This young adult novel, a National Book Award finalist, mentions abortion and includes multiple descriptions of sex. Books about teen misfits such as Rainbow Rowells Eleanor & Park or Stephen Chboskys The Perks of Being a Wallflower both appear. ), That figure801 banned booksrefers not to individual titles but rather to the number of times any school district has issued a ban. ", 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. In August 2022, Anne Frank's "The Diary of a Young Girl" and the Bible were banned by the Keller Independent School District in Texas. In 1931, the governor of Chinas Hunan province thought so. A Leander parent suggested replacing children's books that mention gender identity or sexuality, including this one, with "classics," such as "White Fang," "The Indian in the Cupboard,""The Swiss Family Robinson" and Shakespeare. But the oddest reason? by Brooke Park May 17 . by Lupe Mendez. 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. ", A Katy mom asked to ban this graphic novel about a Black seventh grader at a mostly white school. "And Tango Makes Three," by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. Most have been banned by administrators, while others are the result of a formal challenge from a parent or other community member. Nov. 2021: Parents push for audit of Texas school's explicit books Jan. 31, 2022 01:21. 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. If you like this one, check out more books by Latinx authorstheyre great reads whether youre part of the community or just looking to experience stories from a culture outside your own. August 18, 20225:02 PM ET. Popular Banned Books You Should Read in 2022 . Leandra Beabout is a lifestyle writer covering health, travel and literature. Texas State Representative Matt Krause recently put more than 800 books on a watch list, many of them dealing with race and . PEN America defines a ban as any action taken against a book based on its content after challenges from parents or lawmakers. below is a list of 50 books that . While Texas is seeing an influx in local requests to remove books, there is no statewide ban in place. Whats more, denying kids this information puts them in danger. Sherman Alexies semi-autobiographical young adult novel about an amateur cartoonist has made waves since 2007. So its interesting to look at the books that arent on this list. The result? This collection of poetry and short stories about violence, abuse, love, loss and femininity is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. IE 11 is not supported. 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. Again, I would be very surprised if any school has this book on their shelves in the first place. ", 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.". Of course, sometimes book banning backfires. The reflections on race and identity are at once funny, poignant and heart-wrenching. So what makes the cast of characters and plot so shudder inducing? Despite its widespread critical acclaim, Maus was recently pulled from Texas library shelves. They include The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison . The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare, for instance, but none of her other books set in the same world with the same characters. "All Boys Aren't Blue," by George M. . 0:00. Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic . These are the top 10 Texas school districts that banned or reviewed the most books, data shows Kirkland An , Hannah Dellinger , Alejandro Serrano , Staff writers Aug. 10, 2022 Updated: Aug. 11 . As you might expect, looking into 850 books took a while, so these are based on a glance at the cover and description. She has nine titles on the list. Dark magic, evil villains, sorcerers, oh my! Theyre average YA novels (with no LGBTQ content), as far as I can tell, or theyre nonfiction about innocuous topics. Comments. Angie Thomass 2017 New York Times bestseller frequently appears on lists of banned stories. Its difficult to say which book is the most banned in the United States. A mysterious medical blight has rendered most women infertile. 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 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. Well, shes got cancer. Some parents have taken it a step further, filling out paperwork to formally challenge the appropriateness of library books and forcing school administrators to review them. This is the list of the most banned books in the 2021-2022 school year, according to the PEN America . ", 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 trouble with making an 850 book list of titles to challenge is that it looks comprehensive. The parent claimed the book encourages "admiring people with low morals and values, and hate of other people. The more things change, the the more they stay the same, I suppose. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson 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. Ive already shared some of the mistakes, omissions, and strange inclusions (like sex ed books from the 70s) on this list, but thats only scratching the surface. 2022, 6:33 PM UTC . There are so many outdated and cringe-worthy sex ed books on this list that no teenager in 2021 would pick up. An Eanes parent asked administrators to get rid of this novel, about a 12-year-old girl who gets involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, because it might cause a white child to feel "confusion or distress. It's one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. 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. Greg Abbott showed support for Krause'sscrutiny of school books, Texas officials to target obscene content in school libraries at governor's request, An Octoberanalysis by The Dallas Morning News, Records requested by NBC News of nearly 100 Texas school districts found 86 formal requests to remove books from libraries in 2021, as reported by the (Nashville)Tennessean, Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019, Leander removes 13 books from high school book club lists amid parent concerns, 'Absurd': Author of 'Maus' condemns Tennessee school's decision to pull book on Holocaust, Here are 50 books Texas parents want banned from school libraries, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. As the underworld of this dystopia is revealed, readers are exposed to mentions of infanticide, suicide and euthanasia. PEN America defines a ban as any action taken against a book based on its content after challenges from parents or lawmakers. novel by Kurt Vonnegut is a frequent top 100 contender on the ALA's list of banned books . After all, stories about kids killing each other doesnt cause students discomfort, but a book that mentions a characters gay uncle is apparently scarring. Honored . 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. Keep an eye on your inbox. In 1994, the book was banned in Alaska and Pennsylvania schools for graphic descriptions and offensive language. . 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. If youre wondering which author has the most books included on this list, its Julie Anne Peters, who broke barriers by publishing lesbian YA books in the early 2000s and has continued to write LGBTQ YA books since. ", A parent in Plano said this coming-of-age novel about a Mexican American character's journey to understanding his own sexuality and ethnic identity should be banned because it contains "profanity, pornography, gambling, homosexuality." 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. Her companions, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. 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. "Maus" by Art Spiegelman depicts the author askinghis father, aHolocaust survivor, abouthis experiences. Texas-based NBC reporter Mike Hixenbaugh spoke . 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 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. Its banned classics, and new books, and books in-between; its banned best-sellers, award winners, and books rarely seen. It is not taught in Texas public schools. But here are some trends. 1.3K. These books are theoretically related to House Bill 3979, a so-called anti- CRT bill . 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." We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. It's one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. 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. While having books from the Foundations of Democracy and Stop Bullying Now! KATY, Texas From a secluded spot in her high school library, a 17-year-old girl spoke softly into her cellphone, worried that someone might overhear her say the things she'd hidden from her parents for years. Its obvious why some parents might feel bewildered by this nonsensical book. The book offers the story of Percola Breedlove, a Black girl who longs for blue eyes. 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. For anyone who thought The Fault in Our Stars was too saccharine, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl offers an alternative: a book about teens and dying that feels just crass and off-kilter enough to be genuine. The book has been banned several times, mostly for its profanity and references to sex. Florida and Pennsylvania followed Texas as the states with the most bans, respectively. Yes, All Boys Arent Blue includes graphic content that might not be appropriate for some younger readers, but the book is also an essential work of representation. A parent asked the Eanes Independent School District in Austin to remove this picture book about racial justice, arguing that no books that promote the Black Lives Matter movement should be available to children. Based on Bill 3979 and Krauses letter, you might expect this list to be mainly books about racism (which might cause white student discomfort never mind the discomfort students of color face dealing with racism), and theyre certainly on there. And more importantly, are adult romance novels okay in general, but just not this one? Common complaints focus on the novellas racial slurs and stereotypes. Nate Expectations, the third book in a series about a gay kids, but not the first two. 50. Conservatives in some school districts have used the book bans and rancor over social studies teachings to help bring rally support and attracted unprecedented money to win school board seats campaigning under the promise to clear out critical race theory and pornographic materials from schools. 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. Wayward Witch by Zoraida Cordova, but not the first two in the series even though the first one has a bisexual main character and the second two have straight main characters. Anne Franks diary was never meant to be public. Racism is a central theme in Of Mice and Men, which details the journey of two migrant ranch workers in Depression-era California. 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 . 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. 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. 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. Its banned books about sex and books about race, and books about those whose white hoods hide their face. 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. I also wanted to highlight a few titles to show just how broad these topics are. According to the American Library Association, it has been challenged for vulgarity and sexual overtones. With Season 5 of The Handmaids Tale now available to watch on Hulu, there has been a growing interest in reading the book that inspired this hit show. 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. Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendis book was birthed just before a swell of Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020. Multiple incidents of book-banning in EuropeItaly, Yugoslavia and Nazi territories, specificallyfor this historical novel. It is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. Do they have to comply? Adventure ensues. 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. "All Boys Aren't Blue," by George M. Johnson . Mike didnt get much in the way of education. 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