I thought we had a banned book thread recently but I’m coming up empty. If there is, feel free to merge. (or can we not talk about banned books??)
I was floored to see this today. These books banned by Walton County Public School Libraries. There are picture books on here. Seeing some of the titles makes me think, why aren’t there 5058 - because if some of these just depict an picture of a same sex couple or something preschool simple there MUST be hundreds more!
I cannot.
What time period are these people living in?!
Sure. As long is it does not get into politics, including, but certainly not limited to, the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.
Or someone please explain to me in a concrete thoughtful way the “who,what,where, why” of this type of action. I mean I am familiar with “banned books” but this just is jaw dropping to me.
Everywhere Babies???!!! (I loved this book and so did my baby /toddler)
Not sure if this is related to the textbook ban - Florida just banned 54 math textbooks for incorporating CRT.
I’ve not seen the books - but I’m assuming a math based book will have nothing to do with politics.
Math is math - no matter your leanings.
Welcome to the culture wars. Guaranteed every one of those books contains a trans or LGBTQ theme or element, or contains depictions considered too sexually explicit or violent for the age group.
Some of the books on the banned list my D read in English class in middle school - Kite Runner, Bluest Eyes…and some of the kids books we read together at home.
I read about a library in MA that is making digital library cards available to any K-12 student in any state so they could have access to books without censorship.
I do agree that 50 Shades, Outlander, and Dead Until Dark probably don’t belong in a K-12 school library.
The covers of those books show people of apparent different races / ethnicities interacting with each other.
There are many trans and gay kids who would welcome seeing themselves Depicted positively in books. And all kids should be welcoming of those depictions with the hope that they can better understand and support their fellow classmates.
Killing Mr Griffin, by Lois Duncan? What a very odd title to have on this list! My friends and I read this in junior high ~1978 and wrote our own version. Other than the premise of teens making a bad choice that ends up having tragic consequences, I can’t imagine why someone would object to it. (Don’t get me wrong–I don’t support other book bans, either, but this one just seems so random within this list.)
I doubt that Florida is banning books (yet) for depicting interracial interactions. The picture books that were banned include depictions that imply two male or two female families, whether animal or human.
13 Reasons is centered on student suicide and has sparked a lot of concern about romanticizing it. 19 minutes concerns a school mass shooter, so I suppose that is sensitive in schools. The Marlon Bundo book was written to be political, and while a cute cartoon, I can see not wanting to get into that mess. All are likely available at the local public non-school library.
Oh, the irony of #12… The Hate U Give 
Quick google search regarding this book.
Killing Mr. Griffin was banned from some California schools in the 1980s (removed from Bonsall Middle School eighth-grade reading list) and challenged in numerous others others (for example, a 1988 challenge at Sinnott Elementary School in Milpitas, California claimed the novel had “no redeeming qualities”). It has been banned and challenged for having themes of violence, murder, drinking, drugs, lying to authority, peer pressure, and smoking. Not all attempts have been successful, however. In 2001, the Greenville school board in South Carolina voted to keep the book after a challenge. Still, according to the American Library Association, Killing Mr. Griffin was the 25th on most challenged book between 2000-2009.
Also did a quick check on the kite runner for example and this popped up:
The Kite Runner has been on the American Library Association’s top ten lists for most challenged books in 2008 (for offensive language, sexually explicit material, and being unsuited to age group), in 2012 (for depictions of homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoints, sexually explicit), in 2014 (for offensive language, unsuited to age group, and violence), and again in 2017 for sexual violence and the fear that the novel would inspire terrorism and “promote Islam.” In 2017, the book was pulled from the curriculum in Gilbert, Arizona. The Hugley Unified School District informed teachers that the book would no longer be taught, but no reason was given as to why. That same year in Fishers, Indiana, a school board member protested to the inclusion of the novel in the AP Literature and Composition course when her daughter was assigned to read the novel.
And….?
I think you mean depicted…
Could that be the reason for opposition to those books?
Boston Public Library is the “official public library” for lack of a better term, for MA. Everyone in the state can get a library card to the BPL. I have a digital card that lets me download ebooks from their collection.
My public schooled lad had to read 13 Reasons Why, The Kite Runner, and Beloved for his English class. Fortunately, he turned out ok!
It’s amazing how states differ, no?
FWIW, I read 13 Reasons Why and wasn’t impressed with it, but it takes a lot for me to be impressed with a book required by an English class. I liked Night from “his” days, and The Diary of Anne Frank, Black Like Me, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Count of Monte Cristo from mine. There may have been another one or two I liked if I thought long enough, but those come to mine.
