Banned
Book Essay – Burned by Ellen Hopkins
There
are many reasons a book might get banned. Often, none are from a valid cause of
concern but more of a personal opinion about a book. Some of these will include
LGBTQ issues, violence, and sexual themes within the story. What is interesting
about banned books is that they are often on topics where people need to read
them more because people are usually looking for acceptance that they cannot
find in the real world. Author Ellen Hopkins has a wide variety of books on
mental health, addiction, family issues, religion, and so much more. Many of
her books are on the verge of being banned in multiple states, making them more
of a must-read. The stylized verse in the book “Burned” offers a look into the
life of a young girl named Pattyn, who is sent to live with her aunt in Nevada
because she doesn’t fit her family's religious ideals. While she is away from
home, she finds acceptance and love in not only herself but others. While this
book is banned in Idaho because of its views on the Mormon community, many Mormons
who have read it have enjoyed it. It has still been banned from libraries and
stores. With it still being well-liked, one must wonder what in particular has
made it the topic of controversy and bans.
When Ellen Hopkins was asked about her books being banned in the ACLU article called Here’s What You Lose When You Ban Books, Hopkins herself stated, “People trying to protect children and enforce parental rights more often don’t have children rather than having a “well-funded political drive” to achieve more equal rights. Further, the authors explain that the books are usually written by or have characters representing the LGBTQIA” (This is a paraphrase; Hopkins). As the article progresses, she makes the perfect statement of empathy for the ones who read her books, saying “that her goals were always to have a more comprehensive view when most people typically have a narrow-minded view. This will allow positive or negative outcomes one will face. This shows people they have a choice and how to make a more informed decision” (This is a paraphrase; Hopkins).
When
books are banned, the voices they are helping are taken away, leaving those who
need them without an outlet to turn to. Amid all the negativity from placing a
book under controversy or banning a book, we must look at the positives. There
are many quotes from unknown readers showcasing her book's importance by
stating, “Crank saved my life, opened my eyes to the world I was
exposing myself to and rapidly getting drowned in. And then, two years later,
it did the very same for my little brother. . . Thank you, Ellen, you've
touched our lives forever” (Hopkins). Though this quote is about one of
her other books, the effect her books have had on people is still the same:
they open people to a level of understanding and hope that they have not seen
before.
Even
when opening the first page of “Burned,” anyone struggling with Hopkins's words
feels accepted and understood. The first stanza has a realistic view of life
and growing up; in her words, she expresses the characters' frustration with
living with their parents and not having the freedom they desire. Her writing
promotes a sense of growing up and all the small details that come with it. Feeling
frustrated and alone is a common theme in Hopkins's writing, which is why it
appeals to many people. Her ability to talk about things seen as complex
subjects and make them a part of everyone is a rare gift, but this often makes
those books easier to ban and more accessible to have issues with.
As
recently as February 2024, Hopkins's “Tricks” was banned again in Buncombe
County, North Carolina, joining five other books, including “Burned.” Many
of the parents were venting their frustrations, saying the “Crank” is “filth in
poetic form,” with other parents going further and saying that her writing
exposes young adults to unhealthy sexual relationships. Much of Ellen Hopkins's
writing focuses on the realism of life and how it doesn’t work out perfectly
for everyone. Many of her books are personal, real-life journeys of Ellen
Hopkin’s family. “Crank” is about her daughter and the real-life struggles with
addiction she watched her go through, and “Burned” is about a Mormon girl from
whom Hopkins visited and gained inspiration.
Banned
books will always exist, but the hope is that they will become less common over
time. It’s important to look at why a book is under scrutiny or has the
potential of being banned. The article Book Banning from The Free Speech
Center by Susan Webb has a very sound take, stating that fear might be the
biggest instigator in book banning by further citing how “book banning is
becoming a very known thing in the United States and children’s literature is
always the focal point. This is because the people advocating worry that the
children reading will be swayed by the contents, which could have potentially
dangerous consequences” (This is a paraphrase; Webb). Books on controversial
topics should be welcomed and not be feared. People should be more upfront
about the issues within these banned books, as banning them won’t make those
sensitive topics disappear anytime soon.
Citations
Page
Black,
Mitchell. “Buncombe County Schools Board Bans NYT Bestselling Book; Which One?”
The Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville Citizen-Times, 20 Feb. 2024,
www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2024/02/20/buncombe-county-board-of-education-bans-nyt-bestselling-book/72662699007/.
Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Hopkins, Ellen.
“Here’s What You Lose When You Ban My Books .” ACLU of South Carolina,
5 Dec. 2023, www.aclusc.org/en/news/heres-what-you-lose-when-you-ban-my-books.
Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Hopkins, Ellen, and Laura Flanagan. Burned.
HighBridge Co., 2009.
Staff, NCAC.
“Kids’ Right to Read Project Interview with Ellen Hopkins, Author of The Banned
Book Week Manifesto.” National Coalition Against Censorship, 15 Jan.
2016,
ncac.org/incident/kids-right-to-read-project-interview-with-ellen-hopkins-author-of-the-banned-book-week
manifesto#:~:text=My%20book%20Burned%20had%20been,including%20stores%20and%20libraries%20%E2%80%93%20everywhere.
Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
