Published in 2019, this fiction novel written by Casey McQuiston is a departure from the often very dark themes in most banned books. The book details the romance between Alex Claremont Diaz, First Son of the United States, and Prince Henry, member of the British royal family.
On one level, this novel fits the description of a young adult romance very well: the relationship, while unlikely in real life, (merely due to the protagonists’ roles in society), is satisfyingly fraught with challenges as well as tender moments, with what most romance-novel readers would consider a solid dénouement.
On a more somber level, this is an exploration of serious issues: the determination to be true to oneself; the difficulty of resisting societal pressures; the courage to set life-sustaining boundaries in the face of enormous resistance.
The book has been banned for reasons that will surprise no one: the romantic partners are gay men; there are multiple scenes of sexual activity between them; when it was adapted into an Amazon Prime movie, it was given an R rating.
Common Sense Media has deemed it appropriate for “mature young adults and beyond.”
This book is vitally eye-opening on the struggles a queer or questioning young adult faces, both internally and externally. Young adults not only should have entertaining reading material that suits their tastes; they must also have access to narratives that may help them address their personal issues.
As always, the decision of whether a minor child should read this book is a parental one. The parent knows and understands her child, his maturity level, and his ability to assess what is being detailed in the book. Your public library’s teen librarian doesn’t have that awareness of the same child, nor does the high school librarian; neither does a public library board.
Did you know that Winchester has its very own banned book club? Mason’s Banned Book Club meets at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. We are currently meeting at Gaunce’s Deli and Café. We love to have new people; come try us out!
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