texas banned books 2022 list

Aug. 10, 2022. A parent in the Houston suburb of Katy wrote that this book, which chronicles the relationship between a teen boy and a girl with leukemia, includes "obscene language" and could lead students to "become over sexualized and objectified. Here are 50 books Texas parents have asked school districts to ban, nearly all of which deal with racism, sexuality . The librarian alsonoted adistrict in another state removed the title "Maus" from its curriculum, not library. Toni Morrisons literary and societal impact led to the USPS honoring her on one of the new 2023 stamps. 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. A Huge Merger's Collapse Breaks a Pattern of Consolidation in Publishing. As for Rachel? $12 at Amazon. Separately, some school boardsin Texas have moved to remove books fromlibraries, as books have been challenged and banned in other states as well. And probably the bold stories featuring sexual abuse and prostitution too. The 1962 science-fiction fantasy follows persnickety Meg Murry as she enters parallel universes in search of her father. A Texas school district is scrambling to remove books from its library shelves ahead of the fall semester, after they were . 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. The books the user refers to are: Is this post right about these books being banned in Texas and "Mein Kampf" not banned? 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. 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. and Ten that NEED to Be Banned! What makes Go Ask Alice (1971) one of the most controversial books of all time? Will it reflect all soldiers experiences? What justification does Matt Krause have for libraries not being able to stock these books? The list of books I own that are banned somewhere in the country includes books I read as a student in K-12 school . 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. 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. A stack of books that have been challenged or banned in Texas, April 2022. A Texas School District Banned My Book. Poetry isnt exempt, eitherAnd Still I Rise, the third collection of poems by the great Maya Angelou, is on the list, as well. The story was first published in 1980 as a magazine serial but really gained attention when it was released as the first volume of Maus: A Survivors Tale in 1986. I'm done arguing with the people over whether this is fascism.". Maya Angelous 1969 memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings unpacks the poets childhood and early years as a writer. 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. LGBTQIA+ advocate and nonbinary writer George M. Johnson calls this 2020 book a memoir manifesto. 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. But no, her diary hasnt been removed from libraries because of the terror undergirding this heartbreaking account. 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. 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. "The Handmaid's Tale" was the seventh most challenged and banned book in 2019 nationally for "vulgarity and sexual overtones. A Birdville mom wanted this book, a graphic novel featuring LGBTQ characters, removed from libraries because, she said, it "has a recurring theme of oral sex. The book offers the story of Percola Breedlove, a Black girl who longs for blue eyes. The process is similar in public libraries with selections made based on guidelines approved by the library's governing authority. With all of this being said, clearly I have spent more time on this list than Krause (or, lets be honest, an assistant) did. 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. The Wheres Waldo? Kobabe's book tops the American Library Association's list for most banned books in 2021. 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. And Fort Worth Republican state Rep. Matt Krause compiled a list of 850 books dealing with racism and sexuality he challenged Texas schools to investigate, NBC reported. The parent claimed the book encourages "admiring people with low morals and values, and hate of other people. 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. 2020 Black Lives Matter Marches Joyce Markovics $30.64 in cart Backorder A Complicated Love Story Set in Space Shaun David Hutchinson $19.99 $18.59 in cart add to cart . by Brian Lopez . 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 . (Teenagers are, of course, famously respectful of such rules, and rarely seek out such materials on their own.). 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. 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. Of course, sometimes book banning backfires. " Lawn Boy " by Jonathan Evison. A group of women, called "handmaids,"are forced to produce children for the ruling class of men. But even before that, the authors of Stamped had begun leaving a deep imprint on libraries nonfiction collections. She claimed that, because it includes references to microaggressions, the book is "about critical race theory, which is forbidden by Texas law. Of these titles, 41% address LGBTQ themes or have protagonists or prominent secondary characters who are LGBTQ. Thats because book banning is rarely a federal matter. The pages brim with real-world stories of homophobia, transphobia, sexual and gender identity struggles, and the ups and downs of transitioning. Leave them blank to get signed up. 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. Which, add lovable quirks and color along the way. 8 min read. illustrated books barely have any words, yet for an entire decade, they were some of the most banned. Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic . One would assume that it covers everything you want it to. To be clear, Im not even counting books about reproductive rights or your rights as an LGBTQ person in particular. Books at Vandegrift High Schools library on March 2, 2022. 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. Racism is a central theme in Of Mice and Men, which details the journey of two migrant ranch workers in Depression-era California. Most of the targeted books have to do with race, gender, and sexuality.Unlike most book challenges in the past, whereby parents or other stakeholders in the community would engage teachers and school administrators in a debate over a title, local groups have received support from . 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. Its no wonder Go Ask Alice has been banned time and time again for its explicit themes. according to the American Library Association, a popular culture librarian at Texas Tech University, heightened scrutiny around what is being taught in schools, When Gov. I tracked three data points for each book: fiction or nonfiction, age category, and presumed reason for the book being challenged. Dozens of previously approved books . If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. South Bend Tribune The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and . "The Lawn Boy," by Jonathan . Its a 1961 childrens book about an orphan who makes friends with two creatures living inside a peach. When her dream comes true, it turns out to be more nightmare than fantasy. "Lawn Boy" covers the journey of self-realization and acceptance of one Mike Muoz, a 22-year-old . Sign up to Today In Books to receive daily news and miscellany from the world of books. 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. A Katy mom asked administrators to remove this book, about a 17-year-old gay student who has a lot of sex and isnt ashamed of it, after reading explicit passages aloud at a school board meeting: We cannot unread this type of content," she said, "and I would like to protect my kids hearts and minds from this., A parent in San Antonio asked the Northside Independent School District to ban this work historical fiction, set during the Nazis siege of Leningrad, because it includes pornographic imagery that is "not suited for the majority" of readers, the parent wrote, adding, " unless you're into that.". . Nonetheless, with the increase of book bans and challenges recently, Krause appears to want to preemptively remove any books that could be challenged for causing discomfort.. . Laurie Halse Andersons 1999 book dives straight into the thorny subject of sexual assault. 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. Dreadnought (H.I.V.E. Instagram Twitter. A Teens Guide to Becoming a Dad (which seems like a useful book for kids in that situation!). Shortly after Texas state Rep. Matt Krause called for the state's school libraries to review a list of 850 books for possible removal . Multiple incidents of book-banning in EuropeItaly, Yugoslavia and Nazi territories, specificallyfor this historical novel. For example, The Reproductive System by Alvin Silverstein from 1971 or The Seventeen Guide To Sex and Your Body from 1996. 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. ), That figure801 banned booksrefers not to individual titles but rather to the number of times any school district has issued a ban. 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. 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. 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?). : 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%). As the underworld of this dystopia is revealed, readers are exposed to mentions of infanticide, suicide and euthanasia. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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. It is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. That state wasTennessee, where a school board banned "Maus"in January, as reported by the (Nashville)Tennessean. 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. Even if this list made any sense, that wouldnt make it better. Who considers it dangerous for kids to know their rights? But here are some trends. Thats a huge number! Also, I used trans as an umbrella term for any books dealing with gender-nonconforming people for the sake of clear statistics. 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 . Its also irresponsible to take this information out of schools. 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. Well, shes got cancer. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. "Many of these challenges began with the titles on Rep. Krauses list, including 'The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel'by Margaret Atwood and Renee Nault," said Shirley Robinson, executive director of the Texas Library Association,in a Feb. 8 email to PolitiFact Texas. Readers seem to either love or hate the . Understanding how those roots affect the U.S. today might be a challenge tooVegas Tenolds Everything You Love Will Burn: Inside the Rebirth of White Nationalism in America, which traces the history of racist violence from the early days of the Ku Klux Klan to the events in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, is also on the list in two districts. 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. Theyre subjects that kids and teens are curious about, and they may not be things they feel comfortably speaking to their parents about. She has nine titles on the list. Classic books and contemporary . The characters are portrayed as animals separated by species rather than ethnicity, a bold, jarring move. That may as well have been a lifetime ago, however, as the length and breadth of the list indicates. The book has been banned several times, mostly for its profanity and references to sex. George M. Johnsons memoir-manifesto about his coming out, All Boys Arent Blue, appears seven times; Susan Kuklins 2014 nonfiction collection of interviews, Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, appears five times, as does Mike Curatos comic book memoir Flamer. The books tragic ending begs the reader to answer: Would you rather be happy or free? A schoolgirl looks at a book in a library. 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. So we would say it's true that high school libraries 'sometimes'have Mein Kampf.". Set in a seemingly utopian community where everyone has a clear role and family group, The Giver turns dark when a boy named Jonas realizes the high cost of living without pain, war or blatant hatred. Texas librarians face harassment as they navigate book bans. But while it may not be a history text, its certainly a must-read book about racism. This content contains affiliate links. 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. Book bans tend to be specific to schools, towns or sometimes states. 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. Even titles that seem downright clinical in their examination of the history of gay folks in America make the listJaime A. Sebas Gay Issues and Politics: Marriage, the Military, & Work Place Discrimination, a 64-page explanation of its eponymous topic, has been banned twice. On Krause's 850-strong list of titles he wants banned from Texas libraries, 62% concern LGBTQ+ issues. 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. Please click a link below to access information about titles that are currently being challenged or have previously been challenged: Books Under Review. 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? "Gender Queer: A Memoir," by Maia Kobabe. Slate (@Slate) February 3, 2022. The Bible is among dozens of books removed from this Texas school district. Alex Ginos novel has been on the American Library Associations Top 10 Most Challenged Books list more than once since its 2017 debut. 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. No. Of all the things to teach in school or for kids to have access to, this is one of the most important. Whats controversial about a book on inventions?? So its interesting to look at the books that arent on this list. The second in a series of young adult fantasy novels, this is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. This list has been updated on 09/24/2022. 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. Also, keep in mind that age category pie graph: these are mostly YA books, not board books. 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. 21 min read. What about the discomfort of queer kids who see that even mentioning people like them is categorized as inappropriate or obscene or even pornography? In some instances, it has been removed from shelves for its portrayals of teen drinking, profanity and even a claim that its biased against male students. The young adult novel follows high school freshman Melinda Sordino after a life-changing assault during a summer party. 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. Despite the poignant themes, The Kite Runner has been banned multiple times for referencing sexual violence and promot[ing] Islam.. The most frequent books removed included Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe, which depicts Kobabes journey of gender identity and sexual orientation; The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison; Roe v. Wade: A Woman's Choice? by Susan Dudley Gold; Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Prez, which follows a love story between a Mexican American teenage girl and a Black teen boy in 1930s East Texas; and All Boys Arent Blue by George M. Johnson, a personal account of growing up black and queer in Plainfield, New Jersey. Margaret Atwoods bestselling book (which inspired the Hulu TV show) is as dystopian as they come. And more importantly, are adult romance novels okay in general, but just not this one? The story follows Melissa, who her teacher and classmates call George. confused school districts about how to follow it, We the Students: Supreme Court Cases for and About Students, Whose Life? It's interesting to me because the political right, in both the UK and US, are obsessed . Texas has banned books about boys and books about girls, and books . Ban MY Book! Texas State Representative Matt Krause recently put more than 800 books on a watch list, many of them dealing with race and . or the adult book Abortion & the Politics of Motherhood from 1985. Almost one in five of the books listed, I have no idea why theyre included. 0:00. 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 frequently included in high school curriculums, this book has been banned in the past for obvious reasons: senseless and, according to some, gratuitous violence. PEN America defines a ban as any action taken against a book based on its content after challenges from parents or lawmakers. The list also include books that are warning about the dangers of sex or that are teaching abstinence. This year, I won't have to leave Texas for the fight. But for the throngs of readers who have never been forced to see war head-on, the book offers a sampling of memories. But only four of the 10 districts removed books. This young adult novel, a National Book Award finalist, mentions abortion and includes multiple descriptions of sex. That's why there's Banned Books Week," Weiner said. Probably the one that has me the most stumped is Inventions and Inventors by Roger Smith from 2002. The graphic novel "Maus" by Art Spiegelman was banned by a school board in Tennessee. Balzer & Bray/Harperteen The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas. Texas leads nation in books banned from schools, free speech group's analysis finds. Readers seem to either love or hate the story of three awkward teens as they navigate an impossible situation. Anne Franks diary was never meant to be public. In a letter, he asked Texas school . Then Things Got Really Ugly. Summer Lopez, the chief program officer of free expression at PEN America, said whats notable about these book bans is that most are on books that families and children can elect to read, not any required reading. (The format of Title : subtitle is common in library records, but not in most other places.) Unsettling depictions of police brutality, violence and racism have led some to ban The Hate U Give from classrooms and libraries. 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 . 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. Many of them are books that arent coming out stories, but are SFF or adventures or mysteries that happen to have an LGBTQ character. The reflections on race and identity are at once funny, poignant and heart-wrenching. 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. Perhaps thats because Gender Queer unflinchingly portrays and normalizes topics still often misunderstood: adolescent sexuality, asexuality and the differences between gender identity and sexuality. They have questions that they deserve answers to. As with Alex Ginos George, the motivation behind banning this book is painfully apparent. The PEN study, which took place from July 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, documented 1,145 unique book titles banned, across 86 school districts in 26 states, and affecting over 2 million students. Out of the five banned books on the list, Jonathan Evison's "Lawn Boy," especially when considering the student population of Texas schools, is one of the most necessary to keep in the curriculum.

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