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. Margaret Atwoods bestselling book (which inspired the Hulu TV show) is as dystopian as they come. This house bill is supposed to prevent discomfort, but what about the discomfort of kids who experience racism, or who never see themselves represented in the curriculum or the books on the shelves? This book, in which the author interviews people who've been shamed on the internet, touches on sensitive subjects, including rape and suicide. In asking to ban this nonfiction book about resisting racism, an Eanes parent suggested replacing it with copies of the Bible. So what makes the cast of characters and plot so shudder inducing? As the plot unfolds, fissures form in their nations foundation, and the boys explore betrayal, redemption and the power of familial love. Its banned classics, and new books, and books in-between; its banned best-sellers, award winners, and books rarely seen. Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer Prize-winning . Of course, the requisite scenes of sexual tyranny have gotten this book banned again and again. The depiction of teenagers locked in a destructive cycle of drug abuse, for one. I'm done arguing with people over whether this is fascism.". Read more: Books on race and sexuality are disappearing from Texas schools in record numbers. What about the discomfort of queer kids who see that even mentioning people like them is categorized as inappropriate or obscene or even pornography? ", "The Handmaid's Tale" and "1984" are both on the American Library Association's Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019online list. Texas leads nation in books banned from schools, free speech group's analysis finds. This novel, about a lesbian romance set in 1954 between a Chinese American teen and a white classmate, is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. If youre a student who wants to learn about the history of the Ku Klux Klan, you may need to look outside of your school library to find the most acclaimed book on the subject for young adults: Susan Campbell Bartolettis They Called Themselves the KKK: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group isnt on the shelves in three districts. Back in the halcyon days of, er, March 2021, some of Texass political leaders fervently opposed the idea of book bans, when the topic was the decision of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, publisher of the work of Theodore Geisel under his famous pen name, to no longer publish new copies of a handful of the authors titles that included racist stereotypes. But we do know that book banning has affected titles in a range of book genres and categorieseverything from the best childrens books to classic books and plenty of books about race relations in America. Other books are listed in both English and Spanish versions, while Qu me est pasando?, Lucas y yo, and En el bosque are listed only in Spanish presumably the English versions are okay to stock. Its also irresponsible to take this information out of schools. This award-winning nonfiction collection features interviews with transgender teens. 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. I also wanted to highlight a few titles to show just how broad these topics are. Books at Vandegrift High Schools library on March 2, 2022. The list of books I own that are banned somewhere in the country includes books I read as a student in K-12 school . "Out of Darkness," by Ashley Hope Prez. In 1994, the book was banned in Alaska and Pennsylvania schools for graphic descriptions and offensive language. 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. Theyre average YA novels (with no LGBTQ content), as far as I can tell, or theyre nonfiction about innocuous topics. Whether a parent or lawmaker agrees with every right students have, they should not be able to deny students access to knowing about them. These books are theoretically related to House Bill 3979, a so-called anti-CRT bill that bans teaching any materials that could mean an individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of the individuals race or sex. Of course, the bill which is an overreach that has confused school districts about how to follow it doesnt actually mention books in school libraries. The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools. Some go so far as to call the book anti-white. But as many point out, when a Black authors true story is deemed offensive simply for being told, readers would do well to ask themselves who provoked the abusive events in the first place. 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. Of all the things to teach in school or for kids to have access to, this is one of the most important. As for Rachel? "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, set in a totalitarian theocratic society where women cannot hold property or jobs. ", This illustrated collection of poems and essays about overcoming prejudice and racism shouldn't be allowed in schools, an Eanes parent wrote, because it "promotes discrimination. Tracing the story of a 17-year-old girl who's beginning to question her sexual orientation, this is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. Kobabes Gender Queer, which explores the authors journey to the realization that their identity is beyond the gender binary, is one of just a handful of books to appear nine times on the list. Schools across the country have banned the Harry Potter series for its themes of witchcraft as well as its portrayals of death and evil. Please! Posted by Reggie Jackson | Apr 25, 2022 "In total, for the nine-month period represented (July 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022), the Index lists 1,586 instances of individual books being banned, affecting 1,145 unique book titles. Im disgusted that Krause expects every school district to spend time investigating whether they have any of the books on this list when it was put together so thoughtlessly. More than a thousand book titles, most addressing racism and LGBTQ issues, have been banned from U.S. classrooms and school libraries in the last nine months, many under pressure from conservative . Lois Lowrys 1993 dystopian book for children has made waves for nearly three decades now. And probably the bold stories featuring sexual abuse and prostitution too. A Texas School District Banned My Book. Perhaps the most disturbing trend I saw in this list is the challenging of books that teach students their rights. Here are the 50 most commonly banned books in America from the 2021-2022 school year, with data supplied by PEN America. Kids need information about puberty and sex. When Gov. The series is called Y: The Last Man, but all other series here are listed by individual volume. What justification does Matt Krause have for libraries not being able to stock these books? Well, profanity, for one. Banned Book List - Texas Edition By Wild Geese Bookshop. (If you want to list every possible romance novel to prevent them being in a school library, good luck putting that together!). Not only is this list badly put together, with strange gaps, puzzling inclusions, and broadly applied keywords, but its goal is oppressive and dangerous. In Texas, Republican Gov. The trouble with making an 850 book list of titles to challenge is that it looks comprehensive. A Katy parent asked to have this children's biography of the former first lady banned at every grade level because, the parent said, it unfairly depicts former President Donald Trump as a bully and because Obama's reflections on race gave the impression that "if you sound like a white girl you should be ashamed of yourself. 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. Greg and Earl are snarky and self-absorbed. Hes practically penniless. Why is it that only straight cis students are allowed to see themselves in stories? Theres also This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges, written by one of the first Black students to integrate into an all-white school. Leave them blank to get signed up. A report published Thursday by the free expression group PEN America details an "alarming" and unprecedented surge in book banning across the United States, with 86 school districts in 26 states prohibiting more than 1,100 titles in classrooms and libraries over just the past eight months. A ban is the removal of a book from a collective space, whereas a challenge brings the book into questionbased on the objections of a person or group, according to the American Library Association. Florida banned 566 books, and 457 titles were banned in Pennsylvania, where a majority of books were removed from one school district in York County, which is known as being more conservative. 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! Texas State Representative Matt Krause recently put more than 800 books on a watch list, many of them dealing with race and . More:A state lawmaker asked schools to catalog books on race and sex. On October 25, Texas Republican State Representative Matt Krause sent a letter to the Texas Education Agency asking if any of the schools in the state have the books listed on a 16 page spreadsheet, as well as how much in funds schools had spent on these books. The . ", 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.". This young adult novel, a National Book Award finalist, mentions abortion and includes multiple descriptions of sex. According to PEN America, in that period, there were 1,586 books banned. "Lawn Boy" covers the journey of self-realization and acceptance of one Mike Muoz, a 22-year-old . 0:00. Theyre subjects that kids and teens are curious about, and they may not be things they feel comfortably speaking to their parents about. Simon . $12 at Amazon. The librarian alsonoted adistrict in another state removed the title "Maus" from its curriculum, not library. The Pants Project, a middle grade LGBTQ book, and Not My Idea, an anti-racist picture book, are both on here twice. 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?). PEN America counted school book bans in the 2021-2022 school year and found an alarming 1,648 titles banned somewhere in the United States the most comprehensive count of book bans to date. Book 2 and 3 of the Timekeeper series, but not book 1. Greg Abbott has capitalized on a highly public effort to pull "pornographic or obscene" books from school libraries, following the efforts of state Rep. Matt Krause (R), who's circulated a list of more than 800 books that purportedly cross the line. The Round Rock Black Parents Association mobilized against calls to remove a book on the history of racist ideas in the U.S. from the school reading list Published January 28, 2022 Updated on . 28. This is the list of the most banned books in the 2021-2022 school year, according to the PEN America . 21 min read. NBC News sent public records requests to nearly 100 school districts in the Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin regions a small sampling of the states 1,250 public school systems and found 86 formal requests to remove books from libraries last year, the vast majority coming during the final four months of the year. Records requests uncovered dozens of attempts to remove library books from schools, nearly all related to titles dealing with racism, gender or sexuality. Despite the poignant themes, The Kite Runner has been banned multiple times for referencing sexual violence and promot[ing] Islam.. Books that have been banned in Texas. So whether you want to read the best fiction books or the nonfiction books everyone is talking about, these banned books are a great place to start. 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. These are titles like The Legal Atlas of the United States, Teen Legal Rights, Gender Equality and Identity Rights (Foundations of Democracy), Equal Rights, We the Students: Supreme Court Cases for and About Students, and Peaceful Rights for Equal Rights. The jurys still out for banned books of 2022, but here are the top 10 most challenged books of 2021, according to the American Library Association: Lets start with the banned book on everybodys mind these days: Maus, a memoir in graphic novel form. The majority of requests Texas school librarians received were to ban materials covering issues of racism, sexuality and gender. That may as well have been a lifetime ago, however, as the length and breadth of the list indicates. Laurie Halse Andersons 1999 book dives straight into the thorny subject of sexual assault. Despite (and perhaps because of) these heartbreaking scenes, the book is worth a readespecially if youre starting a book club. As communities and school districts push for book bans, some Texas librarians are nearing their breaking point. 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. Nudity (of animals) and profanity. I hope that school districts refuse to bow to this bullying and censorious tactic by the Texas lawmaker. But the oddest reason? Lopez said her organization could not recall a previous year with as many reported book bans. Additionally, "1984," "Maus" and "The Handmaid's Tale" are not named in a state effort to scrutinize certain books, though"The Handmaid's Tale:The Graphic Novel" by Margaret Atwood and Renee Nault is included on the list. 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. 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. Here is a list of banned books and how to shop. Compare that with, say, Alaska or South Carolina, which have banned one book each. Parents in Keller and Spring Branch complained that this graphic novel, which features a transgender character, should be off-limits for young students because it includes images of children kissing in bed. But is its psychedelic-like prose worth banning? Over the past year, schools and libraries around the country have been banning a whole lot of books. Antiracist books, sex ed books, and LGBTQ books are exactly the kinds of topics that should be in school libraries. Our curated list of stellar banned books includes 30 of what the American Library Association deems the most frequently banned books since 1990. Texas has banned a huge number of books, indeed! I was surprised by just how broad and sweeping the approach is on this list, though. Santa Spectacular was banned in Texas prisons because it contained stickers. . It's interesting to me because the political right, in both the UK and US, are obsessed . The deal to acquire Simon & Schuster would have made the buyer, Penguin Random House, even larger, and reduced the number of big publishers in the U.S. to four. "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. Books about teen misfits such as Rainbow Rowells Eleanor & Park or Stephen Chboskys The Perks of Being a Wallflower both appear. : A Balanced, Comprehensive View of Abortion from its Historical Context to the Current Debate from 1991 (current debate, indeed!) 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.. It's one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. This keyword approach means that books like Thinking Out Loud: On the Personal, the Political, the Public and the Private, an adult book of political essays from 1994 is on this list, presumably because it mentions writing about gays in the description. 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. Despite its widespread critical acclaim, Maus was recently pulled from Texas library shelves. This novel, which includes LGBTQ storylines and explicit language, is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in the Fort Worth suburb of Keller. Keep an eye on your inbox. Conservative parents have swarmed school board meetings in Texas and across the country in recent months to call for the removal of library books that deal with race, racism, sex, gender and sexuality. The book has been banned several times, mostly for its profanity and references to sex. Balzer & Bray/Harperteen The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas. By Itinerant Literate Books Banned Books 2022 "Any book worth banning is a book worth reading." . The story of a pampered pet turned survivor includes strong themes of individualism and social Darwinism. In the midst of continuing Republican-led political fights over how issues related to race, gender and sex are allowed to be taught in public schools, Gov. In The Handmaids Tale, one of the women tells her story. She noted Texas public schools have clear, transparent processes approved by school boardsfor addressing book challenges. Book bans tend to be specific to schools, towns or sometimes states. In the book, a man born and raised outside the dystopian society becomes a tourist spectacle for his lack of addiction and adherence to independence. Read more: Here are 50 books Texas parents want banned from school libraries. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. But no, her diary hasnt been removed from libraries because of the terror undergirding this heartbreaking account. Of course, The Hunger Games isnt listed, and neither is Battle Royale. Texas has banned books about boys and books about girls, and books . About 5% of the books banned have to do with pregnancy. Adventure ensues. Some school districts have already started taking books off their shelves even without objections from parents. "All Boys Aren't Blue," by George M. Johnson . Some have been removed pending an investigation that the school district may or may not have the time and resources to conduct in a timely manner. by Lupe Mendez. Between July 2021 and March 2022, PEN America analyzed news stories on challenges, restrictions, and bans on books, to find that books had been banned in 2,899 schools across the country over the . A Huge Merger's Collapse Breaks a Pattern of Consolidation in Publishing. Also, I used trans as an umbrella term for any books dealing with gender-nonconforming people for the sake of clear statistics. The books tragic ending begs the reader to answer: Would you rather be happy or free? Whats controversial about a book on inventions?? 2022, 6:33 PM UTC . appeared on a list of around 850 books produced by Republican Texas Rep. Matt Krause. Of course, the crude humor and lack of empathy regarding death have gotten Jesse Andrewss debut novel banned more than a few times. Neither Krauses letter nor the bill mention LGBTQ topics, but that is most of whats being targeted here: 13.9% of all the books challenged are trans specifically, almost as many as all the sex ed books combined. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. That state wasTennessee, where a school board banned "Maus"in January, as reported by the (Nashville)Tennessean. Texas has banned 801 books, spanning 22 school . Here are the 50 most commonly banned books in America from the 2021-2022 school year, with data supplied by PEN America. Then weve got three adult romances from E. Lynn Harris, which again suggests that adult romance or erotica books in general are fine, but just not these particular ones. 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. So why has the book been banned, you ask? "However, from there, the issue has continued to snowball on a case-by-case basis with individuals taking it upon themselves to carefully and subjectively curate a selection of books to challenge based on specific themes and genres.". But here are some trends. 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. Before long, Brave New World was topping the banned book list in at least eight U.S. states. #4) is listed twice, but I also have no idea why its listed at all, and I can only assume they got it confused with the trans YA novel Dreadnought (also listed). "The Bluest Eye," by Toni Morrison. Their stance hasnt affected the popularity of the book (or its movie adaptation)its widely considered one of the greatest books of all time. These books have clearly been found using some sort of keyword search, and this list includes both LGBTQ books from the 1980s and 90s that are very unlikely to be shelved in school libraries anymore as well as books that just mention LGBTQ people. PolitiFact Texas reached out to the user for hissource but did not hearback. A mysterious medical blight has rendered most women infertile. Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. "And Tango Makes Three," by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. ", 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.". (Teenagers are, of course, famously respectful of such rules, and rarely seek out such materials on their own.). GRANBURY, Texas On Thursday, Granbury ISD confirmed it has pulled 130 titles from school libraries in the district to be reviewed by a committee for . .

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