Mara Mndez, Austin American-Statesman, ", Email from Shirley Robinson, executive director of the Texas Library Association in an email via Elizabeth Christian Public Relations, Feb. 8, 2022, American Library Association, "Banned & Challenged Classics", Maria Mndez, Austin American-Statesman, "Abbott push to probe pornography in schools prompts question: When is a book pornographic? 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. Of course, sometimes book banning backfires. The letter also doesn't include the titles mentioned in the tweet, though it does include 'The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel'by Margaret Atwood and Renee Nault. The most frequent . Here are the 10 most challenged books of 2021, according to the ALA: "Gender Queer," by Maia Kobabe. Wynne Davis. The book, published in 1947, is a clear-eyed glimpse into the thoughts of a young teenager hiding in an attic to avoid being rounded up by the Nazis during World War II. The pages brim with real-world stories of homophobia, transphobia, sexual and gender identity struggles, and the ups and downs of transitioning. After all, stories about kids killing each other doesnt cause students discomfort, but a book that mentions a characters gay uncle is apparently scarring. Slate (@Slate) February 3, 2022. As communities and school districts push for book bans, some Texas librarians are nearing their breaking point. As you might expect, looking into 850 books took a while, so these are based on a glance at the cover and description. 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. And some feel compelled to buy the restricted work as a vote for free speechlike the teens whove created banned book clubs in protest. In a letter, he asked Texas school . And yet it was among the top 10 most challenged books of 2020, primarily for the authors bold public words and the claims that the book includes selective snippets of history. Read more: Books on race and sexuality are disappearing from Texas schools in record numbers. "We checked four two owned it, one did not, and one did not, but had a video about it. Book-banning attempts have grown in the U.S. over the . ", 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. Despite being so beloved, Harper Lees novel is still the fourth most challenged or banned classic book in the United States. Its not just weighty titles getting banned, eitherL.C. With additional reporting, and looking at the 12-month school year, the Index now lists banned books in 138 school districts in 32 states. "All Boys Aren't Blue," by George M. . Then Things Got Really Ugly. Between 2021 and 2022, there were a considerable number of books banned or challenged in the United States. 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. or the adult book Abortion & the Politics of Motherhood from 1985. Set in 1930s Alabama, the coming-of-age tale follows young Scout Finch, brother Jem and father Atticus during the arrest and trial of a Black man accused of raping a white woman. The list of books I own that are banned somewhere in the country includes books I read as a student in K-12 school . Starrs careful balancing act crumbles when a police officer kills her unarmed friend. 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. 50. The librarian alsonoted adistrict in another state removed the title "Maus" from its curriculum, not library. Texas book challenges can be traced to last October, when state Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, sent a list of some 850 books about race and sexuality including Kobabes to school districts asking for information about how many of those are available on their campuses. And probably the bold stories featuring sexual abuse and prostitution too. Where the Wild Things Are is one of those rare childrens books that frightens some adults for its edgy portrayal of kids imaginations and subconscious desires. Many of them are books that arent coming out stories, but are SFF or adventures or mysteries that happen to have an LGBTQ character. Updated: 10:17 PM CST January 27, 2022. Removing thoughtful materials because they offend is nothing new, but this particular ban has rekindled debates over censorship and convenient whitewashing of tragic historic events. PEN America defines a ban as any action taken against a book based on its content after challenges from parents or lawmakers. "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, set in a totalitarian theocratic society where women cannot hold property or jobs. However, some conservative politicians and parents have assigned the term CRT to dismiss efforts in public schools to incorporate a more comprehensive and inclusive public school curriculum, something they equate to indoctrination. The Texas Tribune Festival is almost here! 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 . Published in 2012, this irreverent book about dying is still one of the most banned books in 2022. Art Spiegelmans Pulitzer Prizewinning history of the Holocaust, the comic book Maus, appears on the list, as does Ari Folmans graphic adaptation of Anne Franks Diary of a Young Girl. In the five years since its publication, Thomas's debut novel has become a downright phenomenon. Anne Franks diary was never meant to be public. Its about curriculum. PolitiFact Texas reached out to the user for hissource but did not hearback. 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. She claimed that, because it includes references to microaggressions, the book is "about critical race theory, which is forbidden by Texas law. Texas-based NBC reporter Mike Hixenbaugh spoke . 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. Khaled Hosseinis 2003 debut novel whisks readers away to Afghanistan, where the son of a rich man and the son of his servant forge an unlikely friendship. 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. . The unfortunate reason for the widespread restriction of this Scholastic novel is all too clear: Its a childrens book about a transgender girl. 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. This book, a collection of interviews with transgender or gender-neutral young adults, was flagged for removal by a parent in Birdville who claimed that the book, which includes descriptions of sexual abuse of minors, encourages sexual activity among young children. 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. A Right-wing Cabal Took Over Odessas Municipal Government. 2:29 PM on Sep 19, 2022 CDT. 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. Granbury Independent School District, a small public school district south of Fort Worth, Texas, became a scrimmage line in the state's ongoing controversy over book censorship in January 2022 . A group of women, called "handmaids,"are forced to produce children for the ruling class of men. Maro Siranosians/AFP/Getty Images. In the story, Junior leaves behind his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white public high school with a Native American mascot. Records requested by NBC News of nearly 100 Texas school districts found 86 formal requests to remove books from libraries in 2021, with the majority of requests coming at the end of the year afterKrause sent his letter. 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.. This young adult novel, a National Book Award finalist, mentions abortion and includes multiple descriptions of sex. Across the country, more books have been challenged and removed as religious and conservative groups target LGBTQ and race issues. This recent series of book bans has unfolded against the backdrop of a national debate over critical race theory, a college-level academic discipline that examines how racism is embedded in the countrys legal and structural systems. Some of them have already been making the rounds of book challenges, including LGBTQ books Lawn Boy and Gender Queer, as well as books addressing racism, like Out of Darkness and This Book is Anti-Racist. ", 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.". 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. So speak out against this kind of censorship and bullying behavior from school and government officials. Scrutiny of books in schools intensified in Texas last year, as state Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, chairman of the House Committee on General Investigating, requested that superintendents catalog nearly 850 titlesrelated to race and sex or that couldproduce"discomfort" among students. A parent in Prosper said this novel, which tells the story of 9/11 and its aftermath from the dueling perspectives of an American boy and an Afghan girl, should be removed from schools because it "depicts American soldiers as callous, evil and terrorists" and because the author mentions the racial or ethnic identities of every character. The majority of requests Texas school librarians received were to ban materials covering issues of racism, sexuality and gender. When the dog is stolen from his home to be sold as a sled dog, he must fight tooth and nail to survive. The School Library Journal said this graphic novel, about a boy wrestling with his sexuality at summer camp, is "an essential book that shows readers that they are never alone in their struggles." Here are 50 books Texas parents have asked school districts to ban, nearly all of which deal with racism, sexuality . Published Aug 18, 2022. "Certainly, there is a political impetus behind it. 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. No matter how you feel about human-size bugs, Roald Dahls James and the Giant Peach seems innocent enough at first glance. The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools. ", This coming-of-age novel about a gay teenager came under fire in Birdville when a parent complained that it has explicit descriptions of "masterbation and genitalia.". The tweet does not specify whether it is referring to Krause'sletter to superintendentsbutthe books named in the letter have not been removedfrom libraries statewide. Ban MY Book! When a book is banned, readers wonder why. (Psst! Bestselling author Jason Reynolds, the "Banned Books Week 2021 Honorary Chair," has two books on the most recent list: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, co-written with Ibram X. Kendi and All . A viral Feb. 1 tweet that garnered at least . While libraries attempt to keep all their collections up-to-date, politically charged topics like abortion will be updated the most, because information becomes out of date very quickly. But only four of the 10 districts removed books. Proponents for book banningare painting this issue "with a broad brush" forpolitical support while taking the decision-making process away from children andparents, Robinson said. Hes practically penniless. The story of a pampered pet turned survivor includes strong themes of individualism and social Darwinism. Youll also find lots of award-winning books, like the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron and Harvey Awards Book of the Year The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen. Your donation keeps our trusted reporting free and accessible for all Texans and during a legislative session when lawmakers are set to tackle issues from school choice for K-12 students to school safety improvements to changes in property taxes, its critical that Texans know what lawmakers decisions mean for their futures. Lots of books on this list are from a series. by Brooke Park May 17 . 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. 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. Jack Londons 1903 classic follows Buck, a giant, lovable cross between a Saint Bernard and Scotch collie. Because of heightened scrutiny around what is being taught in schools and Krause's list, there is a wave oflocal attempts to remove specific books from school and public libraries. Whether a parent or lawmaker agrees with every right students have, they should not be able to deny students access to knowing about them. PEN America defines a ban as any action taken against a book based on its content after challenges from parents or lawmakers. Theyre subjects that kids and teens are curious about, and they may not be things they feel comfortably speaking to their parents about. 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. An Octoberanalysis by The Dallas Morning News found that 97 of the first 100 titles listed were written by women, people of color, or LGBTQ+ authors. It made the American Library Association's top ten most challenged books of 2019, as well as the ALA's list of top 100 banned books in the entire decade for both the 1990s and the 2000s. As the full list from PEN America indicates, book banning has become a popular cause among some in our polarized electoratebut this wasnt always the case. Book bans often . PEN Americas analysis also found that these bans have been largely driven by organized groups formed over the last year to combat pornographic and CRT materials in school. Even dad-friendly political thrillers can land on the list if abortion comes upbestselling author and occasional Fox News contributor Richard North Pattersons Protect and Defend received an administrators challenge as well. Thats a huge number! Greg Abbott showed support for Krause'sscrutiny of school books, he said parents "are rightfully outraged about highly inappropriate books and other content in public school libraries. The American Library Association has designated Sept. 25-Oct. 2 as Banned Books Week, to highlight "the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms Where did these books in particular come from, and whats really on it? To be clear, Im not even counting books about reproductive rights or your rights as an LGBTQ person in particular. "Maus" by Art Spiegelman depicts the author askinghis father, aHolocaust survivor, abouthis experiences. It's one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. 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. In Texas, Republican Gov. How many have you read from the 2022 banned books list? The characters are portrayed as animals separated by species rather than ethnicity, a bold, jarring move. The Bluest Eye is a perfect introduction to Morrisons iconic lyrical style. August 18, 20225:02 PM ET. By far the most common combination was YA LGBTQ Fiction. Laurie Halse Andersons 1999 book dives straight into the thorny subject of sexual assault. A librarian who is a member of#FReadom, a collective of librarians who highlight the work of libraries and books in reaction to Krause's letter, saidthey weren't aware of any of thebooks mentioned in the tweet being recentlychallenged in Texas, other than "The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel." The young adult novel follows high school freshman Melinda Sordino after a life-changing assault during a summer party. Perhaps the most disturbing trend I saw in this list is the challenging of books that teach students their rights. This novel, about a 1930s East Texas romance between a Mexican American girl and a Black boy, isn't suitable for teens, a Birdville parent wrote, because "it depicts a graphic sexual experience between minors. More recently, however, the book has been challenged because of sexual harassment allegations against the author himself. Even if this list made any sense, that wouldnt make it better. 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. "All Boys Aren't Blue," by George M. Johnson . But here are some trends. Even in fiction, books that explore fascist violence are verbotenthe DC Comics graphic novel V for Vendetta, by legendary comic book creator Alan Moore, is banned in three districts for some reason. One day before students returned to classrooms in North Texas, a school district ordered principals and librarians to remove books including the Bible and a graphic novel adaptation of Anne Frank . Like many other banned stories, Gender Queer is perfect for members of the LGBTQ+ community and anyone who wants to be a better ally to their fellow humans. Its banned classics, and new books, and books in-between; its banned best-sellers, award winners, and books rarely seen. 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