Texas librarians face harassment as they navigate book bans. Originally published in 1999, its about a towns controversy over the high schools sex ed program, and a school board member tries to get all the sex ed material, including textbooks, removed from the school. About 5% of the books banned have to do with pregnancy. Withholding information makes them less safe, not more. Rob Weiner, a popular culture librarian at Texas Tech University, said there is a long history in the U.S. of challenging and banning books. I cannot overstate what a weird, jumbled mess this list is, and after considering it seriously, I can conclusively say it should not be taken seriously. But here are some trends. ", "The Handmaid's Tale" and "1984" are both on the American Library Association's Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019online list. January 14, 2022, 8 . Some titles, such as Gender Queer, appear multiple times, having been banned from Canutillo (fifteen miles northwest of downtown El Paso) to Clear Creek, 785 miles to its east. Probably the one that has me the most stumped is Inventions and Inventors by Roger Smith from 2002. I'm done arguing with the people over whether this is fascism.". Told entirely through instant messages among three high school students, this novel has no place in schools, according to a parent in the Dallas suburb of McKinney, because it contains a "description of oral sex with minors," among other sexually explicit passages. PEN America reported in the first edition of Banned in the USA (April 2022) that book bans had occurred in 86 school districts in 26 states in the first nine months of the 2021-22 school year. This one move spurred parents to challenge and successfully remove books they believe are not appropriate and pornographic., The Keller Independent School District in Tarrant County was one of the first to successfully remove Gender Queer from school libraries after a group of moms complained it was pornographic.. Drawing from those records, below is a list of 50 books that Texas parents tried to ban in 2021. Its about curriculum. Its also irresponsible to take this information out of schools. One of the most telling titles on this list is 100 Questions Youd Never Ask Your Parents: Straight Answers To Teens Questions About Sex, Sexuality, and Health. 28. Comments. Again, I would be very surprised if any school has this book on their shelves in the first place. Lots of these books have queer side characters, not main characters. The pages brim with real-world stories of homophobia, transphobia, sexual and gender identity struggles, and the ups and downs of transitioning. Texas state Rep. Matt Krause, from Fort Worth, who chairs the Texas House's General Investigating Committee, made a 16-page list of roughly 850 book titles he said might make students feel "discomfort." Driving the news: Granbury ISD pulled at least 125 books from school libraries as part of a review and some students were furious. The report released on Monday found that school administrators in Texas have banned 801 books across 22 school districts, and 174 titles were banned at least twice between July 2021 through June 2022. And probably the bold stories featuring sexual abuse and prostitution too. Through cartoons, Art Spiegelman detailed the horrors of the Nazi invasion and Holocaust in a brazen way that wouldnt be possible in another format. City Employees Are Heading for the Exits. 3. She has nine titles on the list. This novel, which focuses on the unexplained disappearance of a Black teen, includes explicit language about sex, which was the basis for a Birdville parent's request to have it removed from school libraries. A vast majority of the books named in the state letter are about or referencesexuality, LGBTQ+ identity, and race. ", A parent in Prosper, a Dallas suburb, said this illustrated children's book, which touches on the racism that Olympian Wilma Rudolph experienced growing up in Tennessee in the 1940s, should be removed from school libraries because "it opines prejudice based on race. Sept. 19, 20225 AM Central. He believed it was disastrous to put animals and human beings on the same level, as the book does. Here is a list of banned books and how to shop. And a potpourri of other random titles, including a five-book set of The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine and Eyes on Target: Inside Stories from the Brotherhood of the U.S. Navy SEALs. Despite its somewhat grown-up themes, Lowrys Newbery Medalwinning classic is a worthy read (or listen; its available as an audiobook on Audible) for all kids. Despite the poignant themes, The Kite Runner has been banned multiple times for referencing sexual violence and promot[ing] Islam.. Jonathan Evisons 2018 novel follows Mike Muoz, a 22-year-old Mexican man who cant seem to get ahead. Here are just a few of the most frequently banned books we think everyone should read. Which, add lovable quirks and color along the way. They don't know she's queer, the student told a reporter, and given their past . "The Handmaid's Tale" was the seventh most challenged and banned book in 2019 nationally for "vulgarity and sexual overtones. What justification does Matt Krause have for libraries not being able to stock these books? This graphic novel, which the School Library Journal praised for its message "that periods need not be a dirty secret, is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. The parent claimed the book encourages "admiring people with low morals and values, and hate of other people. Hes practically penniless. First off, this isnt actually a list of 850 titles. She noted Texas public schools have clear, transparent processes approved by school boardsfor addressing book challenges. One would assume that it covers everything you want it to. But Lawn Boy offers plenty of discussion points, making it a perfect pairing for these book club questions. Thats because book banning is rarely a federal matter. T he wave of book reviews and removals that swept across Texas in the last year was driven more by politicians than parents, a Houston Chronicle analysis found . Banned Books 2022 By Itinerant Literate Books. --->Banning Increases Sales<--- Here's a List of Truly Great Books. Florida and Pennsylvania followed Texas as the states with the most bans, respectively. The books tragic ending begs the reader to answer: Would you rather be happy or free? They have the right to review all instructional materials, and state law guarantees them access to their students records and to a school principal or administrator. However, Texas parents already have the right to remove their child temporarily from a class or activity that conflicts with their religious beliefs. Aldous Huxleys 1931 dystopian book was first banned in Ireland for anti-religion, anti-family and blasphemous content, according to Carnegie Mellon Universitys Banned Books Project. Despite (and perhaps because of) these heartbreaking scenes, the book is worth a readespecially if youre starting a book club. This whimsical 1865 novel by Lewis Carroll has been adapted numerous times in literature, onstage and on screen, but its not beloved worldwide. These themesalong with some violent passagesled to the storys first banned books case in 1994. The ensuing confusionboth internal and externalresults in her being ghosted by her peers. By Meghan Mangrum. Even titles that seem downright clinical in their examination of the history of gay folks in America make the listJaime A. Sebas Gay Issues and Politics: Marriage, the Military, & Work Place Discrimination, a 64-page explanation of its eponymous topic, has been banned twice. Maya Angelous 1969 memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings unpacks the poets childhood and early years as a writer. Using racial slurs to highlight racism still means that the writer used profane, hateful language. For nonfiction, books that discuss sex or its consequences openly tend to make the listtitles include Margaret O. Hydes Safe Sex 101: An Overview for Teens, Donna Langes Taking Responsibility: A Teens Guide to Contraception and Pregnancy, and Chloe Shantz-Hilkes My Girlfriends Pregnant! Wynne Davis. By Itinerant Literate Books Banned Books 2022 "Any book worth banning is a book worth reading." . As of 2010, the book was already weighed down by 39 challenges or bans. This rapidly accelerating movement has resulted in more and more students losing access to literature that equips them to meet the challenges and complexities of democratic citizenship, Jonathan Friedman, director of PEN Americas free expression and education programs and the lead author of the report, said in a statement. Books such as Ashley Hope Prezs Out of Darkness, Jesse Andrewss Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, and Lauren Myracles l8r, g8r all appear on the list (nine, seven, and four times, respectively) for touching on sexual themes, featuring teens who talk about sex, or depicting sexual abuse. While most of these books arent likely to be in school libraries, I dont want to erase how irresponsible it is to try to take sex ed books out of school. Book Challenges. Many school curricula and parents of teens have objected to having the young adult novel "Charlie and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" available in public libraries. Mike Hixenbaugh is a senior investigativereporter for NBC News, based in Houston. Dozens of previously approved books . The graphic novel "Maus" by Art Spiegelman was banned by a school board in Tennessee. Parents, school board members and activists have all been responsible for removing some of the best books of all time from bookshelves. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Mike didnt get much in the way of education. Theres only one book each from Jennifer Dugan, Sophie Labelle, and Anna Marie McLemore, though they each write lots of LGBTQ books. Multiple incidents of book-banning in EuropeItaly, Yugoslavia and Nazi territories, specificallyfor this historical novel. Texas banned more books from school libraries this past year than any other state in the nation, targeting titles centering on race, racism, abortion and LGBTQ representation and issues, according to a new analysis by PEN America, a nonprofit organization advocating for free speech. Double your gift when you give by 6 p.m. Thursday. The fight over censorship and banned books is nothing new, but there seems to be a fresh effort to purge the shelves of so-called edgy cultural commentary (as in Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You), uncomfortable interpretations of reality (such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and the Holocaust book Maus), discussions of gender identity (as with George M. Johnsons banned book All Boys Arent Blue) and provocative stories that could lead to political questioning (The Handmaids Tale, anyone?). By Wild Geese Bookshop Banned Book List - Texas Edition. This childrens book about diversity provides readers with context for the racial tensions of today and offers hope for a more antiracist world in the future. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Well, shes got cancer. This hotly debated work of young adult fiction is written in diary form and reads as if written by a 15-year-old teen runaway on a journey to find herselfif she doesnt destroy herself first. A mysterious medical blight has rendered most women infertile. ", A parent in Denton, north of Dallas, wanted this teen romance removed from schools, arguing that it should be replaced with books "that have humor that do not promote sexual activity. Ella Scott, left, and Alyssa Hoy, co-founders of the Vandegrift High School Banned Book Club, speak at a rally for the right to read. The majority of requests Texas school librarians received were to ban materials covering issues of racism, sexuality and gender. This classic novel by the Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison should be banned from schools, according to a parent in the Fort Worth suburb of Birdville, because it includes a graphic description of rape. I went through all 850 books to find out, and I found some interesting and unsettling things. This illustrated memoir, which recounts the authors coming of age as a lesbian, is unsuitable for schools, according to a parent in Birdville, because it includes graphic descriptions of sexual violence. That may as well have been a lifetime ago, however, as the length and breadth of the list indicates. So can Mike leverage his talents for a shot at the American Dream? ", More:Texas officials to target obscene content in school libraries at governor's request. The story centers on Alices disorienting adventure down a rabbit hole and into a fantasy world of talking animals and utterly absurd events (ahem, Mad Hatter tea party). New England has been overtaken by a group of patriarchal religious fanatics. The Last Man by Brian K Vaughn is listed, which isnt a thing. Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. Reasons: Banned for graphic sex scenes, sexual abuse, drug use, and alcohol use. Of course, sometimes book banning backfires. This book, lauded for its portrayal of a transgender child, is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. One neednt be a National Book Award winner to get on the list for writing about race, eitherDuncan Tonatiuhs history book for young readers, Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Familys Fight for Desegregation, makes the list, as does Mychal Denzel Smiths memoir Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching: A Young Black Mans Education. Records requests uncovered dozens of attempts to remove library books from schools, nearly all related to titles dealing with racism, gender or sexuality. Maro Siranosians/AFP/Getty Images. So why has the book been banned, you ask? ", This young adult adaptation of "Stamped From the Beginning," Kendi's National Book Award-winning historical examination of racism, was flagged for removal by a parent in Katy, who wrote that the children's book "is littered with completely fabricated and conspiracy theory views on history" that make it seem as if "all historical events of the past were a result of racism. As the controversy around The Breakaways indicates, book-banners seem to contend that any depiction of gay or transgender charactersor nonfiction explorations of those identitiesis inherently inappropriate for kids. Theyre subjects that kids and teens are curious about, and they may not be things they feel comfortably speaking to their parents about. What makes Go Ask Alice (1971) one of the most controversial books of all time? One Amazon reviewer called this heartfelt memoir a handbook for nonbinary kids that would help them feel not so alone. We cant think of a better way to describe it. Not only is this list badly put together, with strange gaps, puzzling inclusions, and broadly applied keywords, but its goal is oppressive and dangerous. North East Independent School District in San Antonio identified 414 books in its libraries, which are included in a list of about 850 titles compiled by Texas Rep. Matt Krause. Readers seem to either love or hate the story of three awkward teens as they navigate an impossible situation. ", This acclaimed novel about an unlikely friendship between a wealthy Afghan boy and the son of his father's servant was flagged for removal by a mom in Birdville who complained that it "depicts the rape and sexual exploitation of minors.". Those in favor of banning this book cant seem to agree on a reason, though: Its been banned for being both too religious and not religious enough. series on your book ban list is sinister, and challenging 100 Questions Youd Never Ask Your Parents with the expectation that students will learn sex ed in their homes is pretty on the nose, I have to give the irony award to the inclusion of the title The Year They Burned the Books by Nancy Garden. Advocates of banning the book argue that its issues with racism and sexuality arent suitable for young readers. But in terms of sheer numbers, its LGBTQ books that make up more than half of the 850 books listed. Updated at 13:58 p.m. Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter lives in two realities: a predominantly white prep school by day, and her mostly Black, low-income neighborhood by night. (Montinique Monroe/For The . Book bans often . Mixed into bizarre listings like a collection of political essays from 2010 or a bioethics adult book from 2005 are titles that will be familiar to you. Whether its on the news or your Facebook feed, youve probably noticed comments about the rise in book banning in libraries and schools. In asking to ban this nonfiction book about resisting racism, an Eanes parent suggested replacing it with copies of the Bible. Most of the targeted books have to do with race, gender, and sexuality.Unlike most book challenges in the past, whereby parents or other stakeholders in the community would engage teachers and school administrators in a debate over a title, local groups have received support from . ", A parent in the Spring Branch ISD said this graphic novel about a Jewish teen living in France after Nazis seized power should be banned because it's "biased" and could lead to the "skewing of a young child's mind.". The report released on Monday found that school administrators in Texas have banned 801 books across 22 school districts, and 174 titles were banned at least twice between July 2021 through June 2022. The Best New Fantasy Books of July 2022By Lacy Baugher MilasJuly 1, 2022 | 11:25am; A PEN America notes, these are just the incidents that have been reported to the groupthe reality of book bans likely extends further throughout the state. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. nytimes. While readers were searching for Waldo after the book was originally published in 1987, they spotted something: a partially topless woman sunbathing in a beach scene. Though sometimes billed as a novel, this 2009 book is more of a collection of short vignettes and essays, all somewhat autobiographical portrayals of the authors time in Vietnam. The reflections on race and identity are at once funny, poignant and heart-wrenching. As you might expect, looking into 850 books took a while, so these are based on a glance at the cover and description. Book 2 and 3 of the Timekeeper series, but not book 1. "All Boys Aren't Blue," by George M. . "Each school district has its own process for challenges to books because each school district is different, and there isnt a one-size-fits-all strategy that would work across a state the size of Texas," Robinson said. Its hardly the only book about gender identity and same-sex romance to find itself banned in a Texas school or library, however. Even Bibles were written in languages that the "everyman" didn't necessarily read, which meant the church remained the ultimate source of information and authority. (Most of the formal library challenges submitted to the Keller Independent School District were filled out on behalf of parents by a school administrator and don't specify why the parents sought to have the books removed.). The lists are based on information from media stories and voluntary reports sent to OIF from communities . Despite their widespread popularity, the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling have been challenged by Christian religious leaders and groups, with some even calling them satanic. Thats because the book series centers on a young wizard and his crew of friends at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "Many of these challenges began with the titles on Rep. 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