Jodi Picoult’s novel Nineteen Minutes tops PEN America list of books banned in U.S. schools
American author Jodi Picoult reflects on the irony of her novel Nineteen Minutes, once lauded and recommended for young adults, now finding itself at the top of PEN America’s list of the most banned books in U.S. schools. In a recent interview, Picoult expressed her disbelief at the drastic shift in reception for her book, which was once included in school curriculums where it is now prohibited.
On November 1, 2024, PEN America released a report detailing over 10,000 instances of book removals in the 2023-2024 academic year, a significant increase from previous years. Among the 4,200 titles affected, Canadian author Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and American Canadian author Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants were highlighted as two of the most frequently banned books in schools.
The Handmaid’s Tale paints a bleak picture of a dystopian future where women are reduced to breeding vessels, while Water for Elephants follows the story of Jacob Jankowski, a young man who joins a circus during the Great Depression. Atwood, known for her provocative storytelling, once remarked that if everyone likes a writer, they are either doing something wrong or do not truly exist.
The bans, predominantly concentrated in states like Iowa and Florida, were largely driven by legislation restricting school book selections. Florida saw the removal of around 4,500 titles, while Iowa accounted for over 3,600 banned books. Kasey Meehan, the director of PEN’s Freedom to Read program, emphasized the importance of defending the principles of public education and the freedom to read, learn, and think.
Picoult acknowledged that objections to Nineteen Minutes stemmed from a single page referencing a date rape, which some critics deemed inappropriate for young readers. Despite defending the scene as not being gratuitous or explicit, Picoult believes that the discomfort it evokes in readers may be a driving force behind the bans.
As the debate over book censorship in schools continues, authors like Picoult and Atwood remain steadfast in their commitment to challenging readers and provoking thought. The evolving landscape of literary censorship underscores the ongoing need to uphold the fundamental principles of education and intellectual freedom.
This rewritten article integrates the original content seamlessly, highlighting the evolving challenges faced by authors in navigating the complexities of book censorship.
