​Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is raw, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting—a story about pain, resilience, and finding your voice. Told through letters from Celie, a young Black woman in the early 1900s South, the novel takes you through her journey of surviving abuse, forced marriage, and oppression while slowly discovering her own strength.

Celie’s life starts out brutal—she’s abused by the man she thinks is her father, married off to an even crueler man, and separated from her sister and children. But as the novel unfolds, she finds hope and power through relationships with incredible women like Shug Avery, a glamorous and free-spirited blues singer, and Sofia, who refuses to let anyone push her around. Their presence helps Celie realize she doesn’t have to be silent, and watching her transformation is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

Walker doesn’t sugarcoat anything. The novel tackles heavy issues—racism, sexism, sexual violence, and LGBTQ+ identity—with honesty. And that’s exactly why it has been banned and challenged so many times. Some people claim the content is too explicit or controversial for schools, but the reality is that The Color Purple tells stories that often get ignored or erased. It’s not just a novel; it’s a voice for people who’ve had to fight to be heard.
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Even with all the backlash, the book has remained a classic, inspiring a movie, a musical, and generations of readers. If you’re looking for a novel that’s emotional, thought-provoking, and empowering, The Color Purple is absolutely worth your time. And if a book keeps getting banned, that’s usually a sign it has something important to say.

Get the book at the library or download the audiobook or eBook.

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

​Patricia McCormick’s Sold tells the heartbreaking story of Lakshmi, a 13-year-old girl from Nepal who is unknowingly sold into human trafficking. The book is written in short, poetic vignettes that make it a fast read, but don’t be fooled—it packs an emotional punch.

McCormick doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and that’s part of what makes Sold so powerful. It’s raw, gut-wrenching, and painfully real. She did her research, interviewing survivors and aid workers, and you can feel that authenticity in every page. The book doesn’t just highlight the horrors of trafficking; it also shows incredible resilience and the fight for survival.

Unsurprisingly, Sold has been banned in many schools. Some claim it's too graphic or inappropriate for young readers, but honestly, that’s the point. Human trafficking is a harsh reality, and books like this shine a light on an issue that people often prefer to ignore. Instead of banning it, we should be talking about it.
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Yes, it’s a tough read. Yes, it will probably make you cry. But it’s also one of the most important books you’ll ever pick up. If you like stories that challenge you and open your eyes to real-world issues, Sold is absolutely worth reading.

Reserve the book at the library or get the eBook or audiobook at the library.

​Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye is a heartbreaking and powerful novel that dives deep into themes of race, beauty, and self-worth. Set in 1940s Ohio, it follows Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl who believes that having blue eyes will make her beautiful and, more importantly, loved.

Morrison’s writing is stunning—poetic, raw, and completely immersive. She doesn’t hold back in exploring tough topics like racism, trauma, child abuse, and societal neglect, making this a book that’s as thought-provoking as it is emotionally heavy. It’s not always an easy read, but it’s an important one that forces you to see the world through a different lens.
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Though The Bluest Eye has been banned in many places for its difficult themes, it remains a must-read. It’s the kind of book that sticks with you long after you’ve finished, reminding you of the power of storytelling and the importance of representation in literature.

Get the eBook or audiobook download with your SPL library card. If you prefer a physical copy, contact us and we can order one through interlibrary loan.

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian