Argument Essay: Should Access To YA Books Be Limited?

      Have you ever read a book where the character is struggling with an eating disorder? Or maybe an abusive parent? Young adult books contain any topic you can think of. Books all around are being banned for containing gruesome or mature content. Young adult books are portrayed as disturbing, explicit, and many more. But here’s what they don’t tell you about these misjudged books; they can help teens with their lives. Teens who have troubles in their rough lives can find comfort in these young adult books. Rational teens can be mature enough to grasp and understand complex texts. The content people are calling gruesome is written for a purpose. The gruesome content is written in books to help the mind develop and think profound thoughts. The books are written for educational purposes. Banning books that are meant to help the reader’s mind isn’t legitimate. Young adult books shouldn’t be banned.

     Intelligent teens can be mature enough to read and understand complex texts. Adults assume mature teens won’t be able to grasp the more perplexed ideas. In, ‘Teen Fiction Plots Are Darker and Starker’, a source states “I think adults shortchange teens and their ability to take in complicated material and make deeper connections.” Adults expectations for teens seem low considering they think teens won’t be able to interpret or infer with their own thoughts. “They’re not going to go out and do the dark things they’re reading about.” says another source. Young adult books don’t affect someone’s actions. “As kids, they want fantasy, but when they enter their teens, they want more realistic and darker books because they’re struggling with those issues and ideas,” says Shelly Wilhelm of the Bookies. The source is supporting the idea that grim content is what teens want in their lives sometimes. Young adult books are written for teen minds to start developing and having more advanced thoughts. If the books are helping teens think, why should they be banned? Would you want to ban educational elements?

    Although young adults books shouldn’t be banned; They have changed over the years and the content is clearly a topic that causes controversy. The content is obscene, disturbing, morbid and many more.Some books can even be triggering to teens if they’re too graphic. In the article, “Darkness Too Visible,” the author states, “But the calculus that many parents make is less crude than that: It has to do with a child’s happiness, moral development and tenderness of heart. Entertainment does not merely gratify taste, after all, but creates it.” This line is implying that young adult books will affect readers thoughts if teens read these lurid books. Here’s something though: These gory books can HELP teens! In the article, “Teen Fiction Plots Are Darker and Starker,” a source says, “The genre has the ability to change with the times and always seems to have a pulse on the teen heartbeat. It reflects what’s going on in their lives.” The article also states,”It takes this fearful thing and makes it approachable. Teens can explore these themes and use them to deal with issues in their own lives..” says David Levithan. The “grim” books could save a life for all you know. They shouldn’t be banned if they’re helping teens. Teens struggle but they can read young adult books to feel comfort and know that the problems they're having are normal. They aren't the only ones struggling and they should know that.

     The question still stands, do you think access to young adult books should be limited? Teens read books to feel comfort or to learn more about a certain topic. Some say they should be banned because the content is too much for teens to handle - But, here’s the thing; Yes, young adult books can be explicit, but they’re meant to educate and get teens to see deeper into a topic. Teens who aren’t ready to read more advanced books obviously shouldn’t. Young adult books should not be banned or limited because teens can be smart and make their own choices and to choose wisely about what they read; don’t you think so too?