Book bans have been on the rise over the last few years in the United States, particularly in schools and libraries. Although the types of books being targeted might change over time, with LGBTQ+ books being heavily featured today, it’s always surprising to see what popular titles have made the list. For instance, the Harry Potter series doesn’t even make the top ten most challenged books these days, but it has faced its fair share of scrutiny since it was released in 1997 and has been frequently challenged in the decades that followed.According to the American Library Association, Harry Potter was among the most challenged books in the country in 2001, 2002, 2003 and as recently as 2019. These efforts haven’t all been successful, but the fact that they continue to happen is a testament to the fantasy series’ lasting impact. While feelings on the franchise have shifted alongside public opinion of author J.K. Rowling, the groups attempting to ban the books have largely stayed the same. Those who disagree with Rowling’s views on trans people have opted to view the books through a more critical lens rather than banning them. Conversely, the ones who still try to ban the books altogether have done so for the same reasons posited by early disparagers.Ever since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was published, select religious groups, especially conservative evangelical Christians but also some Catholics and Muslims, have criticized the book for its depiction of magic. Those who challenge the series often claim that it promotes witchcraft, the occult, Satanism and paganism, which conflict with their own faiths. In one case, a parent even suggested that the series was encouraging kids to convert to the Wicca religion. Wiccan practitioners and scholars have denounced this, explaining that the series’ magic bears little resemblance to actual Wiccan rituals and beliefs. Others have alleged that the spells in Harry Potter are real incantations rather than fictitious creations of the author. The series has also been subject to at least six book burnings in the US.RELATED: Why Fans Take Issue With the Name ‘Cho Chang’ in Harry Potter
Book bans have been on the rise over the last few years in the United States, particularly in schools and libraries. Although the types of books being targeted might change over time, with LGBTQ+ books being heavily featured today, it’s always surprising to see what popular titles have made the list. For instance, the Harry Potter series doesn’t even make the top ten most challenged books these days, but it has faced its fair share of scrutiny since it was released in 1997 and has been frequently challenged in the decades that followed.
According to the American Library Association, Harry Potter was among the most challenged books in the country in 2001, 2002, 2003 and as recently as 2019. These efforts haven’t all been successful, but the fact that they continue to happen is a testament to the fantasy series’ lasting impact. While feelings on the franchise have shifted alongside public opinion of author J.K. Rowling, the groups attempting to ban the books have largely stayed the same. Those who disagree with Rowling’s views on trans people have opted to view the books through a more critical lens rather than banning them. Conversely, the ones who still try to ban the books altogether have done so for the same reasons posited by early disparagers.
Ever since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was published, select religious groups, especially conservative evangelical Christians but also some Catholics and Muslims, have criticized the book for its depiction of magic. Those who challenge the series often claim that it promotes witchcraft, the occult, Satanism and paganism, which conflict with their own faiths. In one case, a parent even suggested that the series was encouraging kids to convert to the Wicca religion. Wiccan practitioners and scholars have denounced this, explaining that the series’ magic bears little resemblance to actual Wiccan rituals and beliefs. Others have alleged that the spells in Harry Potter are real incantations rather than fictitious creations of the author. The series has also been subject to at least six book burnings in the US.
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