Art Spiegelman and Margaret Atwood are among authors whose books are being removed from US schools in an unprecedented rise in censorship. The American Library Association reported over 330 unique cases of book challenges between September and November 2021, more than double the total for 2020 and nearing the pre-pandemic year's figure.
Spiegelman's Holocaust graphic novel 'Maus' was removed by a Tennessee school board over eight swearwords and nudity. After a local comics shop raised $110,000 to distribute free copies, Spiegelman said: 'You can't ban books unless you're willing to burn them.' He described the situation as 'the most Orwellian version of society I've ever lived in' and a 'culture war that's totally out of control.'
Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale' graphic novel was removed from a Texas school district in December, alongside adaptations of Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery' and Alan Moore's 'V for Vendetta'. Atwood noted the challenges stem from 'moral hysteria about the protection of children' and 'playing woke snowflakery back.'
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said the bans are 'part of a concerted effort to hold back the consequences of demographic and social change.' The ALA reported challenges predominantly target 'voices of the marginalised,' including LGBTQ+ and Black, Indigenous, and people of colour authors.
