Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Young Adult Literature: Ethics, Evils, And The Ever-Present Question Of Censorship, Alexandria K. Mintah

Exigence

This paper explores censorship in regard to young adult (YA) literature, examining the reasons why YA is often censored and how such censored content relates to the mental capabilities and emotional needs of YA’s readership. The author reviews the arguments of both supporters and opponents of censored YA: supporters cite intellectual freedom and adolescent need, claiming the First Amendment protects adolescents’ right to read and that YA books are too valuable to teens’ development to be confiscated. Critics state that YA has become toxic, full of explicit evil, and is therefore unsuitable for adolescent consumption. The author concludes that complete …