Argument Essay Draft #1

Today, many parents are complaining about their teens reading inappropriate books in School Libraries. They think that some of these books do not portray a good message to their children. One of the Young-Adult books multiple parents are trying to ban is “Rage” written by Jackie Morse Kessler. Parents are afraid that the protagonist may influence teens to consider self-harm as an option when they are facing emotional problems. As a teenager myself, I feel that some Young-Adult books such as “Thirteen Reasons Why” written by Jay Asher should not be banned from the eighth grade library because banning books makes readers more interested in reading them, and this book can help readers with their problems.

Many parents want to ban most Young-Adult books from school Libraries, but they do not realize that that does not stop a child from reading it. In the article “Banned Books We Have Loved”, Meade, an author quotes, “I honestly don’t think that banning a book ruins it’s reputation or makes children afraid to read it. In fact, the opposite will happen.” In fact, teens read these “dark books” because they are driven by the social dealings between people. They also enjoy reading them because Young-Adult books that are either forbidden or cause great horror are appealing to teens.

What people fail to realize is that allowing teens to read these Young-Adult books can actually help them. In the article “Darkness Too Visible” it reads, “These books can help comfort a teen through emotional times because they can relate to the protagonist. This can help them to eventually manage their emotional problems that they are dealing with.” In a second article “Banned Books We Have Loved”, it talks about how even though some of the classic books may have inappropriate content, they shouldn’t ban them because they actually teach them something.

In the book “Thirteen Reasons Why”, written by Jay Asher, on page one hundred seventy three, the protagonist Hannah says, “Or maybe I wanted someone to point a finger at me and say, ‘Hannah. Are you thinking about killing yourself? Please don’t do that, Hannah. Please?’ But deep down, the truth was that the only person saying that was me. Deep down those were my thoughts.” Here, Hannah is silently reaching out for a cry for help. This book can teach teens what a suicidal person is thinking, and how to consult someone who is thinking about suicide.

Parents need to realize that Young-Adult books aren’t as dark as they seem. Sometimes a book’s blurb makes the book seem more cruel or inappropriate than what it actually is. “Most of the Young-Adult books are leavened by it’s redemptive endings.” quotes the article “Teen Fiction Plots Are Darker And Starker”. A second protagonist from “Thirteen Reasons Why” written by Jay Asher on page two hundred seventeen says, “How many times after the party did I stand right here, when Hannah was alive, thinking my chances with her were over? Thinking I said or did something wrong. Too afraid to talk to her again. Too afraid to try. And then, when she died, my chances disappeared forever.” This is also another example of how teens can relate to a Young-Adult book. It can help them deal with losing someone important to them in their life because the protagonist was going through the same thing in the story.

Hopefully the DOE doesn’t go through with banning “Thirteen Reasons Why”, or Young-Adult books from School Libraries. It will do nothing to stop teens from reading them. I know that if most Young-Adult books are banned teens, including myself, won’t have anyone to relate to them when they are going through emotional problems. This might lead to a more severe illness.