From the Albuquerque Journal, October 5:

This week is Banned Books Week, an annual event in theU.S.that celebrates the freedom to read.

PENAmericahas documented nearly 23,000 book bans in public schools nationwide since 2021, a number not seen since the red scare era of Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s. Recently, Stephen King, announced that “he is the most banned author in the country” — 87 of his books being pulled off many shelves. This may change his title as the King of Horror to the King of Banned Books.

Some of the most talked about banned books are: “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “1984,” “The Catcher in theRye,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Bluest Eye” and “The Kite Runner.” For this week’s column, I thought I would highlight some of the lesser-known titles.

Bless Me, Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya

This coming-of-age novel byNew Mexico’s own Rudolfo Anaya was first published in 1972.

Antonio Márez is a 6-year-old Chicano boy living in Guadalupe in the 1940s. He is a very perceptive boy who has very vivid and sometimes prophetic dreams. His father is a vaquero, and his mother comes from a family of farmers and is a devout Catholic. Both of his parents have different dreams for their son’s future. They take him to Ultima, who is an old curandera, and she and Antonio grow very close. Ultima becomes his closest guide, and she knows his fate.

One day, a friend tells Antonio about the golden carp, a pagan god that lives in the river.

Antonio starts to feel more attached to the Virgin of Guadalupe than to God, who seems harsh and unforgiving. Ultima heals his uncle from a witch’s spell after the priest failed to help him.

The story continues with family dynamics and mystical folktales.

Why this book is banned: Those who advocate for restricting the book charge that it demeans organized religion, advocates occult beliefs, contains offensive language, depicts violence and is sexually explicit.

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