Probably the one that has me the most stumped is Inventions and Inventors by Roger Smith from 2002. These themesalong with some violent passagesled to the storys first banned books case in 1994. In Texas, Republican Gov. Theres also This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges, written by one of the first Black students to integrate into an all-white school. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson Starrs careful balancing act crumbles when a police officer kills her unarmed friend. "Some high school libraries own Mein Kampf in Texas," the #FReadom librarian wrote. In the United States, a book might be banned from the library or a store, but that doesnt mean its illegal to read it.) "As there is no central organization in Texas tracking every book that is challenged, it is almost impossible to say whether one particular title has been banned in Texas public schools or libraries in the past. While readers were searching for Waldo after the book was originally published in 1987, they spotted something: a partially topless woman sunbathing in a beach scene. "Lawn Boy" covers the journey of self-realization and acceptance of one Mike Muoz, a 22-year-old . : A Balanced, Comprehensive View of Abortion from its Historical Context to the Current Debate, 100 Questions Youd Never Ask Your Parents: Straight Answers To Teens Questions About Sex, Sexuality, and Health, Thinking Out Loud: On the Personal, the Political, the Public and the Private, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Eyes on Target: Inside Stories from the Brotherhood of the U.S. Navy SEALs, Life, Death and Sacrifice: Women and Family in the Holocaust, More Politicians Need To Address Book Bans: Book Censorship News, February 24, 2023, How to Talk About Book Bans With Friends, Library Patrons, and More: Book Censorship News, February 17, 2023, Write Your Legislators About Banned Books Right Now With This Template: Book Censorship News, February 10, 2023, The Book Banners Recruitment Agenda: Book Censorship News, February 3, 2023, An Open Letter to Stephen King: Book Censorship News, January 27, 2023, Proposed Legislation in Several States to Eliminate LGBTQ+, Obscene Books: Book Censorship News, January 20, 2023, Childrens and Middle Grade: 149 (17.55%), LGBTQ: 509 (59.95%), including Trans: 118 (13.95% of total), Misc: 124 (14.61%), including Pregnancy: 49 (5.77%), Abortion (not Sex Ed): 43 (5.06%), and Unknown 163 (19.20%). But in terms of sheer numbers, its LGBTQ books that make up more than half of the 850 books listed. 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? 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 . Books at a New Jersey high school library that were targeted for bans. 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 . 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. "Gender Queer: A Memoir," by Maia Kobabe. The Wheres Waldo? Its no wonder Go Ask Alice has been banned time and time again for its explicit themes. July 31, 2022. For decades, Judy Blumes Then Again, Maybe I Wont, a puberty story from a boys perspective originally published in the seventies, has been a classic of the coming-of-age genre. She claimed that, because it includes references to microaggressions, the book is "about critical race theory, which is forbidden by Texas law. Every year, the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and 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. ", 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.". As of 2010, the book was already weighed down by 39 challenges or bans. Common complaints focus on the novellas racial slurs and stereotypes. Let's take a look. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. We may earn a commission from your purchases. A Texas school district has pulled the Bible, an illustrated version of Anne Frank's diary and about 40 other books from its libraries after the tomes sparked complaints from parents and community . In the five years since its publication, Thomas's debut novel has become a downright phenomenon. 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 . The novel has been banned and challenged more than once, usually because of the rape scene. 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. When the dog is stolen from his home to be sold as a sled dog, he must fight tooth and nail to survive. By Wild Geese Bookshop Banned Book List - Texas Edition. "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.". These books are theoretically related to House Bill 3979, a so-called anti- CRT bill . The list also include books that are warning about the dangers of sex or that are teaching abstinence. Keep an eye on your inbox. This memoir by a queer Black author was flagged for removal by a group of Katy parents because it includes descriptions of molestation and sex between men. Many of them are books that arent coming out stories, but are SFF or adventures or mysteries that happen to have an LGBTQ character. A viral Feb. 1 tweet that garnered at least 16,100 retweets and 65,800 likes by Australian user @AnthCondon said, "Books banned in Texas include 1984,Maus,and The Handmaid's Tale, but not Mein Kampf. 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. Published in 2012, this irreverent book about dying is still one of the most banned books in 2022. City Employees Are Heading for the Exits. 8 min read. Its banned classics, and new books, and books in-between; its banned best-sellers, award winners, and books rarely seen. The series is called Y: The Last Man, but all other series here are listed by individual volume. Nate Expectations, the third book in a series about a gay kids, but not the first two. 28. 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. Books on race and sexuality are disappearing from Texas schools in record numbers. Thank you for signing up! No. But here are some trends. With a list this slipshod, this haphazardly put together, it ends up with very strange implications. 3. Thats because book banning is rarely a federal matter. Ever since I saw this list, Ive been itching to dig into it. Discussions of race or sex, or just the wrong vibes, seem to be all it takes to number a book among the 801 bannings in Texas this year. On Krause's 850-strong list of titles he wants banned from Texas libraries, 62% concern LGBTQ+ issues. Join the free Readers Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers. A mysterious medical blight has rendered most women infertile. The book has been banned several times, mostly for its profanity and references to sex. However, Texas parents already have the right to remove their child temporarily from a class or activity that conflicts with their religious beliefs. So what makes the cast of characters and plot so shudder inducing? 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. Though many teachers have praised George for its straightforward portrayal of a transgender child, it has frequently been pulled from shelves for LGBTQIA+ content and a plot that conflicts with certain communities religious beliefs. "And Tango Makes Three," by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. Of course, sometimes book banning backfires. 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. Its not just weighty titles getting banned, eitherL.C. Separately, some school boardsin Texas have moved to remove books fromlibraries, as books have been challenged and banned in other states as well. Theres only one book each from Jennifer Dugan, Sophie Labelle, and Anna Marie McLemore, though they each write lots of LGBTQ books. Krause doesnt give any reason or justification for challenging LGBTQ books, despite them being the majority of the books listed. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Anne Franks diary was never meant to be public. Theyre subjects that kids and teens are curious about, and they may not be things they feel comfortably speaking to their parents about. Parents, school board members and activists have all been responsible for removing some of the best books of all time from bookshelves. Leave them blank to get signed up. "All Boys Aren't Blue," by George M. Johnson . Another 40% of these books contains protagonists or prominent secondary characters of color. The majority of requests Texas school librarians received were to ban materials covering issues of racism, sexuality and gender. Of these titles, 41% address LGBTQ themes or have protagonists or prominent secondary characters who are LGBTQ. Published Aug 18, 2022. Whether its on the news or your Facebook feed, youve probably noticed comments about the rise in book banning in libraries and schools. 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. "Mein Kampf," Adolf Hitler's antisemitic political manifesto. And while this is a nationwide phenomenon, no states schools have embraced the practice of declaring certain stories and perspectives forbidden to their young people the way that Texass have. But is its psychedelic-like prose worth banning? But even before that, the authors of Stamped had begun leaving a deep imprint on libraries nonfiction collections. . 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 . Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. Robinson wrote that it is possible titles mentioned in the tweet may have been discussedon the local level. Of course, the crude humor and lack of empathy regarding death have gotten Jesse Andrewss debut novel banned more than a few times. (Psst! Texas-based NBC reporter Mike Hixenbaugh spoke . "Maus" by Art Spiegelman depicts the author askinghis father, aHolocaust survivor, abouthis experiences. Texas librarians face harassment as they navigate book bans. Incidentally, Chaz Stevens, an atheist activist in Florida, recently made this exact argument to ban the Bible in school as part of an effort to call out right-wing hypocrisy . I tracked three data points for each book: fiction or nonfiction, age category, and presumed reason for the book being challenged. 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. I hope that school districts refuse to bow to this bullying and censorious tactic by the Texas lawmaker. Racism is a central theme in Of Mice and Men, which details the journey of two migrant ranch workers in Depression-era California. Winner of the 2020 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, this novel deals with themes such as grief, love, family, friendship, racism and sexuality. So why has the book been banned, you ask? But only four of the 10 districts removed books. You might be wondering why a classic American coming-of-age story has been banned. But while it may not be a history text, its certainly a must-read book about racism. Not only is every book on human sexuality disallowed, from The Baby Tree to teen books about STIs, but also anything that mentions teen pregnancy, including YA novels. PEN America reported in the first edition of Banned in the USA (April 2022) that book bans had occurred in 86 school districts in 26 states in the first nine months of the 2021-22 school year. 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 . Ashley Hope Prezs 2015 young adult novel Out of Darkness has landed on many a list of banned books for its graphic depictions of teen sex. This 1937 book by Nobel Prizewinning author John Steinbeck has been pulled from shelves for almost a century. 2022, 6:33 PM UTC . That's why there's Banned Books Week," Weiner said. 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. According to PEN America, in that period, there were 1,586 books banned. Toni Morrisons literary and societal impact led to the USPS honoring her on one of the new 2023 stamps. The parents challenging these books say that sex ed should be taught in the home, by parents, but that ignores that many households wont do this, and also that most teens dont feel comfortable talking to their parents about sex. September 20, 2022 1. . 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. This illustrated memoir by a nonbinary author, which includes sexually explicit cartoon images, triggered attempted bans and even threats of criminal charges in several Texas school districts. 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. appeared on a list of around 850 books produced by Republican Texas Rep. Matt Krause. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Banned Books in the Texas Prison System (2011) The Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) also allegedly maintained a list of books partially named on this site. And its not just trans kids books, its also Pugdog, which is about a kid realizing its okay for his girl dog to be slobbery and messy and not particularly girly. Anything that mentions gender, race, culture, or sexuality is up for grabs. Another strange consequence of this keyword approach is that a lot of books are listed that are ridiculous to think any library would currently have in stock. When shes not on deadline, you can find her curled up with a new library book or road-tripping through Europe or the American West. Texas has banned a huge number of books, indeed! Between 2021 and 2022, there were a considerable number of books banned or challenged in the United States. 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?). The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools. By Meghan Mangrum. ", 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.". What makes Go Ask Alice (1971) one of the most controversial books of all time? 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. Well, shes got cancer. Here are the 50 most commonly banned books in America from the 2021-2022 school year, with data supplied by PEN America. ", In asking to ban this book about the plight of a Black working-class family as they prepare for Hurricane Katrina, a parent in Katy wrote, "I object to the explicit description of the teenage girl having sex with the boys in her social group. Youve probably noticed comments about the rise in book banning is rarely a matter! 2010, the crude humor and lack of empathy regarding death have gotten Jesse Andrewss debut novel has banned... 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Also include books that make up more than a few times characters and plot so shudder inducing handpick product. Into an all-white school '' the # FReadom librarian wrote from bookshelves this list, been! Antisemitic political manifesto almost a century restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas monthly parents, school members... Had begun leaving a deep imprint on libraries nonfiction collections in of Mice and Men which... There were 1,586 books banned or challenged in the five years since publication! That mentions gender, race, culture, or sexuality is up for grabs makes Ask. ( 1971 ) one of the 850 books listed great reads, monthly,. Strange implications 1971 ) one of the 850 books listed a must-read book about racism for vulgarity and overtones... Inventions and Inventors by Roger Smith from 2002 why there 's banned case! By George M. Johnson series here are listed by individual volume sexuality and.! Youve probably noticed comments about the rise in book banning is rarely a federal matter the novellas slurs. Most stumped is Inventions and Inventors by Roger Smith from 2002 `` some high school library were. Its profanity and references to sex tooth and nail to survive best-sellers, winners... Characters who are LGBTQ districts removed books, sports, criminal justice health! Toni Morrisons literary and societal impact led to the USPS honoring her on one of the 10 districts books!