Banned Books discussion
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This Week in Censorship News
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The MUSICAL is family friendly but the book is not. I wish there was a junior novel version.
[QNPoohBear wrote: "The MUSICAL is family friendly but the book is not. I wish there was a junior novel version...."Out of curiosity, at what age is book:Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West|37442] appropriate? I have not read the book nor seen the movie. I have no opinion on either until I do. The reason I ask is that you mention a junior version of a novel. That has never been something I have contemplated. It may be a good idea. Yet, I think it may also be a good idea to not expose kids to adult themes and having them wait until they are ready by allowing them access in the first place.
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I'd say 17 or 18. It was popular with 17 year olds when it first came out. Teens LOVE the musical. It's not the themes, it's just one scene that's super weird and kinky and there were other ways to get the point across. The rest is more hinted at off page. Of course parents don't want their kids reading this because... it's about a witch! Um yes the one from the Wizard of Oz which I am sure they have read and seen the 1939 movie!
Oh! I almost got my wish
Wicked: I Am Elphaba
A graphic novel for tweens and teens would work well. Gregory Maguire has a family so I'm guessing he's just not interested in writing books for tweens and teens.
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https://bookriot.com/whats-happening-...
Last week, York County Library in South Carolina released a statement across their website and social media accounts explaining due to a new proviso in the state budget, the library board would place a moratorium on purchasing any items for the collection meant for those under the age of 18.
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https://www.kcrg.com/2024/10/21/aclu-...
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https://flaglerlive.com/school-board-...
This judge has no idea what the purpose of school boards is. They're not elected to choose media for the schools. That's the job of teachers and librarians- the trained experts!
QNPoohBear wrote: "Florida school board members don’t have to testify in book ban lawsuithttps://flaglerlive.com/school-board-...
This judge has no idea what the purpose of school boards is. They're not electe..."
That is a great dodge. Instead of making those that make the decisions explain said decisions, we just not make them testify....
QNPoohBear wrote: "York County, South Carolina scary newshttps://bookriot.com/whats-happening-...
Last week, York County Library in South Carolina released a statemen..."
So they are not going to buy books for the children's portion of the public library?
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https://bookriot.com/whats-happening-...
Last week, York County Library in South Carolina ..."
https://www.yclibrary.org/?utm_source...
Now they're saying no new books with s-e-x-ual content which means anything from puberty books to young adult books with anything more than a kiss on the cheek to LGBTQ+ books probably including books like Grandad's Pride
. The rules are as clear as mud.
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Controversial book subject of renewed discussion in Oshkosh School District
https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwauke...
One YA book Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human
https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwauke...
Knox County, Tenn.
10Investigates: Are 'banned' books in KCS libraries being checked out?
https://www.wbir.com/article/news/inv...
Rockingham County Public School just banned Allegedly and Looking For Alaska from the district.
https://rocktownnow.com/news/218812-r...
Montana’s State Library Commission had a “spirited” discussion last week about the definition of young adult literature.
https://flatheadbeacon.com/2024/10/11...
The total number of books now banned in Cobb public schools is now up to 32.
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/...
Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said that six more were removed for "s-xually explicit and graphic content."
Summer of Owen Todd
More Happy Than Not
This Book Is Gay
We Know It Was You
The Sun and Her Flowers
City of Saints and Thieves
The latest list of literature will join 26 other books previously removed and no longer accessible in any Cobb County school. Those books are:
Laid
Crank
Tricks
Push
Milk and Honey
It Starts with Us
The Infinite Moment of Us
Casual Vacancy
Identical
Boys Aren't Blue
Juliet Takes a Breath
Monday's Not Coming
City of Thieves
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl
Flamer
Blankets
It Ends with Us
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Lucky
Thirteen Reasons Why
A Court of Wings and Ruin
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Frost and Starlight
A Court of Silver Flames
Iron Fire
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/...
https://flatheadbeacon.com/2024/10/11...Thanks for this link. It is actuality of trying to determine appropriateness of books for given ages.
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Yet that's already been done by the professionals trained to do just that.
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Ann Patchett and Jenna Bush Hager Talk Book Bans: ‘People Are Banning Books They Don’t Even Read’
Patchett and Bush Hager discussed the issue on on the Oct. 31 episode of the podcast ‘Open Book with Jenna’
https://people.com/ann-patchett-jenna...
QNPoohBear wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: Thanks for this link. It is actuality of trying to determine appropriateness of books for given ages.."Yet that's already been done by the professionals trained to do just that."
So only professionals should be the only people to make that decision?
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Yes of course. That's what they're trained to do. They went to graduate school, did practicums, worked and learned how to choose books for libraries. They don't just go "What looks good on Amazon?" Librarians consult professional review sources like Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, School Library Journal, Library Journal and trade catalogs. These publications carry professional reviews of the books and publishers and reviewers provide recommended age recommendations.
"Parental rights" come into play at the individual level. Parents have the right to say what their kids can and cannot read and can always opt out of certain books and lessons. That shouldn't happen, especially when kids hit their teens and need certain books which will save their lives and inform their minds but it's an option. But ONLY for their own children and NOT anyone else's children.
Special interest groups, dark money, Harlan Crow, the Koch Brothers, Elon Musk, etc. should not be allowed to dictate which books appear in libraries.
message 18:
by
QNPoohBear, Minister of the Unapproved Written Word
(last edited Nov 02, 2024 04:50PM)
(new)
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Banned in the USA: Beyond the Shelves
https://pen.org/report/beyond-the-she...
Nearly 60% of these banned titles are written for young adult audiences, and depict topics young people confront in the real world, including grief and death, experiences with substance abuse, suicide, depression and mental health concerns, and s-xual violence.
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Florida, Iowa lead nation in number of school book bans
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/...
Nov. 1 (UPI) -- More than 10,000 books were banned in public schools nationwide during the 2023-2024 school year, marking a "dramatic" 200% increase over the previous year, PEN America said Friday.
Some 43% of the book ban cases, or 4,295 bans, were instances in which books were completely prohibited from access, ineligible for either a review or for availability with newly imposed restrictions, the freedom of expression group found in its new report, Banned in the USA: Beyond the Shelves.
The instances of complete bans as a percentage of all school book bans rose 16 percentage points in 2023-24 (43%) compared to prior years (27%), the report found.
Since 2021, PEN America says it has counted close to 16,000 instances of book bans in public schools.
"This crisis is tragic for young people hungry to understand the world they live in and see their identities and experiences reflected in books," the group's Freedom to Read program director Kasey Meehan said in a statement.
"The passage of time when you're in 6th grade or 11th grade is very fast -- with much to learn about," he added "What students can read in schools provides the foundation for their lives, whether critical thinking, empathy across difference, personal well-being, or long-term success.
"The defense of the core principles of public education and the freedom to read, learn, and think is as necessary now as ever."
A new, emerging category of banned books are those that "depict topics young people confront in the real world," such as substance abuse, suicide, depression, mental health concerns and sexual violence, the group found.
Florida and Iowa led the nation in the number of school book bans. Florida prohibited more than 4,500 titles while Iowa banned more than 3,600. Across the country, 29 states and 220 public school districts issued documented bans during the 2023-2024 school year, according to the report.
The most frequently banned books were Nineteen Minutes by best-selling author Jodi Picoult, Looking for Alaska by John Green, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Sold by Patricia McCormick and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.
QNPoohBear wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "So only professionals should be the only people to make that decision."Yes of course. That's what they're trained to do. They went to graduate school, did practicums, worked an..."
So if these professionals determine that books you promote are not to be in the library based on their education and training, you are good with their decisions?
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Yes of course. That's what they're trained to do. They went to graduate school, did practicums, worked an..."
Exactly, parental rights should ONLY come into play at the individual level, period. And I would say that both regarding right wing book banning and left wing cancel culture,
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So if these professionals determine that books you promote are not to be in the library based on their education and training, you are good with their decisions?
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That isn't happening much. There are instances where librarians are removing books because of the laws in their states. They're afraid of being prosecuted when the parents complain. Everyone should simmer down and let the initial judgement of the trained professionals, many of whom are my former classmates, family friends and acquaintances and of course beloved librarians. If a book hasn't been checked out, that doesn't mean a student isn't reading it in the library on the down low. If an old book hasn't been checked out in 5 years then that's called weeding but new books published in the last 2-5 years? That's unusual though. It's the most popular books that are on the hit lists.
Not ALL librarians belong to the ALA (many are not allowed to be) and not ALL librarians believe there's a book for every reader and a reader for every book. A few teachers and librarians (mostly older) do support "age appropriate curating." Most though, are like Amanda Jones, just trying to help kids and support the freedom to read.
I don't agree with cancelling books like To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men because they're dated or Huckleberry Finn (which has been controversial since before it was published).
And yet you did not answer my question. I am not trying to antagonize you, but find out where your edges are and limits. It is one thing to say "only the professionals" and another when the very standard gets applied against you. Even if it does not happen often, it does happen for whatever reason. I have more than a few friends or spouse of friends that are school librarians and even among them, there is disagreement.I am well aware that books are being challenged and in some cases banned. I am also well aware of the laws and community pushes and why. As for the various books, unless I have personally read them, I have zero opinion on them. Since I do not allow others to dictate my opinions, it does not seem fair to me to hold an opinion on something I have not read or ve knowledge. The ones I have read, very few are worth the trouble that they seemingly cause.
Just for the record, I am only talking about public libraries and public school libraries. Private libraries and private school libraries are off my radar because one chooses to go to these places and must agree to the rules. so if given book are not allowed, that is their choice.
BTW, I do agree that kids are reading books on the down low, so much of the worry about book exposure is not really as troublesome as one would think. That is why I have mentioned more than once I do not worry about the same issues.
Something to think about, if you really want to kill book banning, have the schools teach civics again. Have the schools teach critical thinking again. Book challenging and banning is really a front in a much larger war.
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Abilene ISD superintendent supports adoption of Bluebonnet Learning with biblical references
https://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/ne...
Texas education board wants to determine school library book rating
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/sta...
Alabama where they're not content to take away all the books but now movies too.
Opinion | Disney movies latest victim in rightwing library lunacy
https://www.alreporter.com/2024/12/02...
Tennessee
Knox County schools receive list of books to ban from libraries under state law
Knox County’s board of education voted in July, passing a policy to remove “explicit” books from everyday student access.
https://www.wvlt.tv/2024/12/04/knox-c...
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https://fox40jackson.com/oklahoma-mea...
Ohio teacher sues district after she was suspended for having books in her classroom with LGBTQ+ characters.
https://thebuckeyeflame.com/2024/12/0...
Maryland’s Frontline In The National Book Ban Battle
https://thebaynet.com/marylands-front...
The Texas State Board of Education wants to take over creating ratings for books across the state public schools.
https://www.statesman.com/story/news/...
Nampa, Idaho school district just updated their library policies to make accommodations for the state’s new hateful laws. The principal will create a committee for review (normal), but the principal will be able to make the final decision.
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
Campbell County Public Library (WY) might need to stop using “liberal” professional review sources for collection development.
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
21 books were challenged in Christian County Public Library (MO). The group behind the challenges is especially hateful toward the library as a whole. Reviews of the challenged books resulted in nearly all of them being kept as-is. Two were relocated and two were removed.
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
400 books, mainly manga, banned in Knox County, Tennessee schools.
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
The Huntington Beach, California, City Council, plan to not enforce the forthcoming state law that bans book bans.
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
The conservative group America First Legal took in $80K from a fundraiser to fight its federal book ban case—the one involving Llano County Public Library—and wouldn’t you know…the county hasn’t seen any of that money.
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
The chief librarian at Goshen Library (IN) has resigned, citing harassment
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
The Fairhope Public Library (AL) board of trustees wants to give themselves more power to select the books in the library. That’s not their job, of course, nor is it their expertise. Way to support their own professionals, to boot. Moms For Liberty and the team from Clean Up Alabama are trying to take over this library.
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
The same folks tried to ban a LGBTQ+ group from participating in the town Christmas parade. A federal judge orders the town to allow the group to participate.
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
It’s America in 2024, and teachers are targeted in school board elections for using books that people who believe communists are running schools don’t like.
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
A teacher has sued New Richmond Exempted Village Board of Education after the superintendent suspended her for three days without pay for having four books in her class library with LGBTQ+ characters.
https://click.e.bookriot.com/?qs=ec75...
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https://act.commoncause.org/petitions...
President-elect Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, and Elon Musk are escalating their war on public media – threatening to slash funding for our Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
QNPoohBear wrote: "Unsurprisingly they want to cut funding to PBS. Well yes the Republicans have been trying for years. https://act.commoncause.org/petitions......"
They talk about cancel culture, but here they are trying to cancel Elmo.
I don't think it will make a difference, but I enjoyed it. Mockery might help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwlhh...
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Religious charter schools are plainly a threat to pluralistic society. But should liberals learn something from them?
https://newrepublic.com/article/16586...
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Bill to charge Ohio teachers would combat ‘obscene’ classroom books, lawmaker says
https://www.nbc4i.com/news/politics/b...
400+ LGBTQ+ Library Books Currently Blocked by Katy, Texas ISD
At least 400+ books- targeted for their LGBTQ+ content - are to remain on the shelves while they undergo internal reconsideration- and students are being denied access if they attempt to check out any of them.
https://www.txftrp.org/400_lgbtq_libr...
Florida
Kelly Jensen of BookRiot reports:
"Despite their book review committee recommending keeping these books on shelves, the Hernando County School Board of Education (FL) decided to ban The House on Mango Street, Graceling, and Real Live Boyfriends. For context, the average publication date is 2001, meaning these are even older than the “average” banned book age of 18 . In other words, it’s a moral panic that, were a real issue, would’ve been brought up in 1984 or 2008 or 2010 when the books were actually new.
https://bsky.app/profile/flfreedomrea...
the Hernando (Florida) School Board voted against their review committees to remove The House on Mango Street, Graceling, and Real Live Boyfriends.
No discussion, just a full rejection of the committee recommendations to retain the books with limits.
Hernando Chair admits she wants to stack review committees with people that hold the same viewpoints she does.
School Board Chairwoman Shannon Rodriguez, in an earlier workshop, said she wants to change the book review committees because they aren’t working.
Hernando School Board Chair only wants book banners on book review committee.
Duval asked if Rodriguez wanted different people serving on the committees after a term.
“Let me break it down in a nutshell,” Rodriguez said. “The people who chose to leave the p---graphic books in that were on that committee, that they were explicit, s---ually charged, horrible, nasty, nothing but filth. Those people I want to make sure are not sitting on our committees to continue the same problems we’ve had.”
She doesn’t believe in the past committees and doesn’t have a lot of faith in them, she said. It was always a battle to get the books off the shelves, and she doesn’t want it to continue.
“Any human being, any adult that’s sitting on that board that says, ‘Leave it on the shelf,’ that’s the people I’m having a problem with,” Rodriguez said.
During the regular meeting, all three were condemned as inappropriate for students at any level and could cause psychological damage to readers, with public commenters reading explicit passages after asking parents to remove young children from the chambers.
https://www.suncoastnews.com/news/her...
The Hate U Give” was first removed from school library shelves in Nassau County, FL in Sept of 2023 after a bulk objection was submitted by ironically named, Citizens Defending Freedom.
This removal of over 2 dozen books resulted in a lawsuit and settlement agreement.
While many of the titles returned to shelves as part of the settlement, “The Hate U Give” was one of twelve held for additional review.
Students over the age of 18 or with written parental consent are allowed access while it awaits its review on 5/29/25 at 5pm.
Nineteen Minutes was given a review date of 4/28/25 which means it remains inaccessible to students under 18 and without written parental consent until at least that date.
Florida Freedom to Read Project @flfreedomread.bsky.social
lorida Freedom to Read Project @flfreedomread.bsky.social
Volusia County reported 53 removals to the state during the 23/24 SY, yet no committee reviews.
Locals rightfully accused the district of dodging a transparent and thorough review process.
Now they are updating the policy to allow for more of these removals without public/parent involvement.
The Florida Department of Education has approved a $15.6 million contract to create and maintain a new statewide curriculum transparency website.
The site could launch before the start of the next school year and will allow Floridians to monitor, review, and even challenge school instructional materials like textbooks and library books.
The four-year contract requires the vendor to build the website, which according to contract documents, would have to allow districts to upload instructional materials.
State law currently requires districts to post those materials online already.
The website would also have to allow users to view those materials and file objections to them.
“These people could keyword search books, take things completely out of context, and then, you know, submit comments away, that result in mass removals,” Stefana Ferrell with the Florida Freedom to Read Project said.
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/lo...
From Kelly Jensen at BookRiot:
"A local Houston pastor was given airtime on the Fox affiliate to complain about inappropriate digital books in Houston Independent School District (TX). Recall that many Houston ISD libraries aren’t even libraries anymore but disciplinary centers."
https://www.fox26houston.com/video/15...
Saddleback College Librarian Alicia Zach reflects on book censorship
https://lariatnews.com/uncategorized/...
As children’s book bans soar, sales are down and librarians are afraid. Even in California
https://www.latimes.com/california/st...
Denton City Council approves library board nominee amid book ban concerns
https://www.keranews.org/news/2024-12...
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When the University tasked with creating the “Civics Seal of Excellence” training for Florida’s Civics teachers starts their videos with this disclaimer, your training contains opinions, not facts.
https://www.civicsliteracy.org/civics...
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Texas Public School District Bans Bible In Libraries
https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-...
A Texas public school district superintendent informed parents that the Bible was removed from the district’s libraries because it violated a state House bill requiring library books to be expunged if they contained “s---ally explicit material.”
Canyon Independent School District Superintendent Darryl Flusche stated: “There are 30 titles available in the Canyon Junior High library that are Bible stories or portions of the Bible,” he pointed out. “Additionally, if any student would like to have a Bible, we have strong connections with local churches that are happy to donate a Bible upon request. We are more than willing to assist a student who would like access to a Bible by arranging this from one of our partnering churches.”
[And the WT heck moment of the day comes from "a concerned mother" of two children in the school district] who states:
On December 9, “seems absurd to me that the Good Book was thrown out with the bad books. … In a day when we are needing security guards and bulletproof windows and doors, I think having the Word of God available to our children cannot only be preventative to violence, but also provide comfort and a sense of security in a chaotic world.”
“It just makes sense to have the Word of God in our school library,” she continued. “After all, it is the book of wisdom. It is the bestselling book of all time; it is historically accurate, scientifically sound, and most importantly, life-changing.”
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My jaw just dropped at this final statement! Historically accurate? Scientifically SOUND? How can a book of stories compiled over 2000 years ago be scientific at all? Also, it is a work of stories translated from once ancient language to another and then again into modern languages. It's bound to have major errors.
QNPoohBear wrote: "And Texas... I'm sure the book banners are going to fight this, proving their agenda is not about protecting the kids or bad books- only ideas they disagree with.Texas Public School District Bans..."
Historically and scientifically sound, of course. Everyone knows the world is flat and 6,000 years old, and that we're all under a watery dome. Flat and square, I forgot to point out, as we have four corners of the earth in the Bible.
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Historically and scientifically sound, of course. Everyone knows the world is flat and 6,000 years old, and that we're all under a watery dome. Flat and square, I forgot to point out, as we have four corners of the earth in the Bible."
And dinosaurs aren't real, fossils were put on earth by God to test people and humans came from Adam's rib.
Even most of the Christian parents in Texas DO NOT want the school teaching the Bible. That's parental rights! Texas also claims they include stories from the Koran and Hindi stories, Native American legends, etc. etc. but THOSE are opinions/fiction and the Christian Bible is FACT.
They have to come up with better garbage than this nonsense.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cge...
Also Nicholas Nickleby needs trigger warnings?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024...
Er they DO know it was written in the 19th century right?
"The book features several Victorian-era slurs including the words “hussy”, “ass” and “queer”."
Never thought I'd agree with a Tory MP but yes. What the Dickens is going on?
Sir John Hayes, a Tory MP, told The Sun: “Dickens is full of, by definition, Victorian slurs, because it was reflecting the language of working people at the time. Dickens’s novels were an exploration of the human condition in all of its glory and all of its horrors. It was full of wit and social commentary.
“To produce a vanilla-flavoured version of Charles Dickens’s work is to contradict the meaning of the writer’s work.”
Sir John added: “Anyone who sees this is fully entitled to ask what the Dickens is going on.”
The theatre also previously warned prospective audiences that a performance of Jane Eyre contained themes including “arson”, in an apparent reference to the moment when Bertha Mason sets fire to Thornfield Hall in the story.
It comes after the English National Opera warned theatregoers that a production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance featured “alcohol misuse”.
Audiences at the London Coliseum were greeted with a sign saying: “Please note this production contains references to alcohol misuse and mild violence” at a show last week.
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https://www.chron.com/news/houston-te...
Over 20 books were added to Fort Bend ISD's high school "Do Not Order" library book list in December, effectively removing these titles from district shelves.
The list includes Stephen King's It, Octavia Butler's Fledgling, Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything is Illuminated and other notable works by authors such as Haruki Murakumi and Nobel-Prize winner Jose Saramago.
These removals follow the district's library materials policy changes, which trustees approved in August. Frank Strong, co-founder of Texas Freedom to Read Project, a parent-led anti-censorship group, referred to the updated policy as one of the most restrictive in the state.
The new measure permits the removal of titles from library shelves if they feature or promote sexually explicit content and unlawful activity, such as the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs by minors.
Titles added to the 'Do Not Order' list include those formally banned by the district, books that have garnered complaints and were pulled from shelves without formal review and those that district librarians have audited as being out of compliance with the policy.
The review process, which requires a formal request to be filed to see if the book will be banned, also changed under the new policy. The superintendent or a "designee" of the superintendent has the sole authority to remove content from library shelves.
"The local policy goes above and beyond anything required by law, and these latest book bans reflect that," Anne Russey, co-founder of Texas Freedom to Read Project, wrote in a statement to Chron. "Librarians are in an impossible bind of having to weigh local policy against their professional ethics."
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https://www.yahoo.com/news/homer-ilia...
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey hit with trigger warnings by university for ‘distressing’ content
The University of Exeter has come under fire after telling undergraduates they may “encounter views and content that they may find uncomfortable” in their Greek mythology studies.
In what has been branded as a “parody” and “bonkers”, students enroled on the Women in Homer module are told material could be “challenging”.
With references to s--ual violence, ra-e and infant mortality, undergraduates are also advised they should “feel free to deal with it in ways that help (eg to leave the classroom, contact Wellbeing, and of course talk to the lecturer)” if content is “causing distress”.
However, the advice, which was obtained by the Mail on Sunday via Freedom of Information laws, has been ridiculed by both classics-loving Boris Johnson and experts alike.
Last week, it emerged that John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men was removed from the Welsh GCSE curriculum for the “psychological and emotional” harm caused by its racial slurs.
In October, the University of Nottingham received similar criticism for warning students of The Canterbury Tales’ “expressions of Christian faith”.
Earlier this year, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland were amongst a collection of children’s stories that were handed trigger warnings for “white supremacy” at York St John University.
In 2023, a disclaimer was added to the republishing of Nobel Prize-winning Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. Whilst deciding not to censor the book, publisher Penguin Random House’s note made clear the reissue did not constitute an “endorsement” of Hemingway’s original text.
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Washington state
Concern grows over fate of Liberty Lake Library after board member not reappointed
Earlier this month, the city council decided to not reappoint a board member, This along with changes to developments on the new library building and funding have sparked controversy.
https://www.kxly.com/news/future-of-l...
South Carolina
Five books are still sitting in limbo as to whether or not they’ll be banned from Boiling Springs High School
PAYWALLED
https://cumberlink.com/news/local/edu...
Some of the books being questioned are “All Boys Aren’t Blue," a memoir for young adults written by journalist and LGBTQ+ activist George M. Johnson; “Last Night at the Telegraph Club," a fiction title by Malinda Lo about two girls who fall in love in 1954 America; and “House of Earth and Blood," a fantasy and romance title from Sarah J. Mass.
The district emphasized that not all the books were pulled because they included LGBTQ+ content — some of the challenged books depict physical relationships between characters or include mature themes.
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St. Francis school board gets pushback on controversial book buying plan
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/12...
Board members with St. Francis Area Schools are under pressure to reconsider their plan to use a conservative website to help choose books to buy for school libraries after the district’s attorney and superintendent objected, warning it would violate state law.
In November, the board in a 4-3 vote approved a measure to require all new school library materials purchased by the district be filtered through the conservative rating site, Book Looks, an organization recommended by Moms for Liberty.
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Sounds sensible but that mom is going to keep whining until she gets her own way. As usual I'm left wondering whether we read the same book because I don't remember anything graphic. The regular version was a middle grades book. The Breadwinner
Oh oh oh I bet this is it - Parvana is forced to "disguise herself as a boy to support her mother, two sisters, and baby brother. "
How Portage schools handle requests to remove books from curriculums
https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/...
- A new book in the fifth-grade curriculum has irked some Portage Public Schools parents who find the book to be too “graphic.”
The novel, “The Breadwinner,” tells the story of a a young girl in war-torn Afghanistan who has to support her family by selling bones dug up from a mass grave.
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https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/02/middle...
Syria’s new government is facing backlash after announcing changes to the school curriculum, including introducing what some critics say is an Islamist slant to teaching.
The changes, published in a list of amendments on the education ministry’s official Facebook page, include changing the phrases “path of goodness” to “Islamic path,” and “those who have are damned and have gone astray” to “Jews and Christians” – which pertains to an ultra-conservative interpretation of a verse in Islam’s holy book, the Quran.
The modifications also redefine the word “martyr,” from someone who died for the homeland to someone who sacrificed themselves “for the sake of God.”
Some chapters were removed entirely, the list shows, including a chapter on “the origins and evolution of life.”
Mod
Book banning bill proposed in NH!
https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/...
NH poised for school bills battle in 2025: Freedom accounts, parental rights, bullying
https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/...
The current education landscape in New Hampshire is fraught: multiple lawsuits are raging over topics from education funding to transgender athletes, special education funding costs are skyrocketing, and Gov. Chris Sununu just pulled the state librarian nominee over her opposition to book censorship.
The environment is unlikely to get calmer in 2025 with more than 100 legislative service requests having to do with education already filed in the New Hampshire legislature.
...
Rep. Glenn Cordelli, R-Tuftonboro, the chairman of the Education Policy and Administration Committee, said the main topics he sees the committee addressing include the Education Freedom Accounts program, special education, parental rights, bullying, and cell phone policies in schools.
Mod
what the what now?
https://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/ne...
Library board looks at removing durability and reputable distributors as factors in buying books
paywalled
https://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/ne...
They already have juvenile card restrictions and disbanded the "New Adult" section to put the popular YA books in the adult section. In Gillette, Wyoming, former Campbell County library director Terri Lesley said she was fired after opposing book ban attempts for LGBTQ+ books.
Gillette resident asks library to put "The V-Word" back in teen room
https://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/ne...
Kelly Jensen of BookRiot's Literary Activism newsletter shares the news that
"Residents of Huntington Beach, California, may be the ones to decide whether or not the public libraries can be privatized. Making public libraries private via an outside company running them is a terrible decision; one recent example is Huntsville Public Library in Texas, which was privatized because some of the city employees ... disliked Pride displays and LGBTQ+ books."
https://laist.com/news/politics/voter...
Mod
Sounds sensible but that mom is going to keep whining until she gets her own way. As usual I'm left wondering whether we read the same book because I don't remember anything graphic. The r..."
Well, let's face it, many Social Conservatives in the USA actually support the Taliban, and aside from The Breadwinner being about a girl disguising herself as a boy, the novel is also pretty anti-taliban.
Manybooks wrote: "Well, let's face it, many Social Conservatives in the USA actually support the Taliban, and aside from The Breadwinner being about a girl disguising herself as a boy, the novel is also pretty anti-Taliban."Despite the bombast, their only argument against Sharia law is that they disagree about what holy book to use.
Mod
Yup ...
Most US social conservatives are practicing Christians. They are far more likely to shout, "Deus Vult", than, "Allahu Akbar".
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Actually, the most extreme Social Conservatives are the very antithesis of Christianity and if they had been alive during Jesus' time, they would have considered him an agitator and been first in line to crucify him.
Banned Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The State of Water: Understanding California's Most Precious Resource (other topics)The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink (other topics)
The Day the Books Disappeared (other topics)
The Mysteries of Udolpho (other topics)
All-American Girl (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jodi Picoult (other topics)Jodi Picoult (other topics)
George M. Johnson (other topics)
Peter Parnell (other topics)
Justin Richardson (other topics)
More...
https://bookriot.com/book-banning-in-...
CSUN readout raises awareness of book bans
https://sundial.csun.edu/186221/news/...
New American Library Association head stands against increased calls for book banning
https://www.ideastream.org/show/sound...
American Library Association president Cindy Hohl on book bans and censorship : NPR's Book of the Day : NPR
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/11/121093...
Researchers at Steinhardt examine the effect of book bans on public education - Washington Square News
https://nyunews.com/news/2024/10/09/s...
Are 'banned' books in KCS libraries being checked out? | wbir.com
https://www.wbir.com/article/news/inv...
Groups with national ties, Wyo state officials intensify debate over books in schools - Cheyenne, WY Cap City News
https://capcity.news/education-2/2024...
Book bans are down in Florida but the fight over censorship remains, advocate group says
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/...
For the record, Wicked does contain adult content. The musical has been stripped of almost the entire first third and last third to make it more family friendly. That one I'll give the parents permission to deny their kids access but some parents might not care because it's such a minor part of the book. Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, the classics must stay.