To the Editor:

This spring, the Newtown Board of Education proposed the removal of several books from the libraries at the middle and high schools. The books in question were graphic novels that had been approved for the libraries by trained library media specialists.

Despite this, several people, including members of the board themselves, doubted the validity of their expertise, and the opinions of the experts later brought in to review the books.

As a tenth grade student, an avid reader, a daughter of two educators, and one of the many people who spoke at the meetings, I feel as if I have a unique perspective on the issue.

My stance is firmly against these bans.

The biggest point of contention among participants in the meetings was the fact that the books being debated questioned highly conservative ideals, with one of the books being the story of a gay teenager. Deliberately trying to remove representation from marginalized groups and preventing them from finding solidarity in characters is an awful thing to do.

I chose to speak up because I believe in the power of books and words to make change. I have seen firsthand that middle and high school can be hard, especially for LGBTQ youth who are still struggling or working through their identities. This kind of representation is essential.

With the upcoming election, I think it is important to consider the issue of book bans when voting. This is not something that is going to go away because the spectacle of a big debate ends. Students deserve a board of education that gives them the support and representation they need. Please consider this issue when choosing a candidate, and remember their stance when voting in November.

Katie Lye

Newtown