Free People Read Freely

An Annual Report on Banned and Challenged Books in Texas Public Schools 2004-2005

September 25, 2005

Banned and Challenged Books in Texas Public Schools 2004-2005

A Report of the ACLU Foundation of Texas

“Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us” Justice William O. Douglas

“Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself. It is the hallmark of an authoritarian regime…” Justice Potter Stewart, dissenting Ginsberg v. United States (383 U.S. 463)

“…And when we do that, shut off the dialogue, we do violence to the First Amendment and to the children of this generation and the next generation.” John Henry Faulk

This is the ninth consecutive annual report on censorship in Texas public schools by the ACLU of Texas. The information in the report is based on data furnished by 883 of the over 1200 Independent School Districts and Charter Schools in Texas (information requests were sent to all the districts and charter schools). The body of the report, which is indexed by book title, lists the book’s author, the district or charter school in which the book was challenged, the city in which the district is located, the setting (library or curriculum), the reason for the challenge, the result of the challenge, and any additional remarks made by the person furnishing the report. A separate listing in the back of the report lists the challenged books by school district.

Banned Books Project ACLU Foundation of Texas P.O. Box 12905 Austin, TX 78711-2905 (512) 478-7300 www.aclutx.org

2 Statistical Summary There were 88 challenges reported in 49 different school districts, plus an additional 13 challenges for which information is available only on the book title and author. A total of 84 books were challenged; four books received two challenges in separate school districts: The Crucible by Arthur Miller (one challenge was for the performance of the play), Detour for Emmy by Marilyn Reynolds, Forever by Judy Blume, and The Ultimate Spy Book by H. Keith Melton. Reasons for book challenges were sorted into several categories (profanity or inappropriate language, sexual content, violence or horror, mysticism or paganism, and other), and more than one category could be chosen.

Reasons for Challenges – All Challenged Books*: Profanity or inappropriate language – 40 challenges (45%) Sexual content – 39 challenges (44%) Violence or horror – 10 challenges (11%) Mysticism or paganism – 6 challenges (7%) Other – 22 challenges (25%); General concerns about age appropriateness (3 challenges; 3%) and alcohol/drug use (4 challenges; 5%) were cited several times under this heading.

Reasons for Challenges – Banned Books*: Profanity or inappropriate language – 15 challenges (38%) Sexual content – 18 challenges (46%) Violence or horror – 3 challenges (8%) Mysticism or paganism – 1 challenge (3%) Other – 15 challenges (38%); none of the books challenged only for drug/alcohol use were banned

*Percentages add up to more than 100 because of multiple reasons given per challenge.

The information forms listed several choices for result of challenge: banned (removed from library), use restricted, alternate book allowed, content changed or deleted, retained, and decision pending. Some school districts banned books from certain campuses due to concerns over grade level, but made no mention of whether the book was available at other grades. Other schools transferred the book from one campus to another. All books that were removed from libraries are categorized for purposes of this report as banned; however, if the person furnishing the report indicated that the book was available at other campuses, this information appears in the synopsis.

Results of Challenges: Book was banned/removed from library: 39 books (44%) Book was retained without restrictions: 29 books (32%) Use of the book was restricted: 11 books (13%) Alternate book was allowed (curriculum only): 10 books (11.3%)

Content changed/deleted: 1 book (1%)

3 How the Report Was Compiled Using a database made available to the public by the Texas Education Agency, requests for information were mailed to all Independent School Districts and Charter Schools in Texas. The request for information about banned and challenged books was made under the authority of the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Ch.552 (commonly known as the Open Records Act). State law requires that public entities make available records requested within ten business days.

In order to facilitate the process of providing requested information, a specific list of requests was included, and a form was provided which, if completed, provided all necessary data. Schools could also opt to fill out an on-line form and submit information electronically.

Acknowledgements School librarians and administrators, for the most part, were supportive in contributing to this report and are due thanks from students and others in the communities they serve as well as from the volunteers who worked on this report. Often pressured by individuals and special interest groups to restrict access to books according to their personal belief systems, school officials largely do an excellent job in preserving broad access to library materials.

The data in this report was obtained and the report itself compiled by a group of volunteers and was funded and supported by the ACLU of Texas.

ACLU Foundation of Texas ACLU Foundation of Texas

Banned Books Committee Board of Directors

Susan Cannon, Project Director Paul H. Asofsky, President; Michael Linz, Vice President, Legal; Kevin Denise Brady McHargue, Vice President, Development; Shar Habibi Kathy Mitchell, Vice President, Program; Christa Noland Everard Santamarina, Treasurer; Nancy Lauren Reinlie Friedman, Secretary; Richard Alvarado; Bruce Volbeda Vanessa Benavides; David Broiles; Ana Josh Rosenblatt Yanez Correa; Mary C. Decker; Ruth Special Thanks: Lauri Apple, Maida Epstein; Jose Ricardo Garcia; Greg Asofsky, Laura Bellows, James Canup, Gladden; Madan Goyal; Alamdar S. Arturo Castellanos, Maria Carminati, Hamdani; David Kahne; Rev. Charles Kelsey Israel-Trummel, Dhawal Sharma, Kiker; Tracy Maclin; Edward Pina;

Jarren Wenderlein Mohammad Tariq

William C. Harrell, Executive Director

4

BANNED BOOKSBanned IN Books TEXAS SCHOOLS 2004-2005 SCHOOL YEAR Akira, Volume Two by Katsuhiro Otomo The Period Book: Everything You Don’t Want to Ask (But Need to Know) by Black Talk by Geneva Smitherman Karen and Jennifer Gravelle Blister by Susan Shreve Pornography: Opposing Viewpoints by Boy Gets Girl: A Play by Rebecca Gilman Helen Cochran (editor) Changing Bodies, Changing Lives by Ruth The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot Bell The Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti City Lights, Pocket Poets Anthology by Revolutionary Voices by Amy Sonnie Lawrence Ferlinghetti Safe at Second by Scott Johnson Crosses by Shelley Stoehr Sex Education by Tamara L. Roleff (editor) Cults by Karen Zeinert Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge Detour for Emmy by Marilyn Reynolds Shutterbug Follies by Jason Little Dunk by David Lubar Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty Fear Nothing by Dean Koontz Suicide: Opposing Viewpoints by Michael Forever by Judy Blume (2 instances) D. Biskup, Carol Wekesser (editors) Gangs (Opposing Viewpoints Digests Ser.) Trauma-Rama: Life’s Embarrassing Moments by Gail B. Stewart (editor) … and How to Deal by Megan Stine Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn The Trench by Steve Alte Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser The Ultimate Spy Book by H. Keith Melton Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar Working Together Against Gang Violence by Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King Margi Trapani Highs! Over 150 Ways to Feel Really Good You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Pirate’s Prisoner Without Alcohol or Drugs by Alex J. by John Malam Packer Life is Funny by E.R. Frank Love and Other Four-Letter Words by Carolyn Mackler Mick Harte was Here by Barbara Park Night Riding by Katherine Martin

5 Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate Banned and Challengedlanguage, Book violence, sexual Synopses content [Quotations in “Notes” are taken fromResult: forms Banned completed by ISD staff.]

Notes: The book was “challenged as Age of Bronze: A Thousand inappropriate for middle school readers based on explicit language, gratuitous violence in Ships plot and illustrations, and sexually explicit Author: Shanower, Eric graphics. Reconsideration committee upheld Synopsis: When a lustful Trojan prince the challenge for middle school.” abducts the beautiful Queen Helen of Sparta, Helen`s husband vows to recover her no matter the cost - so begins the Trojan War. Featuring the greatest of the Greek heroes, Alice Alone Age Of Bronze: A Thousand Ships reveals Author: Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds hidden secrets of the characters` pasts, serving Synopsis: From the continuing series about up joy and sorrow, leading up to the brink of Alice McKinley, an adolescent girl. This war, and foreshadowing the terror to come. volume finds Alice in the ninth grade and Awards: 2001 Will Eisner Comics Industry struggling with family issues (as the only Award for Best Writer/Artist female in her motherless family), a new classmate’s challenge to her longtime School District: Killeen ISD relationship with her boyfriend, and a Location: Killeen startling revelation of sexual abuse from one School(s) Involved: Shoemaker High School of her classmates. Setting: Library Reason Cited: Violence or horror School District: Conroe ISD Result: Retained Location: Conroe Notes: Student objected to the violent School(s) Involved: Houser Elementary content, was given the paperwork to file a Setting: Library formal challenge, but did not file a complaint. Reason Cited: Not age appropriate Result: Use restricted Notes: Houser was an intermediate school; it

is now an elementary school and the book was Akira, Volume 2 left in circulation by mistake. It is now in the Author: Otomo, Katsuhiro custody of the librarian and students can Synopsis: In the year 2030, in the city of check it out with parental permission. New-Tokyo, one man named Tetsuo attempts to confront the horrific telekinetic being living far below the city, known as Akira. Tetsuo’s friends try to stop him before he stirs up Alice the Brave Author: Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds trouble with Akira or becomes too powerful Synopsis: The seventh in a series of comedic for his own good. novels about the adolescent Alice McKinley, School District: Plano ISD this volume recounts the summer before Location: Plano eighth grade for Alice and her friends as they School(s) Involved: Rice Middle School face the challenges of family life, romance, Setting: Library and learning to swim.

6 School District: Mesquite ISD Awards: American Library Association Location: Mesquite (ALA) Best Book for Young Adults (1995) School(s) Involved: Pirrung Elementary School District: Killeen ISD Setting: Classroom library Location: Killeen Reason Cited: Sexual content School(s) Involved: Eastern Hills Middle Result: Use restricted School Notes: Removed from classroom collection Setting: Curriculum after committee review due to parent request Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate for removal language, sexual content Result: Alternate book allowed Notes: In an eighth-grade English class, “parent objected but did not read the book. The Bad Beginning (A Series Teacher agreed with alternate book choice.” of Unfortunate Events, Book One) Author: Snicket, Lemony Black Talk: Words and Tales of the three orphaned Baudelaire children and their misadventures with their Phrases from the Hood to greedy guardian, Count Olaf, who wants their Amen Corner family fortune. The author uses formal, Author: Smitherman, Geneva Latinate language and extensive commentary Synopsis: This dictionary of black languages to make the frightening story humorous. contains hundreds of entries that focus on Continuing series. current usage of words in African-American Awards: Colorado Children’s Book Award, culture as well as a section on the debate over Nevada Young Readers Award Ebonics and a history of the speech of African- Americans. School District: Gregory-Portland ISD Location: Portland School District: Texas Youth Commission School(s) Involved: T.M. Clark Elementary Location: Corsicana Setting: Library School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential Reason Cited: Mysticism Treatment Center Result: Retained Setting: Library Notes: Child was allowed to read alternate Reason Cited: Inappropriate Language selection. Result: Banned Notes: Objection was that “some of the terms could be used to create racial tension among the population we serve;” Texas Youth Beyond the Burning Time Commission operates juvenile correctional Author: Lasky, Kathryn facilities. Synopsis: When, in the winter of 1691, accusations of witchcraft surface in her small

New England village, 12-year-old Mary Chase fights to save her mother from execution. Blister Mary's awareness grows and she feels Author: Shreve, Susan increased responsibility for her family's safety Synopsis: After her sister is stillborn, Alyssa’s against themes of hate, greed, visible and heartbroken family moves to a cramped invisible worlds, theocracy and family love. apartment, and then her father announces that

7 he’s leaving. Attempting to cope with loss, been reconstituted through the most efficient isolation, and abandonment, Alyssa adopts a scientific and psychological engineering, new name for herself: “Blister.” While she’s where the people are genetically designed to deeply troubled by life’s uncertainties and be passive and consistently useful to the human weakness, Alyssa takes guidance from ruling class. a perceptive grandmother and ultimately learns the strength and resilience of the School District: South Texas ISD human heart. Location: Mercedes

School(s) Involved: Science Academy of School District: Waxahachie ISD South Texas Location: Waxahachie Setting: Curriculum – required summer School(s) Involved: Northside Elementary reading program Setting: Library Reason Cited: Sexual content Reason Cited: Sexual content Result: Alternate book allowed Result: Banned Notes: Book challenged by two different Notes: “The challenge was made by a parent parents. One objected to the sexual content, because of the sexual content they felt the the other cited excerpts of the book with book contained.” Principal removed book commentary. without formal challenge request.

Changing Bodies, Changing Boy Gets Girl: A Play Author: Gilman, Rebecca Lives Synopsis: After a blind date, a woman Author: Bell, Ruth magazine reporter in New York finds herself Synopsis: An ambitious, encyclopedic work the object of a jilted stalker’s obsession. seeking to cover virtually all of the sexual and emotional changes that characterize the teen- School District: Texas Youth Commission age years. Illustrated with cartoons, Location: Corsicana photographs, and line drawings, and includes School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential illuminating quotations from interviews with Treatment Center dozens of teens. Setting: Library Awards: New York Public Library’s Book for Reason Cited: “Not consistent with the the Teen Age educational goals of the State and TYC” Result: Banned School District: Texas Youth Commission Notes: Objection was that “the inappropriate Location: Corsicana language and ideas might be misunderstood School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential by our population;” Texas Youth Commission Treatment Center operates juvenile correctional facilities. Setting: Library Reason Cited: “Not consistent with the educational goals of the State and TYC” Result: Banned Brave New World Notes: Objection was that “because of the Author: Huxley, Alduous descriptive pictures and the detailed Synopsis: Huxley´s vision of the future in his information, our population’s disturbances astonishing 1931 novel includes a world of might be misunderstood and cause severe tomorrow in which capitalist civilization has

8 acting out;” the Texas Youth Commission Awards: American Association of Publisher’s operates juvenile correctional facilities. Curtis Benjamin Award for Creative Publishing

The Chocolate War School District: Irving ISD Author: Cormier, Robert Location: Irving Synopsis: One student’s principled refusal to School(s) Involved: Lorenzo de Zavala sell chocolate during a school fundraiser Middle School becomes the unlikely spark that lights a Setting: Library powder keg. The inhumanity of mob Reason Cited: Inappropriate language mentality in a school setting is explored, and Result: Banned an idealistic conclusion proves thought- Notes: The book was considered “not provoking. "Masterfully structured and rich in appropriate for students” and was removed theme; the action is well crafted, well timed, from the shelf without a formal meeting. suspenseful." —The New York Times Book Review Awards: 1991 ALA Margaret A. Edwards Crazy Lady Lifetime Achievement Award – The Chocolate Author: Conly, Jane Leslie War was one of three books cited as the basis Synopsis: A lonely, struggling junior high for the award student, still coping with the recent sudden loss of his mother, befriends alcoholic Maxine School District: Idalou ISD and her son with mental retardation and finds Location: Idalou new purpose and meaning in life. School(s) Involved: Idalou Middle School Awards: 1994 Newbery Honor Book Setting: Curriculum Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate School District: Alief ISD language, sexual content Location: Houston Result: Use restricted School(s) Involved: Intermediate School Setting: Library Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate City Lights, Pocket Poets language Result: Retained Anthology Notes: Parent objected to “swearing, Author: Ferlinghetti, Lawrence (editor) specifically ‘taking the name of the Lord thy Synopsis: Drawing from the 52 volumes God in vain,’” spoke with the Assistant to the published in the Pocket Poets series since Superintendent, but never followed through 1956, this selection provides a handy sampler with a formal challenge. of many of the prominent avant-garde and leftist poets of the post-WWII era. Included are poems from Beat staples such as Allen Crosses Ginsberg, Kenneth Patchen, Jack Kerouac, and Author: Stoehr, Shelley Ferlinghetti himself. The anthology also Synopsis: Nancy doesn't have a best friend, demonstrates, however, the beyond-Beat until she meets Katie in the bathroom at breadth of the series, with works from school. Unhappy at home, due to an William Carlos Williams, Robert Bly, Frank alcoholic, abusive environment, Nancy and O'Hara, Denise Levertov, and others. her friend Katie adopt punk lifestyles and find

9 relief in cutting themselves until Nancy is inappropriate language per local community forced to confront her problems. standards.” Awards: ALA “Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Readers;” ALA “Best Book;” and YALSA “Popular Paperbacks for Young Cults Adults, 1999 Author: Zeinert, Karen Synopsis: Zeinert describes many cults, School District: Industrial ISD giving an overview of their history, beliefs, Location: Vanderbilt characteristics, and the role each plays in School(s) Involved: Industrial High School American culture. Setting: Library Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate School District: Texas Youth Commission language, sexual content, violence or horror Location: Corsicana Result: Banned School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential Treatment Center Setting: Library The Crucible Reason Cited: “Not consistent with the Author: Miller, Arthur educational goals of the State and TYC” Synopsis: Written during the “McCarthyism” Result: Banned of the 1950’s, Miller's play generally follows Notes: Objection was that “students could the true story of the Salem Witch Trials from misunderstand the works of the author and 1692 Massachusetts wherein over 19 act (negatively) on the information received;” individuals were tried and hung for Texas Youth Commission operates juvenile witchcraft. Commentators often draw correctional facilities. parallels between the events. Awards: 1953 Tony Award for Outstanding Play Danger: Cocaine Author: Chier, Ruth School District: Nederland ISD Synopsis: Describes how cocaine is made and Location: Nederland the dangers of using it. School(s) Involved: Nederland High School Setting: Curriculum School District: Harlandale ISD Reason Cited: Mysticism or paganism Location: San Antonio Result: Alternate book allowed School(s) Involved: Morrill Elementary School CHALLENGE – PERFORMANCE Setting: Library School District: Fort Davis ISD Reason Cited: Drug references and photos of Location: Fort Davis drug usage School(s) Involved: Fort Davis High School Result: Retained Setting: Performance for UIL One Act Play competition Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate The Dare language, mysticism or paganism Author: Stine, R.L. Result: Content changed or deleted Synopsis: Story by prolific youth horror Notes: Due to nature of competition, the play writer (“Goosebumps” series) involving a had to be cut; play was performed “without young teenage girl with a crush on a rich,

10 popular classmate who dares her to kill one of their teachers.

School District: Liberty Hill ISD Detour for Emmy Author: Reynolds, Marilyn Location: Liberty Hill Synopsis: The rising star of her eighth grade School(s) Involved: Liberty Hill Middle class, Emmy enjoys the best that teen-age life School has to offer. Ninth grade, however, offers her Setting: Library some adult choices, and adult responsibilities Reason Cited: Violence or horror as a result. A whirlwind romance leads to Result: Retained pregnancy and a host of life-changing Notes: No formal challenge was made; a crossroads. teacher requested review of the book. Awards: 1996 South Carolina Young Adult

Book Award

A Day No Pigs Would Die TWO CHALLENGES Author: Peck, Robert Newton School District: Liberty-Eylau ISD Synopsis: To a 13-year-old Vermont farm boy Location: Texarkana whose father slaughters pigs for a living, School(s) Involved: Liberty-Eylau Middle maturity comes early as he learns "doing School what's got to be done," especially regarding Setting: Library his pet pig who cannot produce a litter. Reason Cited: Sexual content Awards: Association for Childhood Result: Banned

Education International Books for Children School District: Seguin ISD Bibliography; Colorado Children's Book Location: Seguin Award; Library of Congress Children's Books School(s) Involved: A.J. Briesemeister of the Year; ALA Best Books for Young Middle School Adults; 1973 School Library Journal Best Setting: Library Books of the Year. Reason Cited: Sexual content Result: Retained School District: Longview ISD Notes: Verbal challenge was made, but no Location: Longview formal challenge was filed. School(s) Involved: Longview High School Setting: Curriculum

Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate language Dunk Result: Alternate book allowed Author: Lubar, David Notes: “Parent requested that this book be Synopsis: Soon-to-be-11th-grader Chad removed from 9th grade reading list because encounters an insult-spewing clown on the of profanity and scene involving pig breeding. New Jersey shore who, as strange as it may Alternate titles were already available. seem, helps Chad face many of the difficult Committee reiterated that this was only one of circumstances besetting the teenager. While several available titles. This particular book is Chad is generally ignored, dismissed, or used to show aspects of American culture that belittled by those around him, this “Bozo” are dissimilar to East Texas (i.e., Shaker receives society’s embrace, and Chad yearns religion and rural farm life). for that sense of belonging. Learning the difference between being “laughed at” and

11 “laughing with,” Chad overcomes many of his Awards: 1996 Margaret A. Edwards Award, life challenges, especially the absence of his particularly recognizing the book Forever irresponsible father. TWO CHALLENGES: School District: Joshua ISD School District: Chisum ISD Location: Joshua Location: Paris School(s) Involved: North Joshua Elementary School(s) Involved: Chisum Middle School Setting: Library Setting: Library Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate Reason Cited: Sexual content language, sexual content Result: Banned at middle school level; Result: Banned transferred to high school campus Notes: “Content inappropriate for grades pre-K-6” School District: Pasadena ISD Location: Pasadena School(s) Involved: All secondary schools Fear Nothing Setting: Library Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate Author: Koontz, Dean language, sexual content Synopsis: Christopher Snow — an orphan Result: Banned with a rare medical condition forcing him to Notes: At the building and district level, the avoid virtually all light — and his faithful decision was made to restrict the book to high beer-guzzling dog are pitted against an out- school only; at the final level of appeal, the of-control genetic engineering laboratory and superintendent banned the book. a shadowy, murderous nemesis.

Awards: 1998 Bram Stoker Award Nominee

School District: Texas Youth Commission Forgotten Fire Location: Corsicana Author: Bagdasarian, Adam School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential Synopsis: The horrors of the Armenian Treatment Center genocide are recounted as experienced by a Setting: Library 12-year-old boy who loses his family; the Reason Cited: “Not consistent with the author based the novel on his great-uncle’s educational goals of the State and TYC” recollections of his life in Turkey. Result: Banned Awards: 2000 National Book Award – Young Notes: Objection was that “student may People’s Literature Nominee display more violent and criminal tendencies;” Texas Youth Commission School District: Round Rock ISD operates juvenile correctional facilities. Location: Round Rock School(s) Involved: Anderson Mill Elementary Setting: Library Forever Reason Cited: Sexual content, violence or Author: Blume, Judy horror Synopsis: A teenager falls in love for the first Result: Use restricted; transferred to middle time and loses her virginity; when her school boyfriend goes away for the summer, she Notes: Elementary school students can begins to fall for someone else and to question request the book; school district has the nature of love.

12 interlibrary loan system and web-based disparaging remarks. Alternative titles were catalog. already available, but committee also moved [book] to 10th grade list. Complex structure, including multiple viewpoints, is valuable for supplementing the literacy base of a college- Gangs (Opposing Viewpoints bound student.” Digests Ser.) Author: Stewart, Gail B. (Editor) Synopsis: Through four interviews with Gingerbread teenagers 16-20 years of age, Stewart explores Author: Cohn, Rachel the seriousness of gangs in America, the Synopsis: Told from the perspective of a factors that lead to joining gangs, and the privileged, rebellious 16-year-old girl who is lifestyle that is stereotypically associated with kicked out of boarding school on the West gangs. Coast (where she is based with her perfectionist mother and distant stepfather) School District: Texas Youth Commission and sent to live with her unknown biological Location: Corsicana father in New York City. Cyd learns to School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential appreciate both cultures and both families, Treatment Center including her gay half-brother, and finally Setting: Library tells her mother about her secret abortion. Reason Cited: “Not consistent with the Awards: Best Book of the Year 2002 selection educational goals of the State and TYC” by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Result: Banned Barnes & Noble and The Bulletin of the Center Notes: Objection was that students might act for Children’s Books out the described behaviors and “some gang related behaviors could surface;” Texas Youth School District: Hallettsville ISD Commission operates juvenile correctional Location: Hallettsville facilities. School(s) Involved: Hallettsville Junior High School Setting: Library A Gathering of Old Men Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate Author: Gaines, Ernest J. language, sexual content Synopsis: Elderly black men form an alliance Result: Banned from junior high library; book to resist racial discrimination in the 1970s on a transferred to high school library Louisiana sugarcane plantation.

School District: Longview ISD Give a Boy a Gun Location: Longview Author: Strasser, Todd School(s) Involved: Longview High School Synopsis: A challenging narrative told from Setting: Curriculum many perspectives about a fictional high Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate school shooting, similar to the Columbine language disaster, that attempts to portray the many Result: Alternate book allowed difficult and complex issues leading to school Notes: “Parent requested that this book be violence. removed from 9th grade summer AP reading Awards: 2001 Rhode Island Teen Book list because of profanity and racially Award

13 in the big city with his recently widowed School District: Texas Youth Commission Aunt Bridget, a somewhat unconventional Location: Corsicana costume designer, who more or less leaves School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential Willy to his own devices (like shopping for his Treatment Center own food.) Here he discovers himself though Setting: Library his interactions with Gill Park. The park Reason Cited: “Does not support the proves a magical place, where music played curriculum” through loudspeakers provides a soundtrack Result: Banned for the park’s visitors, a man lives in an Notes: Objection was that the book “could extravagant tree house, the unathletic Willy produce more violent and criminal becomes first baseman (and a good one at behaviors;” Texas Youth Commission that), and an orphan girl lives a bohemian operates juvenile correctional facilities. lifestyle with no rules and never having to go to school, but with quite a knack for drawing with chalk. When the eccentric millionaire who owns the park makes plans to sell it to a Go Ask Alice scheming and greedy real estate developer, Author: Anonymous the residents and shop owners in the area Synopsis: Diary of teen angst by a 15-year- commence with a petition drive to try to save old girl struggling with addiction. After her the park. Willy thwarts the developer’s plans friend spikes her drink with LSD, Alice begins to turn the park into a shopping mall and to spin out of control and into addiction to saves the day. In the end, the orphan child help ease the pain of her lonely, angst-ridden gets to go to school and learn to read as she teenage life. In print for over 25 years, the has always wanted, the park goes on book offers a glimpse into the difficulties of providing pleasure to so many of the city’s being a teenager and the dangers of addiction. residents, and Willy discovers he has a

personality. School District: Burleson ISD Location: Burleson School District: Keller ISD School(s) Involved: Hughes Middle School Location: Keller Setting: Library School(s) Involved: Willis Lane Elementary Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate School language, “inappropriate subject matter, Setting: Library conflicting messages about drugs and sex” Reason Cited: Language Result: Retained Result: Retained Notes: Decision made by committee of school board member, community member, protesting parent, school principal, school secretary, school librarian, and the head of the Gossip Girl Reading Department. Author: Von Ziegesar, Cecily Synopsis: Trio of uptown New York private school girls and their exploits with rock stars and various scandals. The Gorillas in Gill Park Author: Gordon, Amy School District: Elgin ISD Synopsis: Recommended for grades 4-7 by Location: Elgin School Library Journal. Willy Wilson leaves School(s) Involved: Elgin High School his conventional and controlled life to go live

14 Setting: Library Notes: Objection was that the book “could Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate possibly have a negative influence on some of language, sexual content our youth;” Texas Youth Commission Result: Banned operates juvenile correctional facilities. Notes: Decision made by interim superintendent and school board Highs! Over 150 Ways to Feel

Really Good without Alcohol Harry Potter Author: Rowling, J.K. or Drugs Synopsis: Mild-mannered Harry Potter spent Author: Packer, Alex J. the first 10 years of his life abused and Synopsis: By the author of How Rude! The ignored by an adoptive aunt and uncle who Teenagers' Guide to Good Manners, Proper loathe him. However, as it turns out, young Behavior and Not Grossing People Out, this Harry comes from a line of wizards and has volume deals with alternatives to drug and tremendous potential as a wizard himself. The alcohol use for young people. Includes arrival of a mysterious letter leads to Harry’s discussions of stress reduction, breathing matriculation at Hogwarts School of exercises, meditation, and how to do creative Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the adventures experiments to stimulate and entertain young begin. The series consists of six volumes so people without the use of artificial stimulants. far; the report did not specify a particular Text boxes and charts provide additional book out of the series. information and perspectives.

School District: Fort Hancock ISD School District: Mount Enterprise ISD Location: Fort Hancock Location: Mount Enterprise School(s) Involved: Fort Hancock schools School(s) Involved: Elementary, Junior High Setting: Curriculum Setting: Library Reason Cited: Mysticism or paganism Reason Cited: Mysticism or paganism, other Result: Alternate book allowed Result: Banned Notes: “Links to web sites on pg. 181 in book were cited as places children do not need to Hearts in Atlantis go to.” Author: King, Stephen Synopsis: This collection of five short stories deals with the generation growing up in the 1960s with the Vietnam War as the backdrop The Hunting of the Last and its loss of innocence. Dragon Author: Jordan, Sherryl School District: Texas Youth Commission Synopsis: Set in an imaginary 14th-century Location: Corsicana England, a British peasant boy whose village School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential has been destroyed and a Chinese orphan girl Treatment Center (really a young Chinese noblewoman) being Setting: Library exhibited as a “freak” in a traveling carnival Reason Cited: “Offers no educational set out to kill a dragon and save the significance” countryside. A relationship develops between Result: Banned the boy and girl.

15 School District: Northside ISD notebooks were compiled into a journal after Location: San Antonio his death. School(s) Involved: Elementary Schools Setting: Library School District: Erath Excels! Academy Reason Cited: Sexual content, violence Location: Stephenville Result: Retained School(s) Involved: Erath Excels! Academy Notes: “Committee members all liked the Setting: Curriculum book and agreed that the book should be read Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate within the context of the story as it is language, sexual content applicable to the history, culture, time and Result: Use restricted setting.” Notes: Parental permission slips required before book was taught

It’s Not the End of the World Author: Blume, Judy Life is Funny Synopsis: When her parents divorce, Karen, a Author: Frank, E.R. sixth-grader, struggles to understand that Synopsis: The lives of eleven Brooklyn sometimes people you love are unable to live teenagers from varying ethnic and socio- together. economic backgrounds are intertwined, forming vignettes that bring to life the School District: Longview ISD struggles of each character, such as abuse, Location: Longview absent parents, or an unwanted pregnancy. School(s) Involved: Bramlette Elementary The depiction of inner-city teenage life is Setting: Curriculum realistic, bringing forth teenage struggles and Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate triumphs. language Result: Alternate book allowed in School District: Austin ISD curriculum; book retained in library Location: Austin Notes: Parent requested that book be School(s) Involved: All Middle Schools removed from Accelerated Reader program Setting: Library and from library “because of the subject Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate matter (divorce) and profanity. Committee language, sexual content removed from AR curriculum but retained for Result: Banned from middle school libraries; library use, feeling that the book presents a Use restricted to high school libraries realistic perspective of divorce from a child’s Notes: A committee of teachers, parent, point of view. The few instances of profanity librarian and counselor “believed the book to were appropriate in the context of adult e more appropriate for older, more mature conversation.” audiences” and that it should not be “on circulating shelves of middle school libraries.”

Journals Author: Cobain, Kurt Like Jake and Me Synopsis: Kurt Cobain, the front man of Author: Jukes, Mavis Nirvana, kept notes in over twenty notebooks Synopsis: An uplifting tale celebrating the on his thoughts on music, the band, fame, and coming together of a boy and his new the people who bought his albums; these stepfather. Initially timid, the boy, Alex,

16 develops self-confidence and camaraderie Love and Other Four-Letter with his rugged cowboy stepfather when he “rescues” him from a wolf-spider. Full-page Words pastel illustrations complement the story. Author: Mackler, Carolyn Awards: Newberry Honor Book Synopsis: Upon her parents’ split, sixteen- year-old Samantha Davis must move to School District: D.R.A.W. Academy Manhattan, where she struggles with the Location: Houston changes in her location, her parents, and School(s) Involved: D.R.A.W. Academy herself. Setting: Library Reason Cited: Sexual content School District: Waxahachie ISD Result: Use restricted Location: Waxahachie Notes: Restricted to grades 5-8; the book School(s) Involved: Waxahachie Ninth Grade contains “pictures of a stepfather and stepson Academy partially nude (except a cowboy hat) trying to Setting: Library free a spider. Reason Cited: Sexual content Result: Banned Notes: “The challenge was made by a parent who felt the book contained instructions on Lizard performing sexual acts.” Principal removed Author: Covington, Dennis book without formal challenge request. Synopsis: Lucius Sims is sent to a special school for children with mental retardation because of his unusual features that make him look like a lizard. A shoe salesman helps him Love Hina (Book 12) escape by claiming to be his father, and Author: Akamatsu, Ken adventure follows. Synopsis: Number 12 in series of anime novels. Naru struggles with her love for School District: Mansfield ISD Keitaro. Keitaro’s sister, Kanoko, is willing to Location: Mansfield fight Naru for her brother’s love and School(s) Involved: T.A. Howard Middle attention, and with the help of a magical spell, School Naru finds herself faced with a terrible Setting: Library backlash every time she gets in the way of the Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate siblings’ relationship. Kanoko and Naru take language, sexual content on the form of each other, further confusing Result: Retained Kanoko and each other. Lots of girls fighting Notes: “The committee found that, since the over boys in towels and lingerie. overall purpose of the book was to demonstrate how someone who has a physical School District: Corpus Christi ISD deformity can overcome extremely difficult Location: Corpus Christi obstacles while maintaining a positive sense School(s) Involved: King High School of self, the book should remain on the library Setting: Library shelves.” Reason Cited: Sexually suggestive graphics Result: Retained

17 Making the Run My Brother Sam is Dead Author: Henson, Heather Author: Colliet, James and Chris Synopsis: A high-school senior in a small Synopsis: All his life, Tim Meeker has looked town, Lu McLellan turns to drugs, up to his brother Sam. Sam's smart and brave photography, and an older boyfriend to ease and is now a part of the American Revolution; the pain she feels from her mother’s death and not everyone in town wants to be a part of the the dreariness of her hometown. rebellion. Most people are supporters of the British, including Tim and Sam's father. With School District: Cypress-Fairbanks ISD the war soon raging, Tim knows he'll have to Location: Houston make a choice - between the Revolutionaries School(s) Involved: Langham Creek High and the Redcoats . . . and between his brother School and his father. Setting: Library Awards: Newberry Honor book. Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate language, sexual content School District: Killeen ISD Result: Retained Location: Killeen Notes: Challenged by parent School(s) Involved: Cedar Valley Elementary Setting: Curriculum Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate Mick Harte Was Here language Result: Alternate book allowed Author: Park, Barbara

Synopsis: A poignant and touching portrait of one family’s attempt to regroup after losing one of its members: little Mick, age 12, who My Chimp Friday died in a terrible bicycle accident. While Author: Mundis, Hester bicycle safety is the easy moral of the story, Synopsis: When an old friend of her father's the book’s strongest attribute is the quality of drops off an unusually intelligent chimpanzee the writing, which captures in straightforward at their apartment in the middle of the night details the hope and humor that accompanies with strict orders to keep the chimp a secret, family life even in the midst of tragedy. 12-year-old Rachel wants to know what the

big mystery is all about. School District: Waxahachie ISD Awards: Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Location: Waxahachie Award Nominee 2005 School(s) Involved: Northside Elementary Setting: Library Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate School District: Humble ISD language Location: Kingwood Result: Banned School(s) Involved: Greentree Elementary Notes: “The challenge was made by a parent Setting: Library that did not like the fact that the main Reason Cited: Inappropriate language character was angry with God.” Principal Result: Retained removed book without formal challenge request.

18 The Mystery of the Pirate he and his family, his teacher, the school, and the local community are in the middle of a Ghost national event. Author: Hayes, Geoffrey Synopsis: Otto and his Uncle Tooth track School District: New Braunfels ISD down the pirate ghost terrorizing Boogle Bay Location: New Braunfels in a “whodunit” for early School(s) Involved: Oak Run Sixth Grade readers. Illustrations. Campus Setting: Curriculum School District: Plano ISD Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate Location: Plano language School(s) Involved: Forman Elementary Result: Retained Setting: Library Reason Cited: “Characters engaged in cigar smoking, pipe smoking, beer drinking” Result: Retained The Period Book: Everything You Don’t Want to Ask (But Need to Know) Night Riding Author: Gravelle, Karen; Gravelle, Jennifer Author: Martin, Katherine Synopsis: The author and her 15-year old Synopsis: Growing up in the 1950s, eleven- niece answer questions a young girl might year-old Prin befriends her new neighbor, have about her period, including what it feels Mary Faith. Upon discovering that Mary like; how to choose pads and tampons; the Faith’s father beats her, Prin goes night riding physical, social, and emotional changes that to find out more information but consequently come with it; and how to talk to your parents puts herself into a dangerous situation. about it. Illustrations by Debbie Palen.

School District: Northside ISD School District: Texas Youth Commission Location: San Antonio Location: Corsicana School(s) Involved: Middle Schools School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential Setting: Library Treatment Center Reason Cited: Sexual content Setting: Library Result: Banned Reason Cited: “Does not meet high standards Notes: “There were concerns about the of quality in artistic quality and/or literary appropriateness of the subject matter for style” middle school students.” Result: Banned Notes: Objection was that “with our given population and the severity of their emotional Nothing but the Truth disturbances this book could be misinterpreted and result in appropriate Author: Avi sexual” outcomes; Texas Youth Commission Synopsis: Story told through a series of operates juvenile correctional facilities. journal entries, memos, letters, and dialogues.

A ninth-grade boy hums during the national anthem rather than singing or staying silent and is disciplined for violating school policy. The situation soon spirals out of control, and

19 Pornography: Opposing Viewpoints The Princess Diaries Author: Cabot, Meg Author: Cothran, Helen. (Editor) Synopsis: Average ninth-grader Mia finds Synopsis: Cothran explores whether her life turned upside down when it is pornography is harmful, whether it should be revealed that her father, who always claimed censored, and how it should be regulated. merely to be a European politician, is in fact a

bona fide prince. Finding that she is now a School District: Texas Youth Commission “princess,” Mia is sent skittering on a comic Location: Corsicana rollercoaster ride into royalty. School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential Treatment Center School District: Joshua ISD Setting: Library Location: Joshua Reason Cited: “Does not meet high standard School(s) Involved: North Joshua Elementary of quality education significance” Setting: Library Result: Banned Reason Cited: Sexual content Notes: Objection was that the book was “not Result: Banned suitable reading materials for the population, Notes: “Content inappropriate for grades because our students could possibly act out pre-K-6” some of the things described;” Texas Youth Commission operates juvenile correctional facilities. The Queen of Everything Author: Caletti, Deb Synopsis: Jordan, a junior in high school, Prey thinks she has found normalcy in living with Author: Crichton, Michael her optometrist father (as opposed to her Synopsis: High-tech thriller involving a man hippie mother), but her father begins an affair who discovers his wife works for a tech with a married woman, and the affair ends company that is developing self-replicating violently. microscopic machines designed to serve the military, but which have now escaped into the School District: Amarillo ISD environment intent on killing the scientists Location: Amarillo trapped in the plant. School(s) Involved: Wolflin Elementary Setting: Library School District: Hays Consolidated ISD Reason Cited: Profanity/inappropriate Location: Kyle language; sexual content School(s) Involved: Lehman High School Result: Banned Setting: Library Notes: The library director believed the Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate material was too mature for an elementary language school campus; the committee suggested the Result: Retained book could be used in high schools. Notes: Challenger maintained that book “should be rated R”, was “filthy” and

“glorified garbage” and objected to the “use of the Lord’s name in vain.”

20 Revolutionary Voices his arrogance and insensitivity also rise, much to the chagrin of his best friend and ally, Author: Sonnie, Amy Paulie Lockwood. When a line drive strikes Synopsis: An impassioned multicultural Bannister in the face and blinds one of his compendium describing the fear, loneliness, eyes, Lockwood stands by him, and Bannister and courage of gay youth coming to terms learns important life lessons about friendship with their identity and overcoming prejudice. and the hubris of self-importance.

School District: Texas Youth Commission School District: Joshua ISD Location: Corsicana Location: Joshua School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential School(s) Involved: North Joshua Elementary Treatment Center Setting: Library Setting: Library Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate Reason Cited: “Not consistent with the language educational goals of the State and TYC” Result: Banned Result: Banned Notes: “This book has inappropriate Notes: Objection was that the result of language for children.” reading the book would be “inappropriate behavior by the students;” Texas Youth Commission operates juvenile correctional facilities. Sex Education Author: Roleff, Tamara L. (Editor) Synopsis: This book presents different Rugrats Stormy Weather opinions in the sex education debate, addressing issues such as if sex education Author: Wigand, Molly should be taught and how it should be taught. Synopsis: The ever-popular Rugrat babies are More in-depth topics include discussing gay excited, rather than scared, by the big storm parenting in a sex education setting. coming their way.

School District: Texas Youth Commission School District: Donna ISD Location: Corsicana Location: Donna School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential School(s) Involved: Munoz Elementary Treatment Center Setting: Library Setting: Library Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate Reason Cited: “Does not meet high standard language of quality education significance” Result: Retained Result: Banned Notes: Parent concerned due to use of the Notes: Objection was that the book “might word “stupid.” confuse the readers with some of the

controversial issues discussed;” Texas Youth Commission operates juvenile correctional Safe at Second facilities. Author: Johnson, Scott Synopsis: Rising star athlete Todd Bannister is a hot commodity. A rising star pitcher, he’s in demand by all around him — talent scouts, recruiters, and fans. As his popularity rises,

21 Shakespeare Bats Cleanup Synopsis: Story of four young girlfriends Author: Koertge, Ron who share a pair of thrift store pants (which Synopsis: A coming-of-age tale told in mysteriously fit each of them despite their accessible free verse, “Shakespeare” tells the different shapes) during the course of a story of 14-year-old Kevin Boland, obsessed summer spent apart from one another. with baseball, who discovers the joys of School District: Carrollton-Farmers ISD poetry while bed-ridden with mono. Poetry Location: Carrollton helps Kevin express his sports ambitions and School(s) Involved: Ted Polk Middle School his difficulty grappling with the recent death Setting: Library of his mother. Reason Cited: Inappropriate language Result: Retained School District: Joshua ISD Notes: Parent rescinded the challenge Location: Joshua School(s) Involved: North Joshua Elementary Setting: Library Reason Cited: Sexual content Sloppy Firsts Result: Banned Author: McCafferty, Megan Notes: “This content is inappropriate for Synopsis: Sixteen-year old Jessica Darling’s children.” best and only friend moves away, and she is left alone to finish high school among parents and peers to whom she cannot relate.

Shutterbug Follies School District: Amarillo ISD Author: Little, Jason Location: Amarillo Synopsis: Bee, an amateur photographer and School(s) Involved: Wolflin Elementary technician in a Manhattan one-hour photo lab, Setting: Library keeps a collection of interesting pictures she Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate develops. One day, Bee develops pictures language; sexual content that seem to depict a murder, and she Result: Banned becomes a detective attempting to figure out Notes: The library director believed the what exactly happened. material was too mature for an elementary school campus; the committee suggested the School District: Lueders-Avoca ISD book could be used in high schools. Location: Lueders School(s) Involved: Lueders Avoca High School Setting: Library So Far from the Bamboo Grove Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate Author: Watkins, Yoko Kawashima language, sexual content Synopsis: Recommended for grades 6 and up Result: Banned by School Library Journal. True story about the author’s childhood experience in Korea during World War II. Story follows a Japanese family stationed in North Korea as the war Sisterhood of the Traveling begins and they are forced to flee back home Pants to war-ravaged Japan. The story offers a Author: Brashares, Ann realistic account of the atrocities of war from the vantage point of a child civilian. As the

22 Communist Korean army begins their Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate eradication of all Japanese in Korea, Yoko, her language older sister, and their mother begin their Result: Retained treacherous journey south. Along the way, Notes: Parent of student made verbal Korean and Russian soldiers threaten violence complaint, but no formal challenge. and rape. The family has little money, no food, no housing, and are forced to walk for days, disguised as Korean soldiers, in order to escape to the south. The two young girls learn Starring Sally J. Freedman as to search for food scraps in trashcans. Those Herself who are injured must wash cuts in urine for Author: Blume, Judy lack of water supplies. With strength of will Synopsis: Story of Sally J. Freedman, a 10- and a little luck, the three make it back to year old girl, that takes place in the winter of Japan, only to find it destroyed and all their 1947-48 when her family moves to Miami known relatives dead from American bombs. Beach. Sally makes up stories, casts herself in Not taking political sides, the book serves to starring roles in make-believe movies, and recall the tragedies of war and show its encounters a sinister stranger. lifelong effects on the people living in it. School District: McKinney ISD School District: Corpus Christi ISD Location: McKinney Location: Corpus Christi School(s) Involved: Wolford Elementary School(s) Involved: Hamlin Middle School Setting: Library Setting: Curriculum Reason Cited: Sexual content Reason Cited: Sexual content, Result: Retained violence/horror Result: Alternate book allowed; parental permission required Stones in Water Author: Napoli, Donna Jo

Synopsis: Historical fiction from the World The Stand-Off War II time period. A Venetian boy, Roberto, Author: Hogan, Chuck and two friends are rounded up by Nazi Synopsis: This debut thriller from 26-year- soldiers and sent out of Italy to work in labor old Hogan has created quite a buzz in the camps. One boy is killed and Roberto escapes trades. An almost washed-up FBI agent, John from the camp and undergoes a harrowing Banish, has two talents: drinking and hostage adventure of survival. negotiation. He has an opportunity for redemption in persuading a white- School District: Killeen ISD supremacist to release his wife and kids, held Location: Killeen hostage in the Rockies. Surprise ending is a School(s) Involved: Meadows Elementary knock-out punch. Setting: Library Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate School District: Cypress-Fairbanks ISD language, violence or horror Location: Houston Result: Retained School(s) Involved: Cypress Falls High Notes: “The parent filled out paperwork, School read the book, and met with district Setting: Library

23 committee. After discussion, the book was Reason Cited: “Not consistent with the retained with no restrictions.” educational goals of the State and TYC” Result: Banned Notes: Objection was the concern that reading the book would result in “students Stranger in a Strange Land acting-out the behaviors described;” Texas Author: Heinlein, Robert A. Youth Commission operates juvenile Synopsis: Science-fiction story of a man, correctional facilities. raised on Mars by Martians, who arrives on

Earth with no knowledge of its cultures or religions. He espouses a religion of free love and psychic intervention, which creates Taking Care of Your Dog turmoil. Author: Piers, Helen Synopsis: This is a children’s guide to School District: South Texas ISD buying, training, feeding, and taking care of a Location: Mercedes puppy. School(s) Involved: Science Academy of South Texas School District: Plano ISD Setting: Curriculum – required summer Location: Plano reading program School(s) Involved: Barksdale Elementary Reason Cited: Sexual content School Result: Alternate book allowed Setting: Library Notes: Book challenged by two different Reason Cited: Profanity/inappropriate parents. One objected to the sexual content, language the other cited excerpts of the book with Result: Retained commentary. Notes: Parent objected to the use of the term “bitch” in reference to a female dog; the committee kept the book on the shelf with no Suicide: Opposing Viewpoints restrictions.

Author: Biskup, Michael D., Wekesser, Carol (Editors) Synopsis: This book in the Opposing Tell No One Viewpoints series deals with multiple aspects Author: Coben, Harlan of suicide, including the right to suicide, Synopsis: Mystery novel about an adult man, causes of suicide, teen suicide, and assisted David Beck, who has finally recovered from suicide. Both popular and unpopular his wife's murder eight years earlier when he opinions are presented, allowing the reader to gets mysterious e-mails that appear to gain an overall understanding of the issue and indicate she is still alive. Beck embarks on a reach his/her own well-informed conclusions. quest to find the truth of the matter, while being chased by the police for his wife’s School District: Texas Youth Commission murder and being targeted by a powerful Location: Corsicana billionaire trying to frame Beck for the School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential murder. His only ally is a black drug dealer Treatment Center whose child he is treating for hemophilia. Setting: Library School District: Perryton ISD Location: Perryton

24 School(s) Involved: Perryton Junior High Too Old for This; Too Young Setting: Library Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate for That!: Your Survival language, sexual content, violence or horror Guide for the Middle-School Result: Retained Notes: Committee voted to keep it on the Years shelf with no restrictions. Author: Mosatche, Dr. Harriet S.; Unger, Karen Synopsis: A guide for children transitioning

into adolescence that covers topics that range There’s an Owl in the Shower from the onset of puberty to self-esteem to Author: George, Jean Craighead time-management with humor, this book Synopsis: Recommended for grades 3-5 by provides survival tips, additional resources, School Library Journal. Borden Watson is and activities for the reader. angry at the spotted owl. The little creature has put his daddy out of work. Borden’s dad School District: Mercedes ISD was a logger in the forests of the Pacific Location: Mercedes Northwest, but a judge ordered a halt to his School(s) Involved: John F. Kennedy company’s clear-cutting of the old-growth Elementary forests until the Forest Service could do Setting: Library something about the impending depletion of Reason Cited: Graphic content; inappropriate the endangered spotted owls’ habitat. “The for grade level government, it seemed to Borden, liked owls Result: Use restricted better than people.” And he is not alone. The Notes: Physical education coach took the town he lives in is exploding with violence book away from a student and gave it to the between the environmentalists and the principal for review; the book is now in a loggers. So, Borden vows to shoot all the owls professional collection for teacher use only. left in order to end the conflict and get his dad back to work. That is, until he meets Bardy, a baby spotted owl that has fallen from its nest. Trauma-rama: Life’s Most Borden takes the little owl home, and both he and his father bond with Bardy as they Embarrassing Moments…and become surrogate owl parents. Through How to Deal Bardy, they begin to see the dangers of clear- Author: Stine, Megan cutting the forest and the far-reaching effects Synopsis: This book, published by Seventeen it has on the environment. magazine compiles the varied mortifying

situations in which teenagers can sometimes School District: Corpus Christi ISD find themselves and offers advice on how to Location: Corpus Christi deal with a range of “disastrous” scenarios. School(s) Involved: Windsor Park Elementary School District: Waxahachie ISD Setting: Library Location: Waxahachie Reason Cited: Profanity School(s) Involved: Waxahachie Ninth Grade Result: Retained Academy Setting: Library Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate language, sexual content

25 Result: Banned uncle, a television producer in Hollywood. Notes: “The challenge was made by a parent He learns all about life on the set in who was concerned with the book’s ‘R-rated’ preparation for a big audition! language and sexual content.” Principal removed book without formal challenge School District: Crandall ISD request. Location: Crandall School(s) Involved: Crandall Intermediate Setting: Library Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate The Trench language Author: Alten, Steve Result: Use restricted Synopsis: Shark adventure sequel to Meg. Notes: “Use of the book was restricted to the Angel, the shark-baby of Meg from the first in recommended grade level.” the series, is being held in captivity for scientific observation. When she inevitably breaks loose, she begins a rampage of attacking tourists and wreaking havoc across The Ultimate Spy Book the seas. While biologist Jonas Taylor is in Author: Melton, H. Keith pursuit of the shark, his wife is digging up Synopsis: Historian H. Keith Melton’s dirt on the mysterious billionaire who owns exploration of 20th-century espionage, the shark. She discovers an even more sinister including the history of spying, famous spies, plot, in which the owner is devising a scheme types of spies, and modern gadgets, weapons, to provide nuclear fusion supplies for and hardware. The last chapter includes terrorists. information on "How to Be a Spy" and includes training and recruitment, covers, and School District: Aldine ISD other strategies. Illustrated. Location: Houston School(s) Involved: Parker Intermediate TWO CHALLENGES: School School District: Texas Youth Commission Setting: Library Location: Corsicana Reason Cited: Inappropriate for fifth-graders School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential Result: Banned from intermediate library; Treatment Center transferred to high school library Setting: Library Notes: The book was intended for adults, and Reason Cited: “Not consistent with the the current librarian had no idea why the educational goals of the State and TYC” book was in the collection. She did not Result: Banned purchase this book. The committee's decision Notes: Objection was that the book “could was to remove the book and transfer it to a possibly lead to more serious criminal high school in the district. behaviors;” Texas Youth Commission operates juvenile correctional facilities.

School District: Irving ISD Tyler on Prime Time Location: Irving Author: Atinsky, Steve School(s) Involved: Brown Elementary Synopsis: Recommended for grades 5-8 by School the School Library Journal. Twelve-year old Setting: Library Tyler dreams of being a star, and to his delight Reason Cited: Nude statue of woman he is sent to live for the summer with his

26 Result: Retained Notes: “Use of book was restricted by the Notes: No formal meetings were held. principal.”

What My Mother Doesn’t When Plague Strikes: The Know Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS Author: Sones, Sonya Author: Giblin, James Cross Synopsis: Teenage Sophie’s diaries, Synopsis: Book for young adults comparing expressed as poems full of revelations about and contrasting the bubonic plague in 14th- young love and lust, friendship, and family century Europe, various Smallpox epidemics life. around the world, and the current AIDS crisis, and the impact that misinformation, School District: Judson ISD ignorance, and prejudice have had on how Location: Universal City those diseases (and their victims) were/are School(s) Involved: Kitty Hawk Middle portrayed and treated. Illustrations by David School Frampton Setting: Library Reason Cited: Sexual content School District: Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Result: Use restricted Location: Grapevine Notes: Placed in an eighth grade reading School(s) Involved: Bear Creek Elementary section Setting: Library Reason Cited: Sexual content Result: Use restricted Whale Talk Notes: “Could stir up fears based on subject matter of plagues”; “the book was placed in a Author: Crutcher, Chris collection available only to teachers.” Synopsis: T. J. Jones is black, Japanese, and white, and the son of a crack mother who abandoned him. He is now a successful small town high school senior with a loving Whirligig adoptive family, but with an understanding of Author: Fleischman, Paul prejudice that sometimes fuels his anger. Synopsis: Self-absorbed Brent gets drunk and When the school football star bullies an tries to kill himself after the girl he’s been innocent, he concocts and carries out a plan to lusting after snubs him. In a tragic twist of seek revenge on the system by gathering a fate, Brent survives his reckless driving, but group of high school outcasts to form a Lea, a beautiful and talented high-school winning swim team. senior dies instead. Wracked by guilt, Brent arranges through the court to meet the School District: Killeen ISD victim’s parents, who make an unusual, but Location: Killeen life-changing request. Brent is to travel to the School(s) Involved: Ellison High School four corners of America and set up four Setting: Curriculum “whirligigs.” In a magical turn of events, these Reason Cited: Profanity or inappropriate windblown constructions impact the lives of language others, who then achieve the kind of peace of Result: Use restricted fulfillment that Brent had lost, and Lea represented.

27 School(s) Involved: Corsicana Residential School District: McKinney ISD Treatment Center Location: McKinney Setting: Library School(s) Involved: Glen Oaks Elementary Reason Cited: “Does not support the Setting: Library curriculum” Reason Cited: Theme – underage drinking Result: Banned Result: Retained Notes: Objection was that the book “could be viewed as a way of glorying gang violence and the contents could be misinterpreted;” The Witch Book: The Texas Youth Commission operates juvenile correctional facilities. Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-Paganism Author: Buckland, Raymond You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Synopsis: This collection, written by an elder in the Witchcraft movement, provides brief Pirate’s Prisoner outlines on a wide variety of topics in modern Author: Malam, John Paganism. Synopsis: You are captain of a Spanish galleon. Suddenly, your ship is attacked by School District: Cypress-Fairbanks ISD pirates. This illustrated children’s book offers Location: Houston the gruesome details of what could occur once School(s) Involved: Cypress Ridge High your life is in the hands of the pirates. School Particularly violent illustrations of people Setting: Library being whipped, burned, and tortured. Reason Cited: Mysticism or paganism Explains the ins and outs of cruelty used on Result: Retained the high seas. Part of a series of “You Notes: Challenged by parent who was Wouldn’t Want to Be…” books. “opposed to subjects of phallic worship, fetish, art deemed pornographic” School District: Keller ISD Location: Keller School(s) Involved: Woodland Springs

Elementary Working Together Against Setting: Library Gang Violence (The Reason Cited: Violent content, especially illustrations Community Participation Result: Banned from elementary school Series) library; transferred to library of feeder school Author: Trapani, Margi for grades 5-6 Synopsis: This book provides advice for young people on how to take an active role in the struggle against gang violence as well as The following books were challenged in Texas how to stand up to peer pressure and avoid schools during the 2004-2005 school year; school situations with the potential for trouble information and the results of any challenges are unavailable: School District: Texas Youth Commission Alligators in the Sewer and Location: Corsicana 222 Other Urban Legends

28 Author: Craughwell, Thomas J. joins in singing “God Bless America” until the Synopsis: We’ve all heard them — urban treacherous “leftists” leave the shop with their legends about aliens landing in Roswell, Elvis heads hung in shame. Recommended for high sightings from beyond the grave, a man found school and up by the School Library Journal. naked at his own surprise party, tales of stolen kidneys and other medical mishaps, and of In the Night Kitchen course, alligators roaming city sewer lines. Author: Sendak, Maurice This book collects many of the better-known Synopsis: Mickey, a small boy, dreams of a myths, and dozens of lesser-known gems. “Night Kitchen,” where he makes a cake with

a cook that looks like Oliver Hardy and has an Bumps in the Night adventure looking for milk for the morning Author: Allard, Harry cake. Synopsis: When he discovers his house is haunted, Dudley Stork enlists the help of his Loose Women friends to find out what is causing the spooky Author: Cisneros, Sandra noises. This is an amusing adventure tale. Synopsis: Poems of Sandra Cisneros (author of The House on Mango Street) from the The Cat in the Dryer and 222 perspective of a worldly, Mexican-American independent woman who writes about life, Other Urban Legends love, lust, and other issues. Author: Craughwell, Thomas J. Synopsis: Collection of urban legends including celebrity rumors, scams, pranks, One Door Away from Heaven hoaxes, and scary stories. Special section Author: Koontz, Dean dedicated to what the author calls a new kind Synopsis: Action-thriller meets alien of urban legend, the patriotic urban legend, conspiracy. Micky Bellsong, a young woman which grew after the events of September 11. at a turning point in her life, goes to her aunts “In these stories, Americans strike a blow – in to seek some solace and time to think about nonviolent ways – against those whose her life. Instead, she meets the young, sympathies lie with the terrorists rather than physically deformed Leilani Klonk, whose the victims.” According to the legends that stepfather and drug-addicted mother have follow, those people “whose sympathies lie convinced the girl that aliens will beam her up with the terrorists” are Arabs and “leftists.” In to their spaceship before her tenth birthday one legend, the “Bud Avenger,” two Arab 7- and fix her deformities. As Micky learns more 11 clerks cheer for joy while watching the twin about the young girl’s family, and her towers collapse on TV. In response, the stepfather’s involvement in several murders, Budweiser deliveryman silently removes all she becomes more worried that the young girl Budweiser products from the shelves of the could face a more terrible fate. In a second store and then spreads word to his fellow plot, Curtis Hammond is being chased by two deliverymen who follow suit until the shelves different cross-country manhunts – one led by are empty and the store goes out of business. the FBI and the other by a group of mass In a coffee shop in Idaho, where some “leftist” murderers. The novel breaches a number of college students are having a discussion about touchy topics like assisted suicide and their opposition to military action against substance abuse and takes an impassioned Afghanistan and the Taliban, the patrons all stand against utilitarian bioethics. stare in stunned silence and then everyone

29 Rainbow Boys Author: Sanchez, Alex; Louth, Jack Synopsis: Mature novel dealing with the senior high year of three gay youths grappling with issues ranging from “coming out” to first love to unprotected sex to HIV/AIDS. Lists contact information for support organizations.

Running Loose Author: Crutcher, Chris Synopsis: A teenager’s senior year in high school becomes challenging as he is kicked off the football team for opposing the football coach and his girlfriend is killed in a car accident.

Sally Go Round the Sun Author: Fowke, Edith Synopsis: 1969 publication of children's games and songs by a Canadian folklorist

Sari Says: The Real Dirt on Everything from Sex to School

Author: Locker, Sari Synopsis: Teen People online advice columnist Sari Locker addresses families, friendship, crushes (including interracial dating), body image, body piercing, tattoos, sexual health, and other issues of interest to young people.

Something Upstairs: A Ghost Story Author: Avi Synopsis: When he moves from Los Angeles to Providence, Rhode Island, Kenny discovers that his new house is haunted by the spirit of a black slave boy, Caleb, who asks Kenny to return with him to the early nineteenth century and prevent his murder by slave traders. Awards: 2003 Boston Globe-Horn Book

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Challenged Books ORDERED BY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Aldine ISD Witch Book: The Encyclopedia The Chocolate War by Robert

The Trench by Steve Alten of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo- Cormier Paganism by Raymond Alief ISD Industrial ISD Bucklin Crazy Lady by Jane Leslie Crosses by Shelley Stoehr

Conly Donna ISD Irving ISD Rugrats Stormy Weather by Amarillo ISD City Lights: A Poet’s Anthology Molly Wigand Sloppy Firsts by Megan by Lawrence Ferlinghetti McCafferty DRAW Academy (Editor) The Queen of Everything by Like Jake and Me by Mavis The Ultimate Spy Book by H.

Deb Caletti Jukes Keith Melton

Austin ISD Erath Excels! Academy Joshua ISD

Life is Funny by E.R. Frank Journals by Kurt Cobain Dunk by David Lubar Safe at Second by Scott Burleson ISD Elgin ISD Johnson Go Ask Alice by Anonymous Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ziegesar Carrollton-Farmers ISD Ron Koertge Sisterhood of the Traveling Fort Davis ISD The Princess Diaries by Meg

Pants by Ann Brashares The Crucible by Arthur Miller Cabot

Chisum ISD Fort Hancock ISD Judson ISD Forever by Judy Blume Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling What My Mother Doesn’t Know

by Sonya Sones Conroe ISD Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Alice Alone by Phyllis When Plague Strikes by James Keller ISD Reynolds Naylor Cross Giblin The Gorillas of Gill Park by

Corpus Christi ISD Gregory-Portland ISDThe Amy Gordon Love Hina 12 by Ken Bad Beginning (A Series of You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Akamatsu Unfortunate Events, Vol. 1) by Pirate’s Prisoner by John

Malam So Far from the Bamboo Grove Lemony Snicket and Other Readings by Yoko Hallettsville ISD Killeen ISD Kawashima Watkins Age of Bronze: A Thousand Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn There’s an Owl in the Shower Ships by Eric Shanower by Jean Craighead George Harlandale ISD Beyond the Burning Time by Danger: Cocaine by Ruth Crandall ISD Katherine Lasky Chier My Brother Sam is Dead by Tyler on Prime Time by Steve James and Chris Colliet Atinsky Hays CISD

Prey by Michael Crichton Stones in Water by Donna Jo Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Napoli Making the Run by Heather Humble ISD Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher Henson My Chimp Friday by Hester The Stand-Off by Chuck Mundis Liberty Hill ISD

Hogan The Dare by R.L. Stine Idalou ISD Longview ISD Plano ISD The Ultimate Spy Book by H. A Gathering of Old Men by Akira Vol. 2 by Katsuhiro Keith Melton Ernest J. Gaines Otomo Working Together Against Gang

It’s Not the End of the World by Taking Care of your Dog by Violence by Margi Trapani Judy Blume Helen Piers Waxahachie ISD A Day No Pigs Would Die by The Mystery of the Pirate Ghost Blister by Susan Shreve Robert Newton Peck by Geoffrey Hayes Love and Other Four-Letter Lueders-Avoca ISD Round Rock ISD Words by Carolyn Mackler Shutterbug Follies by Jason Forgotten Fire by Adam Mick Harte Was Here by

Little Bagdasarian Barbara Park Trauma-rama: Life’s Most Liberty-Eyala ISD Seguin ISD Embarrassing Moments…and Detour for Emmy by Marilyn Detour for Emmy by Marilyn How to Deal by Megan Stine Reynolds Reynolds Challenged Books – School Mansfield ISD South Texas ISD District Information and Lizard by Dennis Covington Brave New World by Alduous Result of Challenge Huxley McKinney ISD Unavailable Stranger in a Strange Land by Starring Sally J. Freedman as Robert A. Heinlein Herself by Judy Blume Alligators in the Sewer by Whirligig by Paul Fleischman Texas Youth Commission Thomas J. Craughwell Black Talk by Geneva Bumps in the Night by Harry Mercedes ISD Allard Too Old for This, Too Young for Smitherman Boy Gets Girl: A Play by Cat in the Dryer by Thomas J. That by Harriet S. Mosatche Rebecca Gilman Craughwell Mesquite ISD Changing Bodies, Changing In the Night Kitchen by Alice the Brave by Phyllis Lives by Ruth Bell Maurice Sendak Reynolds Naylor Cults by Karen Zeinert Loose Women by Sandra

Mount Enterprise ISD Fear Nothing by Dean Koontz Cisneros Highs! Over 150 Ways to Feel Gangs: Opposing Viewpoints One Door Away from Heaven Really Good without Alcohol or by Gail B. Stewart (editor) by Dean Koontz

Drugs by Alex J. Packer Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Rainbow Boys by Alex Strasser Sanchez, Jack Louth Nederland ISD Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen Running Loose by Chris The Crucible by Arthur Miller King Crutcher New Braunsfels ISD The Period Book by Karen and Sally Go Round the Sun by

Nothing but the Truth by Avi Jennifer Gravelle Edith Fowke Pornography: Opposing Sari Says: The Real Dirt on Northside ISD Viewpoints by Helen Cothran Everything from Sex to School Night Riding by Katherine (editor) by Sari Locker Martin Revolutionary Voices by Amy Something Upstairs: A Ghost The Hunting of the Last Dragon Sonnie Story by Avi by Sherryl Jordan Sex Education by Tamara L. Tenderness by Robert Cormier Pasadena ISD RoleffSuicide: Opposing UFO Abductions by Neal Forever by Judy Blume Viewpoints by Michael D. Bernard

Perryton ISD Bisskup and Carol Wekesser (editors) Tell No One by Harlan Coben

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