By Justice Emerick 

October is here— What better way is there to enjoy the countdown to Halloween than to crack open a good book? Skip the Goosebumps and jump straight into the real horrors. Something so terrifying, so ghastly, so unreasonable, and absolutely diabolical that even your parents’ elected officials are afraid: Banned Books.

Realistically speaking, ‘Banned Books’ are not scary for their label. A book that becomes banned is typically because it displays wayward ideas and behaviors, or thoughts that are not typical or traditional in value, and they will often challenge those views and require critical thinking. This includes books that represent marginalized groups, sexual content, or dystopian and authoritarian futures—like George Orwell’s 1984 and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, to name a few widely known titles that simultaneously represent all genres listed above.

Both of these books depict a future where unrestricted knowledge is a punishable offense and technology is constantly watching. It is a type of realistic horror that is perfect for a haunting read. There are books constantly being challenged and banned across the United States; luckily you can be informed through The American Library Association about what books are scary enough to shiver Big Brother’s timbers!

The American Library Association (ALA) and Banned Books Week Coalition host a yearly banned book week during October to keep people informed, as well as protect the people’s right to read. This year’s theme for Banned Book Week was “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights” (ALA). Although Banned Book Week has concluded at the Corsair’s time of release, the ALA’s website is available year-round with updated reading lists, statistics for banned books statewide, why the books are being challenged, and what you can do to help prevent censorship.

With that being said; here are some books to not only match the theme of this year’s Banned Book Week, but ones that will surely give you a fright.

1984 by George Orwell: 
1984 is set in a dystopian future led by totalitarian regimes. The story follows Winston Smith, in a totalitarian superstate called Oceania, led by the political party under the figurehead ‘Big Brother’. Winston works for the Ministry of Truth altering historical events to fit the party’s narrative. 

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury:
Fahrenheit 451 is a technological dystopian future where books are completely outlawed and any books that are found are burned by the “Firemen”. When Guy Montag, a Fire Man, finds a book amongst the ashes his choices will have dire consequences. 

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood:The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian future set in a United States that has been overtaken by a totalitarian regime. This story follows Olfred; a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, where women’s rights and bodily autonomy have been completely stripped and reduced to being used as birth chambers for the wealthy.