Katherine Speltz is a senior at Gettysburg College, where she is pursuing a minor in Educational Studies. This past semester, she took a course called Young Adult Literature & Media, in which she and her peers worked on a semester-long project focused on a banned book. Katherine chose to research Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, one of the most frequently banned and challenged books in recent years. The project involved delving into the history of the book and examining its social context.

At the end of the semester, the class held a gallery walk where professors, librarians, and students gathered to learn about each student’s banned book campaign. Attendees then voted for the most compelling campaigns. Katherine’s argument, which asserted that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is a valuable text that should remain available for young adult readers everywhere, stood out. She was honored to be named one of the top five winners in the class. As part of this recognition, each winner received funds to donate copies of their chosen banned book to a school library.

Katherine chose to donate two full paperback sets of the Harry Potter series to Auburn Village School (AVS), where she attended from kindergarten through fifth grade (2008-2014). The AVS library was where Katherine’s love for reading first blossomed, and she wanted to give back to the community that played such a significant role in her development as a reader. Thank you, Katherine, for your thoughtful contribution!