11 Banned Books by Women to Read Right Now

(Image via Balzer + Bray)

1.) The Miseducation of Cameron Post, emily m. danforth

What it’s about

In this coming-of-age novel written by emily m. danforth (who spells her name in lower-case), Cameron Post is a Montana teen who must confront both the sudden death of her parents and her emerging homosexuality. After her mother and father die in a car crash, Cameron goes to live with her conservative aunt. Said aunt is predictably unhappy to discover Cameron’s interest in girls and sends her niece to a “de-gaying” camp. Following this, The Miseducation of Cameron Post follows its protagonist’s experiences and friendships at the camp, and her continued defiance.

Why it was banned or challenged

Challengers reacted negatively to the novel’s portrayal of queer sexuality. The Cape Henlopen school board removed The Miseducation of Cameron Post from a summer reading list after board members raised concerns about profanity. Instead of reconsidering, the board eventually voted to remove the Cape Henlopen High School summer reading list entirely. They instead stuck to recommendations about the number of books students should read – one per student, or two per each honors student. A breathtakingly intellectual move, there.

Why you should read it

emily m. danforth writes in a reliably beautiful, multi-layered way that bolsters the complexity of Cameron and her situation. Again, it’s important for queer youth to see representations of themselves and to read about other queer youth in a positive light. Though Cameron’s family and community do not necessarily respect her sexuality, Cameron herself refuses to back down. As both an inspirational portrait and realistic portrayal of the situations faced by many LGBTQ+ teens, this book is invaluable.

Next: The Handmaid’s Tale, Women’s Bodies, and Donald Trump

Are there other banned books you’re planning to read this week that should be on our list? Tell us about them in the comments.