The ABCs of Book Banning

As "The ABCs of Book Banning" (2023 release; 27 min.) opens, we are introduced to Grace Lin, an 100 yo woman attending the Martin County School Board meeting in Florida. She reminds the School Board that her husband died in WWII fighting for our democracy and that book banning is the exact opposite of democracy. The documentary then lets kids talk....

Couple of comments: this is co-directed by the legendary former head of HBO Documentaries, Sheila Nevins. The film makers bring this hotly debated controversy by ignoring any and all adults, and instead let children do all the talking. The kids are aged 7 to 15, and lament why these books are not available in their school library. "Why is Anne Frank's Dairy banned?", laments a girl, "why ban Jewish history?" or Black history, or LGTBQ history, or any other "non-conforming" history. It will break your heart as you watch these kids express their bewilderment and frustration why these books are banned. The last word, however, 100 yo Grace Lin: "The Nazis banned books too. This is about fear of knowledge. This is about power and control." Ms. Lin hits the nail right on the head. These books are not banned "to save the children". Is there a parallel between the Nazis and today's GOP? Absolutely. Each is a party who considers anyone having a different thought, or looks/thinks/acts/is simply different to be "vermin" that must be "crushed" (Trump's words). Banning books is just one tool in the toolbox.

"The ABCs of Book Banning" has received widespread acclaim, including an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary (Short), and deservedly so. IF you have any interest in this important issue, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

I don't understand why this is even nominated by the Oscars. Disappointing. It was a highly politicized topic that is poorly introduced, partially represented, with unartful execution. A shallow, senseless propagandistic piece of self-entertainment.

Without holistically introducing the problem of "book banning" and providing scientific arguments to both sides of the problem, the film cut straight into getting some well-rounded children on footage to sway the emotionally inclined public. Nothing substantial there, barely even representational. Same with the slide-by-slide enumeration of "banned" books with some superficial quotes. It was like watching a PowerPoint. Seriously. A YouTuber can do better than this.

I sensed no scientific nor artistic spirit in this piece of slideshow of a film. The biggest failure about it as a documentary- it's neither provocative nor informative.

It's yet again one of these shamelessly partisan movies that only care about out-agreeing each other. I am not an American, not even a Westerner for that matter, but I strongly agree that any access to knowledge should never be banned. And while I might find myself on the same side as those who made this movie, I can't ignore it when you make such a hackish movie that serves as nothing more than a cheer piece for your own people. It's not going to change minds if the approach taken is as shallow as this.

I knew nothing about the 'book banning' in America prior to watching this documentary and was surprised that such a thing can even take place in a country where freedom of expression is such a cherished right. Imagine then looking into it and finding out that the 'book banning' they were screaming about is not actually 'book banning' in the traditional sense of the word, but just not including it as part of the curriculum for children. Not saying this makes it right, but there is CLEARLY a difference between that and actual book banning, and the willingness to conflate the two just speaks to the dishonesty of the film.

If I am to watch a movie that champions my side, I would want it to be as honest and sincere about its goals and offer convincing arguments to change the minds of those opposed. And that takes a lot of integrity and introspection. Imagine if the side in favor of all the book banning made a similar documentary using kids to talk about how they wouldn't want to read such and such books and therefore should be banned? Or take a single horrible sentence from each book as an example that these books deserve to not be anywhere near children? Yes, that is the exact level of simple-minded dishonesty going on here. What a shamelessly partisan movie.

I rate this highly based on the lack of coverage given elsewhere to the people affected by the far right extremist efforts to create an under-informed generation. The documentary is honest in stating that it is giving voice to the children affected by banning & restricted books.

I was moved by the words of one girl who stated it simply "Why?". As a 65 year old who benefited from a an expansive availability of books at home & through public & school libraries, I developed a love a reading. My mother never limited our choices from the books shelves. She knew that a child must be exposed to many voices in order understand themself & others.

If you want your kids to be weak, small minded, full of fear, full of hate for the "others" that are "not like them", you ban books. If you want your kids to repeat the most heinous atrocities in history, you ban the books that can teach them the lessons that need to be learned and understood. If you don't want your children to be more intelligent, more empathetic or more intuitive than you, you ban books.

This short documentary is merely putting voice to the children who are being deprived of history, biography, fantasy, imagination, other points of view, understanding your neighbor, understanding themselves. SO SCARY!!