Description: Inspiration for this piece arrived with the news that a Tennessee school board was banning the teaching of “Maus” in its schools. The reason the school board gave for banning “Maus,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the author’s experience in the Holocaust, was that it contained swear words. The top three reasons for challenging or banning books are that the material is sexually explicit, contains offensive language or is unsuited to any age group. A generous interpretation is a desire to protect children from difficult ideas and information. I do not believe this reason. Words have power and if you look at the books that are banned, they are typically about the experiences of the LGBTQ community, minority groups, non-Christian religious groups, or women – especially women who do not conform to “traditional” social norms. Banning books is a way to silence these voices. Do not let these voices be silenced. Pick your next book from this list of banned books. * Challenge minds, not books! * Banned & Challenged Books: A website of the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom