Why Is Nightjohn Banned In Some Schools?

2025-12-08 15:07:06 105

5 Answers

Garrett
Garrett
2025-12-09 06:07:14
Ever since I taught 'Nightjohn' in my classroom, I’ve noticed how it sparks debates even among staff. Some colleagues worry about parent complaints, but the kids? They engage deeply. Yes, it’s uncomfortable—whip scars, forced labor, the word 'nr' used historically. But discomfort isn’t a reason to ban; it’s a reason to discuss. This book shows literacy as resistance, and that’s a lesson worth fighting to keep.
Ruby
Ruby
2025-12-11 16:06:53
As a librarian, I’ve seen how 'Nightjohn' polarizes people. Some call it essential; others say it’s too much. But literature shouldn’t just comfort—it should challenge. Gary Paulsen doesn’t hold back, and that authenticity is why it’s banned. Schools often prioritize 'safe' texts, but history isn’t safe. The book’s banning reflects a bigger debate: do we trust young readers to handle hard truths? I’d argue they can, with guidance.
Elise
Elise
2025-12-11 17:13:49
From a parent's perspective, I get why some schools might hesitate with 'Nightjohn.' It’s not just the violence—it’s the emotional weight. My kid came home shaken after reading it, asking questions I wasn’t fully prepared to answer. But isn’t that the point? This book forces conversations about oppression, resilience, and the cost of freedom. Banning it misses the opportunity to teach kids why these stories matter. Sure, it’s heavy, but so was slavery. Sheltering students from that reality does them a disservice.
Maya
Maya
2025-12-12 19:42:47
Reading 'Nightjohn' felt like uncovering a hidden chapter of history. The bans baffle me—how can we criticize other countries for whitewashing their past while doing the same here? The novel’s brutality isn’t gratuitous; it’s honest. If schools remove it, they’re telling students some stories are too ugly to face. But ugly doesn’t mean unimportant. Sometimes, the hardest stories are the ones we need most.
Hope
Hope
2025-12-12 23:56:44
Nightjohn' is one of those books that really digs into the raw, unfiltered truths of American slavery, and I think that's why it makes some educators uncomfortable. The graphic depictions of violence, the use of racial slurs, and the harsh realities of slave life aren't sugarcoated—which is exactly why it's so powerful. Some schools argue it's too intense for younger readers, but honestly, that intensity is what makes it unforgettable.

I first read it in high school, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. The scene where Nightjohn teaches Sarny to read despite the brutal consequences? That stayed with me for years. Censoring this book feels like silencing those voices again, just in a different way. If we shy away from hard history, how do we learn from it?
View All Answers
Scan code to download App

Related Books

Some Other Lifetimes
Some Other Lifetimes
The story is a mixture of fantasy, a bit of comedy, unconventional romance, and addressing issues that people encounter everyday rolled into one. This ought to leave meaningful lessons about love, one's existence, new beginnings , and dealing with the different nuances of life.
Not enough ratings
30 Chapters
Why Mr CEO, Why Me
Why Mr CEO, Why Me
She came to Australia from India to achieve her dreams, but an innocent visit to the notorious kings street in Sydney changed her life. From an international exchange student/intern (in a small local company) to Madam of Chen's family, one of the most powerful families in the world, her life took a 180-degree turn. She couldn’t believe how her fate got twisted this way with the most dangerous and noble man, who until now was resistant to the women. The key thing was that she was not very keen to the change her life like this. Even when she was rotten spoiled by him, she was still not ready to accept her identity as the wife of this ridiculously man.
9.7
62 Chapters
WHY ME
WHY ME
Eighteen-year-old Ayesha dreams of pursuing her education and building a life on her own terms. But when her traditional family arranges her marriage to Arman, the eldest son of a wealthy and influential family, her world is turned upside down. Stripped of her independence and into a household where she is treated as an outsider, Ayesha quickly learns that her worth is seen only in terms of what she can provide—not who she is. Arman, cold and distant, seems to care little for her struggles, and his family spares no opportunity to remind Ayesha of her "place." Despite their cruelty, she refuses to be crushed. With courage and determination, Ayesha begins to carve out her own identity, even in the face of hostility. As tensions rise and secrets within the household come to light, Ayesha is faced with a choice: remain trapped in a marriage that diminishes her, or fight for the freedom and self-respect she deserves. Along the way, she discovers that strength can be found in the most unexpected places—and that love, even in its most fragile form, can transform and heal. Why Me is a heart-wrenching story of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of standing up for oneself, set against the backdrop of tradition and societal expectations. is a poignant and powerful exploration of resilience, identity, and the battle for autonomy. Set against the backdrop of tradition and societal expectations, it is a moving story of finding hope, strength, and love in the darkest of times.But at the end she will find LOVE.
Not enough ratings
160 Chapters
Why Me?
Why Me?
Why Me? Have you ever questioned this yourself? Bullying -> Love -> Hatred -> Romance -> Friendship -> Harassment -> Revenge -> Forgiving -> ... The story is about a girl who is oversized or fat. She rarely has any friends. She goes through lots of hardships in her life, be in her family or school or high school or her love life. The story starts from her school life and it goes on. But with all those hardships, will she give up? Or will she be able to survive and make herself stronger? Will she be able to make friends? Will she get love? <<…So, I was swayed for a moment." His words were like bullets piercing my heart. I still could not believe what he was saying, I grabbed his shirt and asked with tears in my eyes, "What about the time... the time we spent together? What about everything we did together? What about…" He interrupted me as he made his shirt free from my hand looked at the side she was and said, "It was a time pass for me. Just look at her and look at yourself in the mirror. I love her. I missed her. I did not feel anything for you. I just played with you. Do you think a fatty like you deserves me? Ha-ha, did you really think I loved a hippo like you? ">> P.S.> The cover's original does not belong to me.
10
107 Chapters
Some People Are Meant to Be Forgotten
Some People Are Meant to Be Forgotten
I sustain brain damage from a car crash and end up with a memory akin to a goldfish. However, I remember my feelings for Caleb Warner for seven whole years. Things change when he abandons me on a mountain top after losing a bet with someone. He sneers and says, "Write this in your journal, Sadie. Consider it a lesson learned." It's wintertime, and it's freezing on top of the mountain. I almost die there. I later destroy everything that has to do with Caleb and allow my memories of him to disappear from my mind. … One night, someone by the name of Caleb Warner calls me. My boyfriend jealously pulls me close and asks, "Who's this?" I shake my head dazedly. "I don't know." The person on the other end of the line loses it when he hears my answer.
12 Chapters
The General Craves Some Meat
The General Craves Some Meat
Xue Han, a fierce general who loves his peace more than anything, hates loud people the most. He is feared throughout the capital for he was appointed General when he was barely eighteen years old. He has never lost a battle since then. One day he falls in love with the Cheng siblings who are very close to each other and love one another the most. Would his love for these two cause trouble for these siblings or will it bring the two closer to one another?
10
13 Chapters

Related Questions

What Is The Main Theme Of Nightjohn?

5 Answers2025-12-08 07:04:05
Gary Paulsen's 'Nightjohn' hits hard with its unflinching portrayal of slavery’s brutality, but its core theme isn’t just suffering—it’s the radical power of literacy as resistance. Sarny’s journey from ignorance to understanding mirrors the way knowledge becomes a weapon against oppression. Nightjohn himself risks everything to teach her, embodying the idea that freedom starts in the mind long before it reaches the body. The book doesn’t sugarcoat the cost; whippings and trauma are vivid, but they underscore why literacy was forbidden. Slave owners feared educated minds because they could imagine liberation. That tension—between the danger of learning and the desperation for it—gives the story its raw urgency. It’s a reminder that some freedoms are stolen quietly, through denial of education, and reclaimed just as quietly, one written word at a time.
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status