Finding A Voice During Book Bans

In response to the growing number of book bans in the US – many of which we have reported on in this column – publisher Penguin Random House has launched a new competition, offering a US$10,000 prize to high school seniors planning to attend university in 2024. The prize runs alongside four other prizes, for poetry, memoir, fiction/drama and spoken word. The Freedom of Expression Prize invites teens to write about a banned book that changed their life.

“In the midst of censorship efforts, it’s crucial that we protect and celebrate freedom of expression, especially for young people whose voices we need and want to lift up now more than ever,” said Claire von Schilling, director of corporate communications and social responsibility at Penguin Random House. According to PEN America, book bans have increased in the US by 33% over the last academic year. According to the nonprofit’s recent report, the authors most frequently targeted were women, people of colour (including Asian authors), and LGBTQ+ individuals. PEN’s work specifically focuses on freedom of expression, working at the intersection of literature and human rights.

Some of the books banned in more than 20 districts include “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, “A Court of Mist” and “Fury” by Sarah J Maas, “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky. This report followed an American Library Association study which found that attempts to censor materials in school, academic and public libraries reached a record high in the first eight months of 2023.

“This year it is of particular importance that we honour diverse young voices. As book bans proliferate across the country, we celebrate the power and importance of the written word,” said Caroline Richmond, executive director of We Need Diverse Books, a non-profit that is partnering with Penguin Random House on the award. “Students today deserve to be heard. With this award we celebrate and amplify their perspectives.”

While applicants need to be seniors in US high schools, the competition web page does not indicate that these individuals need to be US citizens (https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/penguinrandomhouse/ ). So spread the word to students of your acquaintance who might be eligible. The competition does not close until January, and organisers expect to receive over 1,000 entries. The competition webpage also contains details of former winners and their work.

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