George shot Lennie. I couldn't believe it. I sat mortified, staring at the page wondering why I had been assigned to read such a disturbing book. I looked forward to the next English lesson for the opportunity to discuss the book and understand why my teacher thought it was important for the class to read it. In the years since I read Of Mice and Men for my high school English class, I don't remember the offensive language used, or the sexual content it contained, I remember the message, the point the author was trying to make, and this it's what has stuck with me over the years. The impact that reading Of Mice and Men has had on me is not unusual, many people are influenced by what they watch, listen to and read. Many parents and guardians want to protect their children from the potentially negative influences that can be found in these various mediums. Parents have a lot of control, as they should, over what their children are exposed to. They can moderate what they watch, read and listen to at home. Outside the home, however, it becomes more difficult to control. In school, many classes, especially English classes, introduce students to books and films as part of the educational curriculum. As students get older, the reading material becomes more mature. For decades, guardians and parents have fought to keep literature they deem inappropriate out of their children's classrooms. This led to many books being banned, including Of Mice and Men. According to the American Library Association, in the last ten years – from 2000 to 2009 – 5,099 books have been challenged. http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10With so many books banned, the question arises: should we read a sensitive and controversial book... middle of the paper... happy to follow George's lead? and make a difficult but right choice? The profound impact of the literature I read was irreplaceable. I went rafting down the Mississippi River with Huckleberry Finn and learned, with him, that skin color does not make a person less important. I wandered the streets of New York with Holden Caulfield and joined him on his journey of self-discovery. I cried with George after he made the difficult decision to shoot Lennie in an attempt to save him from the cruelties of the mob. Literature teaches students how to think critically and raises awareness about racism, drugs, sexuality, and violence in a way that nothing else can. The above-mentioned characters, along with many others, invite us to join them on their journeys, and in return, they will teach us many unforgettable life lessons, and why we shouldn't accept the invitation??