Ban This Book

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What is “censorship”? Why do some people believe it is a good thing, and why do other people think it is a bad thing?

Teaching Suggestion: In Ban This Book, Amy Anne battles against censorship in the form of book banning. Students may have a basic understanding of what censorship is, but they are likely to be confused about the finer points. The resources listed below offer a clear definition of censorship appropriate for student viewing and a balanced overview of the debate surrounding this issue. If your students do not have a great deal of background information to bring to this prompt, you might consider showing them the video and then offering some helpful ideas from your own knowledge as they discuss the pros and cons of censorship.

• This 3-minute video from the American Library Association offers an introduction to censorship.
• This article offers a clear overview of arguments for and against censorship. (Teacher-appropriate; not student-facing due to length and complexity. Older students, however, may benefit from reading it themselves.)

2. What does it mean to “ban” a book? What kind of people are most often affected by book bans? What are some arguments for and against book banning?

Teaching Suggestion: Students are likely familiar with their own parents making rules about what they are and are not mature enough to read. They may not realize, however, that outside social and political forces can also impact which information and ideas they can access. The first resource on the list below is one accessible to students and offers a balanced look at the issue. The two resources that follow are intended as teacher-facing resources as support for a discussion of how book bans—or a lack thereof—impact students.

• This page from ProCon.org offers insight into both sides of the book-banning argument.
• This article from the University of Southern California explores how the sponsors of book bans often misunderstand how children actually read. (Teacher-appropriate; not student-facing due to length, complexity, and content.)
• This article from Vice News discusses the impacts book bans have on various groups of young people. (Teacher-appropriate; not student-facing due to length, complexity, and content.)

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

What is your favorite movie, television show, or video game? What do you like so much about it? How would you feel if someone told you that you could never watch (or play) it again? What impact might that decision have on others?

Teaching Suggestion: Book banning is a fairly abstract issue for younger students. They are likely to have more empathy for Amy Anne’s situation, and be more invested in its resolution, if they first consider how they might feel in a similar situation. Although students may enjoy sharing their favorite movies, television shows, and games in class discussion, at least the second part of this prompt is better answered in writing. Simply hearing other students say that they would feel bad or angry if their favorite titles were censored will not create the same personal investment in the topic that actually writing out their own thoughts will provide.