledo quietly took Vonnegut off the shelf because a parent complained about the war language. I didn't think much of it then, I just grabbed something else and moved on. Now I run into that same ban cropping up in different towns every few years, and it bugs me how easily we let one person decide what 500 kids can read. Last month I saw a local bookshop in Cleveland hosting a banned book night, and it hit me how much has changed since I was a kid. I actually went and bought a copy of 'Slaughterhouse-Five' for my nephew just to pass it along. Has anyone else seen their old school or local library quietly remove a book without telling anyone?

2 comments

2 Comments

palmer.zara4d ago

My local library had a parent complaint once and I just checked out the book myself to keep it in circulation.

ryang774d ago

Wait, someone actually complained about a book at your library? That's wild - I can't believe people still do that in this day and age.