FREE PEOPLE READ FREELY

11th Annual Report on Banned and Challenged Books in Texas Public Schools 2006-2007

and exclusive interview with banned book author SUSAN PATRON winner of the 2007 Newbery Award

National Banned Books Week 2007 September 29, 2007

INTRODUCTION

Nothing could be simpler than the truly American notion that free people read freely.

Yet every year in Texas, schools fall victim to self-appointed censors who wish to restrict the knowledge available to students. Censorship breeds ignorance. No school funding plan can improve education in our state when knowledge is withheld.

Reading books that challenge assumptions that tackle difficult or controversial subjects, or contain thoughts or language that some find objectionable does not harm students. Rather the contrary. Students learn from being exposed to new ideas. They develop an appreciation for different viewpoints. They are better able to function effectively in a diverse society, and are better able to serve our communities and our state as leaders. In other words, they grow capable of exercising the rights and freedoms all Texans are entitled to enjoy.

Each year for eleven years, the ACLU Foundation of Texas has published this annual report of books banned or challenged in Texas schools. Our report spotlights schools that ban books from library shelves or from classroom reading lists. But just as importantly, our report highlights schools that decide to retain a book despite a challenge by a parent, a student, a school official, or a member of the public.

This report is only as useful as its users. Who’s going to stand up in communities where books are banned? Who’s going to speak out when great (and lesser) works of literature are censored? The most effective local advocates are local citizens – that means you, concerned members of the community, parents, teachers, librarians, and most importantly students.

I am confident that when one Texan speaks out against censorship, other will stand with you. While the ACLU doesn’t have resources to follow through on every instance of censorship, we do want to help people stand firm against censorship in Texas schools.

Getting involved with the ACLU of Texas – as a member, generous donor, volunteer, or simply by joining our email list at www.aclutx.org – is one way to help assure that censors are not in control of school libraries and reading lists. It is also a great way to help protect civil rights and individual liberties for all Texans.

Our Banned Books Project is organized and led by volunteers. I extend the thanks of the ACLU to our volunteers and chapter leaders who have made this program successful for more than a decade. I also thank the school administrators and librarians who respond each year to the ACLU’s Open Records request. Author Susan Patron has earned our thanks both because of her willingness to be interviewed for our project (see page 30), and for her ongoing work to oppose censorship.

Yours in liberty,

Richard C. Alvarado Interim Executive Director American Civil Liberties Union of Texas

2 FREE PEOPLE READ FREELY number of bans is lower than last year’s 25%, it is more than offset by the much higher number of bans. Restrictions on books, including allowing alternates for “The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, curricular materials, is about 32%. At press time for for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable this report, three challenges are still pending in Texas of exercising real discretion .” schools. The data in the report includes information Henry Steele Commager reported by 1124 districts, or 89.42% of all school districts in Texas. “Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself . It is the hallmark of an authoritarian regime…” How the Report Was Compiled Justice Potter Stewart, dissenting Using a database made available to the public by the Ginsberg v. United States (383 U.S. 463) Texas Education Agency, requests for information

were mailed to all Independent School Districts and “…And when we do that, shut off the dialogue, we do Charter Schools in Texas. The request for information violence to the First Amendment and to the children of this generation and the next generation.” about banned and challenged books was made under John Henry Faulk the authority of the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Ch.552 (commonly known as This is the eleventh consecutive annual report on the Open Records Act). State law requires that public censorship in Texas public schools by the ACLU of entities make available records requested within ten Texas. The information in the report is based on data business days. furnished by 1124 of the over 1200 Independent School Districts and Charter Schools in Texas (information In order to facilitate the process of providing requested requests were sent to all the districts and charter information, a specific list of requests was included, schools). The body of the report, which is indexed by and a form was provided which, if completed, book title, lists the book’s author, the district or charter provided all necessary data. Schools could also opt to school and specific campus in which the book was fill out an on-line form and submit information challenged, the reason for the challenge, the result of electronically. the challenge, and any additional remarks made by the person furnishing the report. A separate listing in the The information forms listed several choices for result back of the report lists the challenged books by school of challenge: banned (removed from library or district. We also include a list of books that were classroom use), use restricted, alternate book allowed, informally challenged, with no official record reported content changed or deleted, retained, and decision by the District of the challenge. pending. Some school districts banned books from certain campuses due to concerns over grade level, but Statistical Summary and Breakdown made no mention of whether the book was available at other grades. Other schools transferred the book from Book challenges one campus to appear to be on the CHALLENGES RESULTING IN BANS another. All books rise in public that were removed schools after a brief 50% from libraries are dip. For the 2006- 45% 44% categorized for 2007 school year, 67 40% 40% purposes of this school districts 35% 36% report as banned; reported challenges 30% 31% however, if the to library books and person furnishing other teaching 25% 25% the report materials, which is 20% indicated that the 5.33% of the 1256 15% book was available public school 10% at other campuses, districts in Texas. 5% this information Forty percent of appears in the reported challenges 0% 2000-2001 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 synopsis. resulted in bans. That figure compares with 25% for 2005-2006, 44% in 2004-2005, 36% in 2003-2004, and 31% in 2000-2001. While the 3 TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION the case of curricular material providing an alternative RESOURCES to the assignment. Exactly one fourth of the challenged The Texas Library Association holds that the freedom materials (29 items) were reinstated without to read is a corollary of the constitutional guarantee of restrictions. Some of the titles reported are series freedom of the press. Freedom of choice in selecting (groups of related books), so the total number of materials is a necessary safeguard to the freedom to individual books banned or restricted is actually read and must be protected against extra-legal higher than the numbers indicate. For example, one of attempts by self-appointed censors to control that the banned series (the Alice series) includes over process. Citizens have the right of free inquiry, and twenty individual titles. The current number and democracy itself rests on an open dialogue and percentage of challenges is more in line with years demands that freedom of the press in all forms of prior to 2005-2006, adding credibility to the idea that public communication be defended and preserved. the 2005-2006 report was a statistical aberration, and not the beginning of a trend. The Association, through its Intellectual Freedom Committee, supports access to information by Interestingly, the most discussed and most highly responding to librarians facing book challenges, awarded book of the year, Newbery Award winner offering model policies and procedures, tracking The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, was only reports of book challenges by its members, and reported once as challenged in Texas. However, the supporting policies and legislative action that respect book has received extensive discussion in the popular access to information. Members of TLA’s Intellectual press as being censored by librarians and teachers for Freedom Committee are also available to consult with using the word “scrotum” in an anatomical context. In librarians facing intellectual freedom challenges. For a February 18, 2007 article in the New York Times , Julie additional information on these resources, go to: Bosman wrote: “The inclusion of the word has shocked book from elementary schools, and reopened the debate over what constitutes acceptable content in Highlights and Discussion children’s books.” When librarians fail to stock books The total number of challenges is dramatically higher that win the highest award in children’s literature, the this year. Sixty-six districts reported challenges for a book has no opportunity to be challenged since it was total of 116 items, compared to 48 districts with 65 censored a priori . See the section on Challenges challenges in 2005-2006, an increase of almost 40% in Without Due Process for more information about the number of districts reporting challenges and a books that have been censored through non-official significant 78% increase in total reported challenges. channels. Another reason this title may be poorly Forty percent of book challenges (46 items) this year represented in this year’s report could be that since resulted in outright bans on the materials. An data for this report are solicited in March, and the additional 32% of material was restricted in some Newbery Award is announced in late January, most fashion (38 items), either by putting the material in the schools would not have received their copies of the librarian’s office, requiring parental permission, or in book in time for challenges before the reports were due.

RESULTS OF CHALLENGES Most-challenged Titles and Authors On this year’s challenge list are some old standbys. The Alternate Adventures of Tom Sawyer is on the list, as is I Know Why allowed the Caged Bird Sings . It wouldn’t be a Banned Books 10% report if a Judy Blume title were not on the list. Her Pending Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret and Then Again, 3% Banned Maybe I Won’t grace the list this year. Kevin Henkes’ 40% Olive’s Ocean is this year’s most challenged book, with Retained five school districts officially considering removing the 25% Newbery Honor title. Cecily von Ziegesar, Dav Pilkey, and Lois Lowry each had books (or entire series) challenged in three districts. Other authors with multiple challenges include Robert Cormier, Cornelia Restricted Funke, Robie H. Harris, Lauren Myracle, Phyllis 22% Reynolds Naylor, Tana Reiff, John Steinbeck, R.L. Stine, Mildred Taylor, Alice Walker, and Paul Zindel. 4 Where are the most challenges? Houston ISD led the list of challenges, with 11 books. Challenges by school grade level Most districts facing challenges had only one challenge, but 22 districts faced multiple challenges this past school year. Most of the districts facing K-12 books challenges came from the North Central Texas area (19 challenged Int/Mid/JH books challenged districts with challenges), though the Houston or 4% 10% South East Texas area was a close second (18 districts with challenges). Nevertheless, South East Texas won the “most challenges” title with a total of 52 challenges HS books challenged compared to 22 in the North Central Texas area. 31%

Elementary CHALLENGES PER DISTRICT books of the 67 districts with challenges challenged 55%

just be age-inappropriate. Sexual content, ranging from

1 challenge child sexual predators to a small boy who loses his 68% pajamas in his dream, came in a close second. The 2 challenges “Other” category ran the gamut from portrayal of a 14% police officer as a serial killer, to “too scary,” to “trashy novel.” 3 challenges Challenges by type 7% 70 4 challenges 61 9% 60 55 >5 challenges 50 5 challenges 1% 1% 40 30 20 20 12 8 Challenged Books by School Level 10 0 Slightly more than half of titles challenged (52%) were Violence or Profanity, Sexual Mysticism or Other at the elementary school level. High school challenges Horror inappropriate Content Paganism language were a distant second, with 32%. Elementary parents are traditionally more involved in their children’s schooling than at other levels, which might explain the The Impact of Accelerated Reader higher attention parents pay to what their children One factor that shows up on at least one challenge is read at that level. The low challenge rate at the middle “Accelerated Reader status.” Accelerated Reader is a school level may stem from the shorter period of time widely-used computerized reading incentive program students are at those campuses, or an increasing in which students are required or pressured to read student need for privacy in their person and school books at a certain reading level, called the Zone of work with the onset of puberty. Another contributing Proximal Development, or ZPD. Books that are “AR cause may be that at that age students are more books” have a computer-administered, low-level test homogeneously grouped with those of a similar over certain facts about the book, to allegedly prove maturity level, so there is less likelihood of a parent of that the student actually read the book. Students read a young child challenging access to more mature AR-identified books, and take the computerized test to material, as might happen in a Pre-K to grade 6 school. earn “AR points” which are exchanged for tangible A few books are indicated as K-12 because the school rewards such as pencils or candy. Some schools offer in which the challenge takes place houses all students larger rewards such as special events or field trips that in the district, and students of all ages would have can be purchased with AR points. Just about any trade access to those titles. book can be an “AR book” if the school purchases or creates a test for that book. In many AR schools, those Reasons for challenge who select library books are urged to purchase only As in previous years, inappropriate language was the books for which there exist AR tests. AR has become a number one reason books were challenged. The driving force in library collection development, and inappropriate language may be profanity, or it may many book selectors look first to AR test availability, 5 then reading level, in selecting books. However, many Challenges Without Due Process books with mature subject matter but written at a low Because The Higher Power of Lucky didn’t show up on reading level entice older, mature students with low the challenged list until late in the collection process, reading skills. When a book selector looks only to AR we decided to investigate informal bans – bans and status and reading level in making book selections, restrictions on materials that are imposed at the and doesn’t read reviews or know the literature building level without going through the formal landscape well enough to know what types of books reconsideration process. These types of censorship are some authors write, some of these age-inappropriate, particularly difficult to root out because there is no low-reading-level books may end up in collections for documentation of the process or the rationale used. An younger students. These mistakenly selected titles may individual in a position of power (the principal who be appropriately challenged in order to rid collections receives an objection from a parent, teacher, or simply of materials that should never have been there in the reads about a book in a newspaper article; or a first place. librarian who views a book that was selected according to district policy and decides after the fact that the A key factor in these suspect book selection practices, book is inappropriate) removes or restricts access to aside from curricular and administrative pressure to materials based on the opinion of this one person. Such purchase only books for which there are AR tests, is actions violate board policy in almost all cases, but are the fact that many districts have replaced certified, not reported through the Texas Public Information Act degreed librarians with library aides. Library aides do request process because there is no official proceeding not have qualifications in book selection or children’s to report. literature that certified librarians receive in their training, and they might not consider reviews, awards, To collect this data, we asked the librarians who were author history, and other factors that a certified school subscribed to the Texas Library Association’s TLC librarian would consider in making book purchases or (Texas Library Connection) mailing list if they were reading recommendations to students. Even certified aware of any informal challenges in their buildings or librarians may be pressured to select inappropriately. districts. This is an imperfect process, since the One middle school librarian wrote: “[T]he reading librarians are unlikely to report self-censorship. dept. chair and I chose the [AR] titles. We had a potfull However, they may report administrative restrictions of money and a short time-frame. It was much easier to on materials. The other flaw in this data collection is order by sets than individually. And they wanted that the request was not made to librarians until the some college bound titles. Some of those titles could second week in June, and most librarians were off- get a JH library into trouble.” When such selection is contract and therefore not monitoring this email list done on a school-by-school basis by a trained librarian, during that time. the librarian will deselect inappropriate materials when the books arrive and re-route them to a campus Despite the obstacles, thirteen librarians reported with a more sophisticated student body. An untrained sixteen administrative bans in the last school year. aide may not know the difference. None of these administrative bans were reported through the Texas Public Information Act collection The larger problem, though, is the lack of qualified, process. The reasons for the administrative censorship certified librarians available to guide students to ranged from “locker room language” ( Friday Night appropriate literature. More and more districts are Lights ), to “because author is a radical insurgent and replacing retiring librarians with clerks, believing that leader of the Zapatista Party of National Liberation” all a librarian does is check out books. Districts such as (The Story of Colors=La Historia de los Colores ). These Houston ISD, White Settlement ISD, Beckville ISD, books were simply taken from the library, or ordered Keene ISD, Southside ISD (San Antonio), and Waco sequestered, based on the opinion of one person. ISD are examples of districts where librarian positions Because of the lack of scientific sampling, the informal have been filled with aides. One regional Education bans are not included in the data from which this Service Center (ESC) area, with 31 school districts, has report was compiled, but a list of the books and the only four certified librarians in schools. Texas reasons for their challenge is appended to this report. standards for school libraries and school library Districts with administrative bans include: Bullard staffing are advisory, not mandatory, so schools feel ISD, Collinsville ISD, Corpus Christi ISD, Dickinson free to cut corners on the position, leaving reading ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Harlingen ISD, Leander ISD, guidance and collection development in the hands of Lewisville ISD, Liberty Hill ISD, Marion ISD, Peaster untrained and unqualified personnel. < ISD, and San Antonio ISD. One respondent refused to http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/schoollibs/> identify the school district for fear of retaliation.

6

BANNED BOOKS

Books Removed From Library Shelves or Class Reading Lists

Allende, Isabel Hee, Lee Yun Pilobolus and John Kane House of Spirits Demon Diary The Human Alphabet

Anonymous Henkes, Kevin Reiff, Tana Go Ask Alice Olive's Ocean So Long, Snowman Take Away Three Avi Howe, Norma Wolf rider, A Tale of Terror The Adventures of the Blue Rodriguez, Victor Avenger Eldorado in East Harlem Blume, Judy Then Again, Maybe I Won't Hrdlitschka, Shelley Rowling, J.K. Dancing Naked Harry Potter (entire series) Chbosky, Stephen The Perks of Being A Wallflower LeGuin, Ursula Sendak, Maurice A Fisherman of the Inland Sea In the Night Kitchen Codell, Esme Raji Educating Esme Limb, Sue Steer, Dugald Girl 15, Charming but Insane Wizardology Cole, Brock The Facts Speak For Themselves Lynch, Chris Stine, R.L. Slot Machine Nightmare Hour Duncan, Lois, editor On the Edge: Stories at the Brink Mac, Carrie Strasser, Todd Charmed Give a Boy a Gun Funke, Cornelia Inkheart Mackler, Carolyn Temple, Charles Inkspell The Earth, My Butt & Other Train Big Round Things Garden, Nancy Tyree, Omar Endgame Murray, Martine What They Want The Slightly True Story of Gerstein, Mordicai Cedar B. Hartley von Ziegesar, Cecily Stop Those Pants Gossip Girl (entire series) Myracle, Lauren Green, John The Fashion Disaster That Walker, Alice Looking for Alaska Changed My Life The Color Purple

Guest, Judith Paulsen, Gary Watase, Yuu Ordinary People Zero to Sixty The Art of Ceres, Celestial Legend Harris, Robie H. Pilkey, Dav, et al It's Perfectly Normal The Adventures of Super Zindel, Paul Diaper Baby Loch

7

RESTRICTED BOOKS

Books Restricted to Readers Based on Age, Reading Level, Parental Permission, etc.

Bennett, Cherie Grisham, John Pascal, Francine Life in the Fat Lane A Time to Kill My First Love and Other Disasters Blackstone, Margaret Gwaltney, Doris & Eissa Haden Guest Homefront Patron, Susan Girl Stuff: A Survival Guide to The Higher Power of Lucky Growing Up Henkes, Kevin Olive's Ocean PBS Producers: Rachel Bradbury, Ray Dretzin, Barak Goodman Fahrenheit 451 Hillenbrand, Laura Frontline: The Merchants of Seabiscuit Cool (video) Brashares, Ann The Sisterhood of the Traveling King, Jonathon Philbrick, Rodman Pants A Killing Night The Last Book In the Universe

Buckhanon, Kalisha Lee, Harper Pilkey, Dav, et al Upstate To Kill a Mockingbird The Adventures of Captain Underpants Cabot, Meg Lowry, Lois Boy Next Door Anastasia, Again! Rodman, Mary Ann Number the Stars Yankee Girl Cormier, Robert The Chocolate War Mcneal, Laura Rodriguez, Luis I Am The Cheese Zipped Always Running

Crutcher, Chris Myracle, Lauren Steinbeck, John Running Loose TTYL The Grapes of Wrath

Enthoven, Sam Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds Taylor, Mildred The Black Tattoo Alice (entire series) Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry

Gardner, John Olsen, Sylvia Twain, Mark Grendel The Girl With a Baby The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Giblin, James Cross and David Parnall, Peter and Justin Frampton Richardson Walker, Alice When Plague Strikes: The Black And Tango Makes Three The Color Purple Death, Smallpox, AIDS

8

RETAINED BOOKS

School Retained Book in Library or on Class Reading List Despite Challenge

Austin ISD Keller ISD McKinney ISD Kocurek Elementary Indian Springs Middle McKinney High School Stine, R.L., Bride of the Living School Hesse, Herman, Siddhartha Dummy (Goosebumps Series) Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds, Alice on Her Way Nederland ISD Barbers Hill ISD Highland Park Elementary Elementary Schools Kennedale ISD Browne, Anthony, Willy's Gorman, Carol, Dork in Arthur Intermediate Pictures Disguise Taylor, Mildred, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Langham Elementary Boerne ISD Seuss, Dr., Bartholomew and Boerne Middle School North Klein ISD the Oobleck Fraser, Celeste, World Theiss Elem Geography - Building a Global Lowry, Lois, The Giver New Boston ISD Perspective Northampton Elem New Boston Middle School McKee, David, Tusk, Tusk Baer, Judy, Broken Promises Canutillo ISD Alderete Middle School Leander ISD North East ISD Ferris, Jean, Eight Seconds Laura Bush Elementary Fox Run Elementary School Payan, Gregory, Chemical Jeffrey, Gary and Romano Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD and Biological Weapons: Felmang, Egyptian Myths Chisholm Ridge Elementary Anthrax and Sarin Bright, Michael, Endangered & Northside ISD Extinct Prehistoric Animals Knowles Elementary All middle schools Tamaki, Hisao, Star Wars: a Hautman, Pete, Invisible Fort Bend ISD New Hope (manga version) Fort Settlement Middle School All elementary schools Brown, Dan, The Da Vinci Code Liberty Hill ISD Snyder, Zilpha Keatley, The Liberty Hill Intermediate Witches of Worm Houston ISD Henkes, Kevin, Olive's Hogg Middle School Ocean Silverton ISD Hinton, S.E., The Outsiders Silverton School Mabank ISD Steinbeck, John, The Red Revere Middle School Maybank Middle School Pony Logue, Mary, Dancing with an Fredericks, Mariah, The Alien True Meaning of Cleavage Spring Branch ISD Stratford High School Humble ISD Magnolia ISD Angelou, Maya, I Know Atascosita Middle School Magnolia West High School Why the Caged Bird Sings Coman, Carolyn, What Jamie Preston, Richard, The Hot Saw Zone Tyler ISD Eberhardt, Thom, Rat Boys Kissam Middle School Zindel, Paul, Rats

9 BANNED AND CHALLENGED BOOKS – By School

Alvin ISD Action taken: Retained Notes: Challenged by faculty. School: Manvel High School Notes: Parent complains that textbook Inappropriate illustrations. Book: A Killing Night , by Jonathon King doesn't address TEKS curriculum. “We Reason cited: Sexual Content, Violence, should use another book or not use one School: Alderete Middle School Other at all, they say.” Book: Eight Seconds , by Jean Ferris Action taken: Use Restricted Reason cited: Other-- Notes: Portrayal of main character - Brazos ISD Action taken: Retained police officer becomes serial killer School: Brazos Middle School Notes: Challenged by parent. Book: The Facts Speak For Themselves , by “Alternative lifestyle of character is Austin ISD Brock Cole inappropriate for ages 11-14.” School: Kocurek Elementary Reason cited: Profanity, Language Book: Bride of the Living Dummy Action taken: Banned Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD (Goosebumps Series) by R.L. Stine School: all schools Reason cited: Other-- too scary School: Brazos Middle School Book: The Grapes of Wrath , by John Action taken: R etained Book: The Adventures of the Blue Avenger , Steinbeck Notes: Too scary for elementary by Norma Howe Reason cited: Other-- children. Reason cited: Profanity, Language Action taken: Retained Action taken: Banned Notes: “Challenged as a "Trashy Barber’s Hill ISD novel".” School: Intermediate School Grades School: Brazos Elementary School 5&6 Book: Stop Those Pants , by Mordicai Cedar Hill ISD Book: On the Edge: Stories at the Brink , by Gerstein School: Lake Ridge Elementary Lois Duncan, ed. Reason cited: Profanity, Language Book: In the Night Kitchen , by Maurice Reason cited: Profanity or Action taken: Banned Sendak Inappropriate language Notes: “It was a gift given to us after Reason cited: Other-- Action taken: Banned our library burned down. It was in bad Action taken: Banned Notes: Mature content shape to begin with.” Notes: Nudity

School: Primary School Grades 1&2 Brazos School for Inquiry and School: Joe Wilson Intermediate Book: The Adventures of Super Diaper Creativity Book: Alice Books (series), by Phyllis Baby , by Dav Pilkey et al School: Elementary Reynolds Naylor Reason cited: Profanity, Sexual Content Book: Harry Potter (entire series), by J. Action taken: Banned K. Rowling Reason cited: Sexual content Notes: The challenge was make by a Reason cited: Mysticism or Paganism Action taken: Restricted parent. Action taken: Banned (Special permission required) Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD School: Middle School Grades 7-8 Notes: “Teacher was reading it aloud in School: Lincoln Jr. High Book: Life in the Fat Lane , by Cherie class. Parent asked us not to read the Book: Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Bennett book. We were surprised. Did research Ziegesar Reason cited: Profanity or to find that book is often challenged. Reason cited: sexual content Inappropriate language We respected parent's wishes and chose Action taken: Banned Action taken: Use Restricted another book to read.” Notes: “Seemed to be advocating pre- Notes: The challenge was make by a marital sex.” parent. Burkeville ISD School: Burkeville Secondary Columbia-Brazosport ISD School: Elementary Schools Grades 3&4 Book: Ordinary People , by Judith Guest School: West Brazos Junior High Book: Dork in Disguise , by Carol Reason cited: Profanity, sexual content Book: A Fisherman of the Inland Sea , by Gorman Action taken: Banned Ursula LeGuin Reason cited: Profanity or Notes: Book challenged and removed Reason cited: Profanity or Inappropriate language from library after investigation into inappropriate language Action taken: Retained content. Action taken: Banned Notes: Other-vandalism. The challenge Notes: “Challenge taken through the was made by a parent. Canutillo ISD district policy process with unanimous School: Alderete Middle School decision to remove book from library.” Boerne ISD Book: It's Perfectly Normal , by Robie H. School: Boerne Middle School North Harris School: West Brazos Junior High Book: World Geography - Building a Reason cited: Other-- Book: Zero to Sixty , by Gary Paulsen Global Perspective , by Celeste Fraser Action taken: Banned Reason cited: Profanity, inappropriate Reason cited: Other-- language, sexual content 10 Action taken: Banned reading book due to mature language. Notes: Bluebonnet Award book; use Notes: “Challenge taken through the Accelerated Reader status deleted. restricted to upper elementary students. district policy process with unanimous decision to remove book from library. School: Middle School Ector County ISD Book was inappropriate for junior high Book: Life Strategies for Teens , by Jay School: Permian High School level.” McGraw Book: Grendel , by John Gardner Reason cited: Profanity, Language, Reason cited: Profanity or Conroe ISD Sexual Content inappropriate language and sexual School: Caney Creek High School Action taken: Decision pending content Book: Fahrenheit 451 , by Ray Bradbury Notes: School board member received Action taken: Alternate book allowed Reason cited: Profanity, Language letter of complaint from a woman in his Notes: Student was offered alternative Action taken: Allowed alternate book office, forwarded to superintendent. reading selection. Parent and student Notes: “The District allowed the Info regarding school policy on banned declined. complainant’s daughter to read another books was given to superintendent's book.” assistant. Fort Bend ISD School: Pecan Grove Elementary School Coppell ISD Diboll ISD Book: Olive's Ocean , by Kevin Henkes School: middle schools School: Diboll High School Reason cited: Profanity, Inappropriate Book: TTYL , by Lauren Myracle Book: Endgame , by Nancy Garden Language Reason cited: Profanity, Sexual Content Reason cited: Sexual Content Action taken: Restricted Action taken: Use Restricted Action taken: Banned Notes: Challenge made by parent. Book Notes: Removed from middle school Notes: Removed from the library; to remain on library shelves for 5th collection. Placed at high school level. challenge made by teacher. grade students.

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD School: Diboll High School School: Fort Settlement Middle School School: Postma Elementary Book: Looking for Alaska , by John Green Book: The Da Vinci Code , by Dan Brown Book: It's Perfectly Normal , by Robie H. Reason cited: Sexual Content Reason cited: Other-- Harris Action taken: Banned Action taken: Retained Reason cited: Sexual Content Notes: Removed from the library; Notes: Misrepresentation of church Action taken: Banned challenge made by teacher. history. Challenge made by parent. Notes: Student showed the book to her parent, who showed it to librarian. Dublin ISD Frisco ISD Librarian and principal agreed the title School: junior high School: Elementary Schools was inappropriate for the campus. Book: The Chocolate War , by Robert Book: And Tango Makes Three , by Peter Cormier Parnall and Justin Richardson School: Frazier Elementary Reason cited: Profanity, Language, Reason cited: Other -- Book: So Long, Snowman , by Tana Reiff Sexual Content, Violence Action taken: Use restricted Reason cited: Profanity, Language Action taken: Restricted Notes: Sensitive subject matter and the Action taken: Banned Notes: The challenge was made by a book is written so that young readers Notes: Title did not meet campus parent. The committee decided to place may be drawn to the book and not fully interpretation of District's objectives of the book in the AP section of the High understand the subject matter. enrichment/support of curriculum or School Library for volunteer reading. Challenged by principal. personal needs of students. Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD Grapevine-Colleyville ISD School: Frazier Elementary School: Chisholm Ridge Elementary School: Bear Creek Elementary Book: Take Away Three , by Tana Reiff Book: Endangered & Extinct Prehistoric Book: When Plague Strikes: The Black Reason cited: Profanity, Language Animals , by Michael Bright Death, Smallpox, AIDS , by James Cross Action taken: Banned Reason cited: Sexual Content Giblin and David Frampton Notes: Title did not meet campus Action taken: Retained Reason cited: Sexual Content, Other-- interpretation of District's objectives of Notes: Parent complained of pictures of Action taken: Restricted enrichment/support of curriculum or naked men. Said it's no different than Notes: "Could stir up fears based on personal needs of students. pornography and the book is only subject matter of plagues." The book appropriate for married adults. Review was placed in a professional collection School: Adam Elementary committee found it completely available only to teachers. Book: Yankee Girl , by Mary Ann appropriate for students. Rodman Henderson ISD Reason cited: Profanity, Language, Eanes ISD School: Henderson Middle School Violence, Horror School: Eanes Elementary Book: Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry , by Action taken: Restricted Book: Olive's Ocean , by Kevin Henkes Mildred Taylor Notes: Tagged title for 5th grade Reason cited: Profanity, Inappropriate Reason cited: Profanity or checkout only. Note to ask student if Language, Sexual Content Inappropriate language parent would be okay with them Action taken: Restricted Action taken: Alternate book allowed 11 Notes: Gang related violence Notes: Challenged by third grade Highland Park ISD (Dallas) teacher; too sexually explicit for School: Highland Park High School School: Revere Middle School elementary age children. Book: Frontline: The Merchants of Cool Book: Dancing with an Alien , by Mary (video), by PBS Producers: Rachel Logue Katy ISD Dretzin, Barak Goodman Reason cited: Sexual Content School: Jo Ella Exely Elementary Reason cited: Sexual Content Action taken: Retained Book: The Fashion Disaster That Changed Action taken: Restricted My Life , By Lauren Myracle School: Davis High School Reason cited: Profanity, Language, Houston ISD Book: Always Running , by Luis Sexual Content School: Edison Middle School Rodriguez Action taken: Banned Book: House of the Spirits , by Isabel Reason cited: Profanity, Violence Notes: Book was removed and Allende Action taken: Alternative book allowed transferred to a Katy ISD junior high Reason cited: Sexual Content school library. Action taken: Banned Humble ISD School: Kingwood Middle School Keller ISD School: Hartman Middle School Book: Girl 15, Charming but Insane , by School: Indian Springs Middle School Book: Demon Diary , by Lee Yun Hee et Sue Limb Book: Alice on Her Way , by Phyllis al Reason cited: Profanity, Inappropriate Reynolds Naylor Reason cited: Violence, Horror, Language, Sexual Content Reason cited: Sexual Content Mysticism, Paganism Action taken: Banned Action taken: Retained Action taken: Banned Notes: Parental challenge Notes: Campus committee was unanimous in decision to leave book on School: Golfcrest Elementary School School: Atascosita Middle School the regular-access library shelves. Book: The Earth, My Butt & Other Big Book: What Jamie Saw , by Carolyn Committee includes teachers, librarian, Round Things , by Carolyn Mackler Coman parent, and school counselor. Reason cited: Sexual Content Reason cited: Profanity, Inappropriate Action taken: Banned Language Kennedale ISD Action taken: Retained School: Arthur Intermediate School: Marshall Middle School Notes: Parental challenge Book: Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry , by Book: Eldorado in East Harlem , by Victor Mildred Taylor Rodriquez School: Atascosita Middle School Reason cited: Profanity, Language Reason cited: Profanity, Sexual Content Book: Rat Boys , by Thom Eberhardt Action taken: Retained Action taken: Banned Reason cited: Profanity, Inappropriate Notes: Book remains as approved Language classroom text with no restrictions. School: Crockett Elementary School Action taken: Retained Book: Nightmare Hour , by R. L. Stine Notes: Parental challenge School: Kennedale High School Reason cited: Violence, Horror, Book: Running Loose , by Chris Crutcher Mysticism, Paganism Karnes City ISD Reason cited: Profanity, Sexual Content Action taken: Banned School: Karnes City Junior High Action taken: Alternate book allowed Notes: Witchcraft Book: The Black Tattoo , by Sam Notes: Book was removed from Enthoven required reading list, but is still School: Sharpstown High School Reason cited: Mysticism or Paganism available in library and still available as Book: What They Want , by Omar Tyree Action taken: Restricted alternative reading selection in class. Reason cited: Profanity, Sexual Content Notes: If desired for checkout, students Action taken: Banned must first take home a book summary Klein ISD and secure written parent approval. School: Theiss Elementary School: Revere Middle School Book: The Giver , by Lois Lowry Book: The Art of Ceres, Celestial Legend , School: Roger E. Sides Elementary Reason cited: Other-- by Yuu Watase Book: Homefront , by Doris Gwaltney Action taken: Retained Reason cited: Sexual Content Reason cited: Sexual Content Notes: Designated for curriculum use at Action taken: Banned Action taken: Restricted intermediate grade levels and not Notes: Challenged by third grade elementary. Retained in library. School: Empowerment College Prep HS teacher; too sexually explicit for Challenge made by someone outside of Book: Upstate , by Kalisha Buckhanon elementary age children. school system. Reason cited: Profanity, Sexual Content Action taken: Restricted, Content School: Roger E. Sides Elementary School: Northampton Elementary Changed or Deleted Book: Olive's Ocean , by Kevin Henkes Book: Tusk, Tusk , by David McKee School: Hogg Middle School Reason cited: Sexual Content Reason cited: Other-- Book: The Outsiders , by S.E. Hinton Action taken: Restricted Action taken: Retained Reason cited: Other-- Notes: Inappropriate for students in Action taken: Retained primary grade levels. Call number 12 changed. Challenge made by someone Book: The Girl With a Baby , by Sylvia Reason cited: Sexual content outside of school system. Olsen Action taken: Alternate book allowed Reason cited: Profanity, inappropriate Notes: Challenged by 2 parents - both School: Benigus Elementary language, sexual content elementary teachers. One scene Book: Anastasia Again! , by Lois Lowry Action taken: Retained with notation describes actions of a prostitute; not Reason cited: none about possible objectionable material explicit, only suggestive. Action taken: Restricted Notes: “Book provides insight into Notes: “No formal request or challenge. cultural differences and into School: Magnolia High School Question by student's guardian. difficulties/prejudices/stereotypes Book: To Kill a Mockingbird , by Harper Challenge made by someone outside of associated with teenage pregnancy. Lee school system.” Book meets/exceeds criteria for Reason cited: Profanity or selection despite content that some find Inappropriate language School: Schindewolf Intermediate objectionable.” Action taken: Alternate book allowed Book: I Am The Cheese , by Robert Cormier School: Bill Burden Elementary Mansfield ISD Reason cited: Profanity, Inappropriate Book: The Adventures of Captain School: Danny Jones Middle School Language Underpants , by Dav Pilkey et al Book: Dancing Naked , by Shelley Action taken: Alternate book allowed Reason cited: Other-- Hrdlitschka Notes: Challenge made by someone Action taken: Restricted Reason cited: Profanity, Language outside the school system Notes: “Principal and selected teachers Action taken: Banned disapproved of content. All copies Notes: “Patron feels book glorifies teen Leander ISD removed and placed in restricted area; pregnancy.” School: Wiley Middle School may only be checked out with parental Book: Zipped , by Laura Mcneal permission -- no formal procedure McKinney ISD Reason cited: Sexual Content followed for removal.” School: McKinney High School Action taken: Restricted Book: Siddhartha , by Herman Hesse Notes: No formal challenge; after a School: Liberty Hill Intermediate Reason cited: Sexual Content librarian read the book following a Book: Olive's Ocean , by Kevin Henkes Action taken: Retained parent's concern, she now requires Reason cited: Sexual content Notes: “On Curriculum. Formal parent permission. Action taken: Retained challenge was made anonymously. Notes: “Followed district procedure for Campus committee met and School: Laura Bush Elementary challenged materials; book retained unanimously voted to retain the book.” Book: Chemical and Biological Weapons: upon committee's recommendation.” Anthrax and Sarin , by Gregory Payan Midland ISD Reason cited: Violence Mabank ISD School: Emerson Elementary Action taken: Retained School: Middle School Book: Number the Stars , by Lois Lowry Notes: First grade parent concerned Book: The True Meaning of Cleavage , by Reason cited: Mysticism or Paganism about appropriateness of topic for Mariah Fredericks Action taken: Alternate book allowed elementary age children. Reason cited: Profanity, Language, Notes: “Parent believed the Star of Sexual Content, Mysticism or Paganism, David on cover was a pentagram School: Knowles Elementary Drug References associated with witchcraft. Parent Book: Star Wars: a New Hope (manga Action taken: Retained believed that a passage which said version), by Hisao Tamaki "down a dark path" had a figurative Reason cited: Profanity or Magnolia ISD meaning of an evil way of life.” Inappropriate language School: four elementary schools Action taken: Retained Book: The Higher Power of Lucky , by Nacogdoches ISD Notes: Parent filed reconsideration Susan Patron School: Brooks Quinn Jones Elementary request because of language. Reason cited: Profanity or Book: The Human Alphabet , by Pilobolus Inappropriate language and John Kane School: Deer Creek Elementary Action taken: Restricted Reason cited: Sexual Content Book: Are You There God? It's Me, Notes: Parent challenges Action taken: Banned Margaret , by Judy Blume Notes: “The children thought the Reason cited: Profanity, inappropriate School: Magnolia West High School human bodies creating the alphabet language, sexual content Book: The Hot Zone , by Richard Preston were inappropriate poses.” Action taken: Pending Reason cited: Profanity, inappropriate Notes: Second grade parent was language, sexual content School: Brooks Quinn Jones Elementary concerned about appropriateness for Action taken: Retained Book: Give a Boy a Gun , by Todd that grade level. Notes: Challenge by parent (elementary Strasser teacher) Reason cited: Profanity, Language, Liberty Hill ISD Violence, Horror School: Liberty Hill High School School: Magnolia West High School Action taken: Banned Book: Seabiscuit , by Laura Hillenbrand 13 Notes: “A student brought the book Book: My First Love and Other Disasters , Reason cited: Profanity, Inappropriate back explaining that his parents thought by Francine Pascal Language, Sexual Content, Violence, the topic was inappropriate and had a Reason cited: Sexual content Horror couple of inappropriate words.” Action taken: Restricted Action taken: Banned Notes: Request by NISD librarian to Notes: Book about a girl ensnared in Nederland ISD reinstate book at all middle school prostitution and the sex trade. School: Langham Elementary campuses. Committee recommended to Appropriateness for middle school Book: Slot Machine , by Chris Lynch reinstate book at high school campuses students was challenged due to Reason cited: Profanity, Language only. profanity, sexual content and violence. Action taken: Banned School: elementary and middle schools School: Barron Early Childhood School School: Central Middle School Book: The Last Book In the Universe , by Book: Train , by Charles Temple Book: Wizardology , by Dugald Steer Rodman Philbrick Reason cited: Other-- Reason cited: Mysticism or Paganism Reason cited: Violence Action taken: Banned Action taken: Banned Action taken: Restricted Notes: “A picture depicts an individual Notes: Committee recommended to in jail. Jail is not an appropriate place to School: Highland Park Elementary keep book in middle school libraries but be. Committee said “75% of the Book: Willy's Pictures , by Anthony remove from elementary schools. committee felt it inappropriate.’” Browne Reason cited: Sexual Content School: middle schools Pleasant Grove ISD Action taken: Retained Book: Invisible , by Pete Hautman School: Pleasant Grove Middle School Notes: Hans Christian Anderson Reason cited: Profanity, Language Book: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Award winning book. Pictures in Action taken: Retained Pants , by Ann Brashares question are historical works of art from Reason cited: Other -- the 1700s and 1800s. School: elementary schools Action taken: Restricted Book: The Witches of Worm , by Zilpha Notes: “Exposing young readers to School: Langham Elementary Keatley Snyder material they are not mature enough to Book: Bartholomew and the Oobleck , by Reason cited: Inappropriate language understand. Boy/girl Dr. Seuss Action taken: Retained relationship/inappropriate Reason cited: Other-- Contained a Notes: Request by elementary librarian relationships for 10 year olds.” chant. to reinstate book at elementary libraries. Action taken: Retained Committee recommended that book be Poolville ISD reinstated at elementary libraries with School: Poolville Junior High New Boston ISD the communication that the book is Book: Boy Next Door , by Meg Cabot School: Middle School most appropriate for upper level grades Reason cited: Sexual Content Book: Broken Promises , by Judy Baer at the elementary school. Action taken: Restricted Reason cited: Sexual content Notes: Only one copy will remain on Action taken: Retained Pettus ISD the shelf. All others will be housed in Notes: Complaint made by parent School: Pettus Secondary School library office, and parents can check Book: Gossip Girl (Series), by Cecily von them out to review and discuss with Nixon-Smiley ISD Ziegesar their children. School: Nixon-Smiley Elementary Reason cited: Profanity, Sexual content Book: Then Again, Maybe I Won't , by Action taken: Banned Port Aransas ISD Judy Blume School: Port Aransas High School Reason cited: Profanity or Pilot Point ISD Book: Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Inappropriate language School: Pilot Point High School Zieliesar Action taken: Banned Book: A Time to Kill , by John Grisham Reason cited: Sexual conduct Reason cited: Sexual content Action taken: Banned North East ISD Action taken: Alternate book allowed Notes: Drug and alcohol abuse - review School: Fox Run Elementary School Notes: “Parent conference with teacher, committee believed that books Book: Egyptian Myths , by Gary Jeffrey campus administrator, and follow-up conveyed the wrong message to and Romano Felmang conference with superintendent. students. Reason cited: Violence Expressed concern, but did not request Action taken: Retained removal, simply expressed concern Richardson ISD Notes: “The committee felt the content about appropriateness of this book for School: high schools of the book was appropriate. Parents young high school students.” Book: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer , by have the prerogative to review library Mark Twain resources and decide on Plano ISD Reason cited: Inappropriate Language appropriateness.” School: Bowman Middle School Action taken: Alternate book allowed Book: Charmed , by Carrie Mac Notes: “Book contains text that some Northside ISD might find sensitive or controversial. School: middle and high schools Book used in 7th grade English class. 14 Alternate titles available. Review Book: Girl Stuff: a Survival Guide to School: Kissam Middle Committee recommends book for 10- Growing Up, by Margaret Blackstone & Book: Rats , by Paul Zindel 12th grades.” Eissa Haden Guest Reason cited: Violence, Horror Reason cited: Sexual content Action taken: Retained Rising Star ISD Action taken: Restricted Notes: Parent complaint School: Rising Star High School Notes: The library book is now by Book: The Color Purple , by Alice Walker request only, and must have parental Valley View ISD Reason cited: Profanity, Sexual content permission. School: Valley View Jr. High Action taken: Banned Book: Go Ask Alice , by Anonymous Spring Branch ISD Reason cited: Profanity, inappropriate Santa Fe ISD School: Stratford High School language, sexual content School: Santa Fe Elementary Book: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings , Action taken: Banned Book: Inkheart , by Cornelia Funke by Maya Angelou Notes: “This book was purchased for Reason cited: Profanity, inappropriate Reason cited: Sexual content use in the classroom. It was never used language Action taken: Retained because of the content found in it. It Action taken: Banned Notes: “The Committee recommended was restricted and later removed on the keeping the book in the curriculum direction of the Supt. of Schools.” School: Santa Fe Elementary with some added suggestions (like Book: Inkspell , by Cornelia Funke move it from 10th grade to 11th grade). Waco ISD Reason cited: Profanity, inappropriate The parent took the case to the School: Viking Hills Elementary language Superintendent. The Superintendent Book: The Adventures of Super Diaper Action taken: Banned upheld the Committee Baby , by Dav Pilkey et al recommendations.” Reason cited: Profanity, Inappropriate School: Santa Fe High School language Book: The Color Purple , by Alice Walker Stephenville ISD Action taken: Banned Reason cited: Other-- School: Henderson Junior High Notes: “Book was not formally Action taken: Alternate book allowed Book: The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. challenged. A parent expressed concern. Notes: The parent was upset about the Hartley , by Martine Murray Ban was principal's decision and it was graphic description of the rape. She felt Reason cited: Profanity or supported by the library coordinator.” the teacher had no moral or Christian Inappropriate language values by allowing students to read it. Action taken: Banned West Hardin CCISD Alternate book was assigned. School: West Hardin Elementary Tioga ISD Book: Olive's Ocean , by Kevin Henkes Sierra Blanca ISD School: Tioga Elementary Reason cited: Profanity, inappropriate School: Sierra Blanca ISD (all schools) Book: Wolf Rider, A Tale of Terror , by Avi language, sexual content Book: Educating Esme , by Esme Raji Reason cited: Violence Action taken: Pending Codell Action taken: Banned Reason cited: Profanity, Sexual content Notes: “Teacher found it inappropriate Woodville ISD Action taken: Banned for young adults.” School: Woodville High School Book: The Perks of Being A Wallflower , by Silverton ISD Tyler ISD Stephen Chbosky School: Silverton School School: Kissam Middle Reason cited: Sexual Content Book: The Red Pony , by John Steinbeck Book: Loch , by Paul Zindel Action taken: Banned Reason cited: Profanity, Violence Reason cited: Profanity, Inappropriate Notes: “The parent of a freshman girl Action taken: Retained Language who checked out the book challenged it. Action taken: Banned The girl was offended by the sexual Splendora ISD Notes: Parent complaint explicitness of the book; mother School: Splendora Intermediate requested the review.”

15 2007 LIST OF BOOKS BANNED OR CHALLENGED IN TEXAS SCHOOLS (ALPHABETICAL BY TITLE)

Note: Most of the book summaries come from the Library of Congress Annotated Card project. The Award notation may be representative. We have not attempted to include all awards won by these titles, but have chosen the highest award as representative. The AR notation indicates an Accelerated Reader test is available for the book. See section on Accelerated Reader.

The Adventures of Blue Avenger , by Anastasia Again! by Lois Lowry, encounters. By the author of Princess Norma Howe, Holt, 1999. A boy Houghton Mifflin, 1981. Twelve-year- Diaries. trying to cope with the unexpected old Anastasia is horrified at her death of his father decides to change family’s decision to move from their Bride of the Living Dummy his name to Blue Avenger, hoping to city apartment to a house in the (Goosebumps Series) , by R.L. Stine, find a way to make a difference in his suburbs. Award: Nominee for 2 state Scholastic. 1998. A horror tale in neighborhood and in the world. children's book awards. AR: Yes which a ventriloquist’s dummy Award: 2000 Best Books for Young comes to life. AR: Yes Adults. AR: Yes And Tango Makes Three , by Peter Parnall and Justin Richardson, Simon Broken Promises , by Judy Baer, The Adventures of Captain & Schuster, 2005. At New York City’s Bethany House, 1989. Christian Underpants , by Dav Pilkey et al, Blue Central Park Zoo, two male penguins "chick lit" title from the Cedar River Sky Press, 2002. When two boys fall in love and start a family by Daydreams series, a realistic series hypnotize their principal into taking turns sitting on an abandoned packed with drama, adventure, and thinking that he is the superhero egg until it hatches. Award: 2005 Best tests of faith. AR: Yes Captain Underpants, he leads them to Children's Books of the Year. AR: Yes the lair of the nefarious Dr. Diaper, Charmed , by Carrie Mac, Orca, 2004. where they must defeat his evil robot Are You There God? It's Me, A teenager finds she is trapped in a henchmen. Award: 1998 Best Margaret , by Judy Blume, Bradbury, prostitution ring, with no way to Children's Books of the Year. AR: Yes 1990, 1970. Faced with the difficulties escape. of growing up and choosing a The Adventures of Super Diaper religion, a twelve-year-old girl talks Chemical and Biological Weapons: Baby , by Dav Pilkey et al, Blue Sky over her problems with her own Anthrax and Sarin , by Gregory Press, 2002. The boys from Captain private God. Award: 1970 NYT Best Payan, Children's Press, 2000. Underpants create a new comic book Books for Children. AR: Yes Discusses the components, use, and superhero, Super Diaper Baby, whose history of chemical and biological nemesis transforms into poo. Award: The Art of Ceres, Celestial Legend , weapons, especially anthrax and 2003 Children's Choices, Int'l Reading by Yuu Watase, VIZ Media, 2002. A sarin, and explains the effects on Assn. AR: Yes collection of art works by popular humans after exposure. AR: Yes anime and manga artist, Yuu Watase. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer , by The Chocolate War , by Robert Mark Twain, Ideals, 1985. Bartholomew and the Oobleck , by Cormier, Random House, 2004, 1974. Adventures of a mischievous young Dr. Seuss, Random House, 1949. The A high school freshman discovers the boy and his friends growing up in a King, tired of rain, snow, sun, and devastating consequences of refusing Mississippi River town in the fog, commands his magicians to to join in the school’s annual fund nineteenth century. Award: 1988 make something else come down raising drive and arousing the wrath Books For You, Nat'l Council of from the sky, but when oobleck falls, of the school bullies. Award: 1982 Teachers of English. AR: Yes in sticky greenish droplets, Books for You (Nat'l Council of Bartholomew Cubbins shames the Teachers of English). AR: Yes Alice on Her Way , by Phyllis King and saves the kingdom. Award: Reynolds Naylor, Atheneum, 2005. 1950 Caldecott Honor Book. AR: Yes The Color Purple , by Alice Walker , Alice is adjusting to her new Pocket Books, 1990. A stepmother, her brother’s new The Black Tattoo , by Sam Enthoven, multigenerational tale of strong, apartment, her ex-boyfriend, and Razorbill, 2006. When his best friend African-American women in the face getting a driver’s license. AR : Yes is possessed by an ancient demon, a of abuse and discrimination. Award: fourteen-year-old boy, accompanied 2002 Senior High School Library Always Running , by Luis Rodriguez, by a girl with superhuman powers, Catalog. AR: Yes Simon & Schuster, 2005. An account battles all over London and into Hell of growing up in an L.A. gang in the to save him. AR: Yes The Da Vinci Code , by Dan Brown, 1960s and 70s, interspersed with bits Boy Next Door , by Meg Cabot, Avon, Doubleday, 2004. A mystery of of poetry. Award: 2002 Outstanding 2002. An entertaining tale told symbols, hidden in the works of Books for the College Bound. AR: Yes entirely through email, about a Leonardo da Vinci, that lead to an young woman in the workforce and important religious relic. Award: her romantic and mysterious 2004-2005 TAYSHAS High School Reading List. AR: Yes 16 Dancing Naked , by Shelley confront his own sexuality when he program on how merchants attract Hrdlitschka, Orca, 2002. A young girl goes to rodeo school and finds young customers. is pregnant, and the father wants her himself strangely attracted to an to have an abortion. She has difficult older boy who is smart, tough, Girl 15, Charming but Insane , by Sue decisions to make. Award: 2004 complicated, gorgeous, and gay. Limb, Delacorte, 2004. A fifteen-year- Young Adult's Choices (Int'l Reading Award: 2002 Best Books for Young old English girl, living with her mum, Assn.) AR: Yes Adults. AR: Yes separated from her father in Cornwall, and with a best friend who Dancing with an Alien , by Mary Eldorado in East Harlem , by Victor seems to do everything perfectly, Logue, HarperCollins, 2000. A Rodriguez¸ Arte Publico Press, 1992. finds her own assets through humor. teenage boy from outer space travels Capturing the essence of barrio life in Award: 2006, Finalist Heartland to earth on a mission to help save his the 1960s, gang members are Award for Excellence in Young Adult planet, and ultimately he falls in love, disillusioned with their lot, yet don't Literature. AR: Yes causing his mission to fail. Award: know anything else. 2001 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Girl Stuff: a Survival Guide to Adult Readers. AR: Yes Endgame ¸ by Nancy Garden, Growing Up , by Margaret Blackstone, Harcourt, 2006. A fifteen-year-old Harcourt, 2006. A guide for girls Demon Diary , by Lee Yun Hee, et al, boy, bullied at school and ridiculed explaining both the physical and Tokyopop, 2003. Gods and demons by an unfeeling father for preferring psychological aspects of puberty. wage war, with the earth as the drums to hunting, goes on a shooting battlefield. Award: 2007 Core rampage at his high school. Award: The Girl with a Baby , by Sylvia Collection: Japanese Manga for 2006 Senior High School Library Olsen, Sono Nis, 2003. Fourteen and a Teens. Catalog. AR: Yes mother, Jane draws on her Indian heritage to make the best of her life Dork in Disguise , by Carol Gorman, The Facts Speak For Themselves , by for her child. Award: 2004 Best HarperCollins, 1999. Starting middle Brock Cole, Front Street, 1997. At the Children's Books of the Year. AR: Yes school in a new town, brainy Jerry request of her social worker, a Flack changes his image from "dork" thirteen-year-old girl gradually Give a Boy a Gun , by Todd Strasser, to "cool kid," only to discover that reveals how her life with her unstable Simon & Schuster, 2000. Events he’d rather be himself. Award: 2002 mother and her younger brother led leading up to a night of terror at a Adventuring with Books: a Booklist to her rape and the murder she high school dance are told from the for pre-K - Grade 6. AR: Yes witnessed. Award: 1998 Quick Picks point of view of various people for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. involved. Award: 2006 Popular The Earth, My Butt & Other Big AR: Yes Paperbacks for Young Adults. Round Things , by Carolyn Mackler, Candlewick, 2003. Feeling like she Fahrenheit 451 , by Ray Bradbury, The Giver , by Lois Lowry, does not fit in with the other Chelsea House, 2007. The classic ECM/Paradigm, 2002. Given a members of her family, who are all science fiction story of book burning lifetime assignment at a special thin, brilliant, and good-looking, in a near-future dystopia. Award: ceremony, a boy becomes the receiver fifteen-year-old Virginia tries to deal 2002 Recommended Literature of memories shared by only one other with her self-image, her first physical Kindergarten through Grade Twelve in his world and discovers a terrible relationship, and her disillusionment (Calif. Dept. of Ed.) AR: Yes truth about the society in which he with some of the people closest to lives. Award: 1994 Newbery Award. her. Award: 2004 Prinz Honor book. The Fashion Disaster That Changed AR: Yes AR: Yes My Life , by Lauren Myracle, Dutton Children's, 2005. Seventh-grader Alli Go Ask Alice , by Anonymous, Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's inadvertently arrives on the first day Aladdin, 1998. Based on the diary of a First Year , by Esme Raji Codell, of school with underwear static- fifteen-year-old drug user chronicling Algonquin, 1999. Autobiographical clinging partly outside her pant leg. her struggle to escape the pull of the account documents the frustrations, AR: Yes drug world. Award: 2001 Best of the achievements, and struggles of a first Best Revisited (100 Best Books for year public school teacher in Chicago. A Fisherman of the Inland Sea , by Teens). AR: Yes Award: 2000 Alex Award. Ursula LeGuin, Perenninal, 2005. A collection of short science fiction Gossip Girl (Series), Cecily von Egyptian Myths , by Gary Jeffrey and stories. Award: 1997 Senior High Ziegesar, Little, Brown, 2002- . Romano Felmang, Rosen, 2006. A School Library Catalog. Presents a world of jealousy and graphic book (comic-book-like) betrayal at an exclusive private format of the ancient Egyptian myths. Frontline: The Merchants of Cool school in Manhattan. Award: 2003 AR: Yes (video), PBS Producers: Rachel Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Dretzin and Barak Goodman, WGBH Adult Readers. AR: Yes Eight Seconds , Jean Ferris, Harcourt, Boston, 2001. A documentary news 2000. An eighteen-year-old boy must 17 The Grapes of Wrath , by John Kindergarten through Grade Twelve his model trains, the other a popular Steinbeck, Sagebrush, 1999. (Calif. Dept. of Ed.) AR: Yes student involved in football and Depression-era family moves from theater—who grew up together and Arkansas to California as migrant The Human Alphabet , by Pilobolus share a bond that nothing can sever. farm workers. Award: 1976 Books for and John Kane, Roaring Brook Press, Award: 2006 Best Books for Young You: An Annotated Booklist for 2005. An alphabet made of people — Adults. AR: Yes Senior High. AR: Yes here are the 26 familiar letters of the alphabet and images to illustrate It's Perfectly Normal , by Robie H. Grendel , by John Gardner, Hall, 1972. them, each made with ingenious Harris, Candlewick, 1994. Provides A vivid reinvention of the Beowulf grips, bends and twists of the human scientific and medical answers to tale. Award: 2002 Outstanding Books form. Award: 2006 Children's young people's questions about for the College Bound. AR: Yes Catalog. sexuality, physical development, diseases, and responsible decision- Harry Potter (series), by J.K. I Am The Cheese , by Robert Cormier, making. Created with the input of Rowling, Scholastic, 1998-2007. A Knopf, 1977. A young boy parents, clergy, educators, and health young boy with a great destiny desperately tries to unlock his past professionals. Award: 1994 Notable proves his worth while attending yet knows he must hide those Books for Children. Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and memories if he is to remain alive. Wizardry. Subsequent titles follow Award: 2000 Middle and Junior High A Killing Night , by Jonathon King, his career. Award: 1997-98 Anne School Catalog; 2002 Senior High Dutton 2005. A former policeman, Spencer Lindbergh Prize in School Catalog. AR: Yes now a private investigator, tracks Children's Literature. AR: Yes another former police officer, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings , considered a suspect in a string of The Higher Power of Lucky , by Susan by Maya Angelou, Random House, murders. Patron, Atheneum, 2006. Fearing that 1970. An autobiographical treatment her legal guardian plans to abandon of racism, sexism, and self-acceptance The Last Book In the Universe , by her, ten-year-old aspiring scientist through the story of a girl who finally Rodman Philbrick, Blue Sky Press, Lucky Trimble determines to run finds peace in early motherhood. 2000. After an earthquake has away while also continuing to seek Award: 2001 Best of the Best destroyed much of the planet, an the Higher Power that will bring Revisited (100 Best Books for Teens). epileptic teenager nicknamed Spaz stability to her life. Award: 2007 AR: Yes begins the heroic fight to bring Newbery Award. AR: Yes human intelligence back to the Earth In the Night Kitchen , by Maurice of a distant future. Award: 2001 Best Homefront , by Doris Gwaltney, Sendak, Harper & Row, 1970. A little Books for Young Adults. AR: Yes Simon & Schuster, 2006. In 1941 in boy’s dream-fantasy in which he rural Virginia, a twelve-year-old helps three fat bakers get milk for Life in the Fat Lane , by Cherie girl’s fervent desire for a room of her their cake batter. Award: 1971 Bennett, Delacorte, 1998. A sixteen- own is thwarted by the arrival of her Caldecott Honor book. AR: Yes year-old winner of beauty pageants "perfect" English cousin who, having and Homecoming Queen, is escaped the London blitz with her Inkheart , by Cornelia Funke, distressed and bewildered when she mother, is given the coveted room as Scholastic, 2003. A twelve-year-old starts gaining weight and becomes a well as all the care and attention of girl learns that her father, who fat girl. Award: 2005 Middle and the rest of the family. Award: 2006 repairs and binds books for a living, Junior High School Catalog. AR: Yes Society of School Librarians Int'l Book can "read" fictional characters to life Awards honor book. AR: Yes when one of those characters abducts Life Strategies for Teens , by Jay them and tries to force him into McGraw, Fireside, 2000. Dr. Phil The Hot Zone , by Richard Preston, service. Award: 2007 Educators' Top McGraw's son tells teens how to have Anchor, 1995. A fictional account of a 100 Children's Books. AR: Yes a rewarding and successful life. previously unknown deadly virus, Loch , by Paul Zindel, Hyperion, 1995. and how it could enter the Inkspell , by Cornelia Funke, Fifteen-year-old Loch and his population and wipe out whole Scholastic, 2005. Now thirteen, the younger sister join their father on a communities. Award: 1996 Best protagonist from Inkheart "reads" scientific expedition searching for Books for Young Adults. AR: Yes herself into Inkworld, where she, her enormous prehistoric creatures family, and the characters in the book sighted in a Vermont lake, but soon House of the Spirits , by Isabel face chaos and danger as the original discover that the expedition’s leaders Allende, Knopf, 1985. Written in the creator of the world frantically tries aren’t interested in preserving the style of magical realism, this award to redirect the story. Award: 2006 creatures. Award: 1995 Quick Picks winning novel describes a family Notable Children's Books. AR: Yes for Reluctant Teen Readers. AR: Yes saga, complete with a clairvoyant matriarch, in an unnamed South Invisible , by Pete Hautman, Simon & Looking for Alaska , by John Green, American country. Award: 2002 Schuster, 2005. Two boys are unlikely Dutton Children’s, 2005. A sixteen- Recommended Literature best friends—one a loner obsessed by year-old's first year at a preparatory 18 school in Alabama includes good The Outsiders , by S.E. Hinton, as he matures into manhood. Award: friends and great pranks, but is Viking, 1967. The struggle of three 2001 Best of the Best Revisited (100 defined by the search for answers brothers to stay together after their Best Books for Teens). AR: Yes about life and death after a fatal car parent’s death and their quest for crash. Award: 2006 Prinz Award. AR: identity among the conflicting values Seabiscuit , by Laura Hillenbrand, Yes of their adolescent society. Award: Random House, 2001. A biography of 1976 Books for You: An Annotated the most famous race horse in My First Love and Other Disasters , Booklist for Senior High. AR: Yes history, from which the movie of the by Francine Pascal, Simon Pulse, same name was made. Award: 2001 2003. An almost fifteen-year-old girl The Perks of Being A Wallflower , by School Library Journal Best Adult struggles with her life on Fire Island, Stephen Chbosky, Pocket, 1999. Told Books for High School Students. AR: but finally wins the attention of the through letters to an unknown Yes handsomest boy at school. recipient, the teenage protagonist struggles through love, drugs, and Siddhartha , by Herman Hesse, New Nightmare Hour , by R.L. Stine, the loss of those dear to him. Award: Directions, 1964. Nobel laureate's HarperCollins, 1999. A collection of 2000 Best Books for Young Adults. acclaimed novel traces an Indian ten short horror stories featuring a AR: Yes aristocrat's efforts to renounce Halloween visit to a strange pumpkin sensual and material pleasures and patch, a girl who wants the power Prehistoric Animals , by Michael discover spiritual truths. Award: 2002 and respect that comes with being a Bright, Copper Beech, 2001. Short Outstanding Books for the College witch, and a mask that lets the wearer descriptions and illustrations of Bound. AR: Yes see into another time. Award: 2001 various creatures from prehistoric Books for You (Nat'l Council of times, including fish, dinosaurs, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Teachers of English). AR: Yes mammals, and birds. AR: Yes Pants , by Anne Brashares, Delacorte, 2001. During their first summer apart, Number the Stars , by Lois Lowry, Rat Boys , by Thom Eberhardt, four teenage girls, best friends since Houghton Mifflin, 1989. In 1943, a Hyperion, 2001. Fourteen-year-old earliest childhood, stay in touch ten-year-old Danish girl learns how girls use a magic ring to turn two rats through a shared pair of secondhand to be brave and courageous when she into cute boys so that they can have jeans that magically adapts to each of helps shelter her Jewish friend from dates for the Spring Fling. Award: their figures and affects their the Nazis. Award: 1990 Newbery 2002 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young attitudes to their different summer Award. AR: Yes Adult Readers. AR: Yes experiences. Award: Winner of 12 state student book awards. AR: Yes Olive's Ocean , by Kevin Henkes, Rats , by Paul Zindel, Hyperion, 1999. Greenwillow, 2003. On a summer When mutant rats threaten to take The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. visit to her grandmother’s cottage by over Staten Island, which has become Hartley , by Martine Murray, A.A. the ocean, a twelve-year-old girl a huge landfill, a fourteen-year-old Levine, 2003. When twelve-year-old gains perspective on the death of a girl and her younger brother try to Cedar loses her dog, it sets off a chain classmate, on her relationship with figure out how to stop them. Award: of events leading her to find a new her grandmother, on her feelings for 2001 Books for You (Nat'l Council of friend, become an acrobat, and learn an older boy, and on her plans to be a Teachers of English). AR: Yes some bitter-sweet truths about writer. Award: 2004 Newbery Honor family, community, and herself. book. AR: Yes The Red Pony , by John Steinbeck, Award: 2004 Best Children's Books of Hall, 1994. A short novel tracing a the Year. AR: Yes On the Edge: Stories at the Brink , by boy's growth into manhood on a Lois Duncan, editor, Simon & ranch in the West. Award: 2005 Slot Machine , by Chris Lynch, Schuster, 2000. A collection of twelve Middle and Junior High School HarperCollins, 1995. When an stories by different writers and in Catalog. AR: Yes overweight thirteen-year-old is sent different genres in each of which a to camp at a seminary retreat center, young person is physically or Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry , by he and his two best friends are forced emotionally on the edge. Award: 2000 Mildred Taylor, Dial, 1976. A black to try out various sports in order to Parent's Guide to Children's Media. family living in Mississippi during find out where they belong. Award: AR: Yes the Depression of the 1930s is faced 1996 Best Books for Young Adults. with prejudice and discrimination AR: Yes Ordinary People , by Judith Guest, which its children do not understand. Penguin, 1982. The accidental death Award: 1977 Newbery Award. AR: So Long, Snowman , by Tana Reiff, of the elder son of an affluent family Yes Fearon Pitman, 1979. A high-interest, strains family relationships. Award: low-vocabulary book. An eighteen- 1982 Books for You, Nat'l Council of Running Loose , by Chris Crutcher, year-old boy considers his future Teachers of English. AR: Yes Greenwillow, 1983. A high school from a prison cell. AR: Yes senior in a small Idaho town learns about sportsmanship, love, and death 19 Star Wars: a New Hope (manga format, the day-to-day experiences, own strange behavior. Award: 1973 version), by Hisao Tamaki, Dark feelings, and plans of three friends as Newbery Honor book. AR: Yes Horse Comics, 1998. A manga they begin tenth grade. Award: 2005 (Japanese comic style) version of Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Wizardology , by Dugald Steer, George Lucas's tale. Readers. AR: Yes Candlewick, 2005. Originally discovered in 1588, this remarkable Stop Those Pants, by Mordecai Tusk, Tusk , by David McKee, text by history’s most respected Gerstein, Harcourt, 1998. A young Kane/Miller, 1990, 1978. After the wizard is revealed to the world for boy has trouble getting dressed one white elephants and the black the very first time. Recreated by four morning when his clothes decide to elephants kill each other off, the grey artists as a book with movable parts. play hard to get. AR: Yes descendants of those nonfighting Award: 2006 Children's Choices. AR: elephants who hid during the war Yes Take Away Three , by Tana Reiff, emerge, only to eventually find new Tandem, 1999. A high-interest, low- differences to set them against each Wolf rider, A Tale of Terror , by Avi, vocabulary book. A young married other. AR: Yes Bradbury, 1996. After receiving an couple work to overcome his apparent crank call from a man traveling, and her roving eye. AR: Upstate , by Kalisha Buckhanon, St. claiming to have committed murder, Yes Martin’s, 2005. A tale told in letters a fifteen-year-old finds his close between a teenage girl and her relationship with his father Then Again, Maybe I Won't , by Judy boyfriend in prison. crumbling as he struggles to make Blume, Bradbury, 1971. Unable to everyone believe him. Award : 2005 accept or explain his family’s newly What Jamie Saw , by Carolyn Coman, Middle and Junior High School acquired wealth, his growing interest Front Street, 1995. Having fled to a Catalog. AR: Yes in sex, and a friend’s shoplifting family friend’s hillside trailer after his habit, a thirteen-year-old finds the mother’s boyfriend tried to throw his World Geography - Building a pains in his stomach getting worse baby sister against a wall, a nine- Global Perspective , by Celeste Fraser, and worse. Award: 1976 Books for year-old finds himself living an Prentice-Hall, 1993. Textbook. You: An Annotated Booklist for existence full of uncertainty and fear. Senior High. AR: Yes Award: 1996 Newbery Honor book. Yankee Girl , by Mary Ann Rodman, AR: Yes Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2004. When A Time to Kill , by John Grisham, her FBI-agent father is transferred to Wynwood, 1989. A white lawyer What They Want , Omar Tyree, Jackson, Mississippi, in 1964, an defends a black father who took Simon & Schuster, 2006. The surprise eleven-year-old girl wants to be revenge on the men who gang-raped pregnancy of one of his many popular but also wants to reach out his 10 year old daughter. AR: Yes girlfriends shows a male model that to the one black girl in her class in a there is more to life than hedonism. newly-integrated school. Award: To Kill a Mockingbird , by Harper 2005 Children's Book Award. AR: Yes Lee, HarperCollins, 1999. White When Plague Strikes: The Black attorney defends a black man Death, Smallpox, AIDS , by James Zero to sixty: the motorcycle journey unfairly accused of rape. Award: 1961 Cross Giblin and David Frampton, of a lifetime , by Gary Paulsen, Pulitzer Prize. AR: Yes HarperCollins, 1995. The social, Harcourt, 1997. An award-winning Train , by Charles Temple, Houghton political, and economic impact of author's retrospective look at his own Mifflin, 1996. Everyone along the way these three diseases. Award: 1995 past, and how his life developed as it enjoys the sight and sound of the C & Notable Books for Children. AR: Yes did. Award: Nat'l Council of Teachers O train and its passengers rolling of English. AR: Yes down the rail. Willy's Pictures , by Anthony Browne, Candlewick, 2000. Willy the Zipped , by Laura Mcneal, Knopf, The True Meaning of Cleavage , by chimp paints pictures that are 2003. At the end of their sophomore Mariah Fredericks, Atheneum, 2003. tributes to art masterpieces, including year in high school, the lives of four When best friends since seventh "American Gothic," "The Birth of teenagers are woven together as they grade begin their freshman year of Venus," and "Mona Lisa." Award: start a tough new job, face family high school and one becomes 2002 Adventuring with Books: a problems, deal with changing obsessed with a senior boy, the other Booklist for pre-K - Grade 6. AR: Yes friendships, and find love. Award: wonders if their friendship will 2004 PEN Center USA Literary survive. Award: 2003 Recommended The Witches of Worm , by Zilpha Award. AR: Yes Teen Books. AR: Yes Keatley Snyder, Atheneum, 1972. A lonely twelve-year-old is convinced TTYL , by Lauren Myracle, Amulet, that the cat she finds is possessed by 2004. Chronicles, in "instant message" a witch and is responsible for her

20 Books Banned or Restricted Without Due Process

Book: Assorted manga titles Book: GANGS (Voices) by Clive Action taken: Banned Action taken: Banned Gifford Reason: Sexual content Reason: Violence Action taken: Restricted Notes: President of School Board Notes: Principal decided to pull them Reason: Other—Gang signs complained that the book talks about all when a parent complained about Notes: The Assistant Principal found sex and gays. Board President the violence in one of them. Librarian them, confiscated the book, and came borrowed the book. After many had tried the manga and her kids to librarian to say he wanted it off the months of requests, librarian was told loved them, but the parent of one shelf. Librarian asked him if he had to report the book as "lost." Book was student who was having problems at read the book completely. He said he never paid for, nor replaced. No home with his behavior complained saw enough pictures to know it was official challenge. that the books encouraged his not appropriate. Librarian explained behavior, so the principal just had the reconsideration procedures, so he Book: Spying on Miss Müller , by Eve them all pulled rather than restrict took the book to read it, and gave it Bunting the one student. The librarian did not to the Principal. At that point the Action taken: Banned try to change the principal's mind. complete process stopped, and a Reason: Profanity, Inappropriate compromise was encouraged. It is language Book: Captain Underpants (series), by now re-cataloged and shelved with Notes: Parent objected. Character Dav Pilkey et al the teacher materials to use with the calls teacher a slut. Book sent to high Action taken: Restricted introduction to the The Outsiders by school campus. Reason: Other— S.E. Hinton literature unit. Notes: Principal challenged because Book: The Drowning of Stephan Jones , "book promotes disrespect for Book: The Giver , by Lois Lowry by Bette Greene persons in authority." Book now Action taken: Restricted Action taken: Banned housed in restricted shelves and must Reason: Other—Inappropriate for Reason: Profanity, Inappropriate have parental permission. PK-5 campus language Notes: Censorship requested by Notes: Principal objected to offensive Book: Counterfeit Son , by Elaine campus teachers; reassigned to Prof. language. Told librarian to remove Marie Alphin Dev. shelves, but no official book from library. Action taken: Banned challenge. Reason: Sexual content Book: The Story of Colors=La Historia Notes: Censoring party, assistant Book: Goosebumps (series), by R.L. de los Colores , by Subcomandante superintendent for administrative Stine Marcos services, objected to discussion of Action taken: Restricted Action taken: Retained pedophilia. When librarians Reason: Other-- Reason: Inappropriate language; complained about the policy not Notes: 2nd grade teacher said the Other—Author’s reputation being followed, he called book "slam series "promotes evil." Notes: Book contains the phrase dunk" that needed no review. "making love" but no graphic Book: Harry Potter (series), by J.K. illustrations; author is radical Book: Friday Night Lights , by H.G. Rowling insurgent and leader of the Zapatista Bissinger Action taken: Restricted Party of National Liberation. Action taken: Banned (in two Reason: Mysticism Originally challenged by permanent different districts) Notes: Community member believes sub; library aide, when she saw it, felt Reason: Profanity, Inappropriate book glorifies witchcraft. the same way for an additional language reason. Notes: (From one district report) Book: Life is Funny , by E.R. Frank Censoring party is assistant Action taken: Banned Book: What's the big secret? by Laurie superintendent for administrative Reason: Sexual content K. Brown services. Objected to "locker room Notes: “Language made it unsuitable Action taken: Restricted language." When librarians (in the mind of the campus) for Reason: Sexual content complained about the policy not middle school students. Sent to a Notes: Involved parent felt that being followed, he called book "slam special HS campus with a focus on parents should be made aware of dunk" that needed no review. teen mothers, drop-outs, and special checkouts of books on the subject of situations. The campus had just reproduction and sexuality due to Book: From Slave Ship to Freedom gone through a formal process with age of students. This book and Road , by Julius Lester and Rod Brown another title and kept the books. I similar books were moved to a cart Action taken: Restricted suspect the formal process requires right behind the circulation counter Reason: Other— just too much effort.” (highly visible) and a parent Notes: Parent objected as notification form was created and is inappropriate for age group. Book: Love and sex: ten stories of truth , now in use. by Michael Cart, ed. 21 The ACLU of Texas Interviews Newbery Award Winner, Susan Patron

Susan Patron is a collection development humorous illustration of a can of bug spray in librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library. I Know An Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly . She won the 2007 Newbery Award - the Almost anything can be offensive to someone. highest award in children’s literature - for As a public librarian, I validated the parent's The Higher Power of Lucky , a story of a prerogative in selecting a more appropriate gutsy young girl. Lucky overhears the word book for their child, but only for their child, “scrotum,” and wonders about it. Some and the challenged books were not removed librarians believed the word made the book from the shelves. inappropriate for children. As a writer, I love the English language, with its immense vocabulary and potential Please tell us about the start of your career for subtlety and shades of meaning. It can be as a writer. a powerful, limber, and As a children's effective tool. I try to use librarian beginning in it very deliberately, with the 1970's at the Los respect for the Angeles Public Library intelligence of readers. (LAPL), I was immersed My picture books contain in folklore and words such as storytelling. This led to cantankerous, feisty, and Burgoo Stew , my peevish, which may not contemporary retelling be in the vocabulary of of the Stone Soup the average 6 year old. folktale, which was But the words are the published by Richard tools, and I'd never opt Jackson at Orchard in the not to use the right tool late 1980's. It was for the job out of fear of followed by three other offending some readers. picture books and a chapter book called My use of the anatomical word scrotum in Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe Maybe. The Higher Power of Lucky offended some readers, but it's still the appropriate word and When you began your career, did you I wouldn't change it in hindsight. instinctively limit the language you used or the themes you explored out of fear of When was it that censorship of your work offending readers? became noticeable to you? When I became the Juvenile Materials I'm not sure, at this point, whether or to Collection Development Manager at LAPL, what degree The Higher Power of Lucky was part of my job was to respond to patron actually censored, as distinct from being complaints and challenges to children's banned, challenged, or simply not selected for books. I found that people can be offended a school or public library collection. The by such elements as a perception of too much great debate about it began in February of violence in a Thomas the Tank Engine book or a this year.

22 Were you surprised by the public censure of Do you feel that the presence of censors has your work? affected the quality of writing for young I was amazed by the degree of passion readers? evinced in the nationwide discussion over the No; there are marvelous books available appropriateness a book for children to children and young adults. There are containing the word scrotum. Many of those writers, editors, and publishers who aren't who objected to the word freely admitted that afraid to take risks, and this can be seen in they hadn't read the entire book, or even past our strong and vibrant body of contemporary the first page. This fact appalled me since any juvenile fiction. book should be evaluated as an entity without taking parts of it out of context. What has been the impact of censorship on young readers? How has the focus on your books by censors Some professionals and parents continue affected your writing? to seek out material that won't provoke I banish the voice of the censor when I'm questions about or pose challenges to their writing. If need be, a debate about the book own beliefs. I believe that many kids will can take place in a direct and open way later, find these books anyway, sometimes through after publication, but not during the creative school and sometimes through the networks process. and alliances that young people form in order to get the information they need. When Do you feel that those who call for the children perceive that adults are afraid of a banning or restriction of your books are book, this can have the effect of making that generally aware of what is going on in the book all the more desirable. real lives of children today? It seems to me that there is a disconnect What advice would you offer to parents who between the reality of what children are concerned about what their children are experience (either directly in their own lives exposed to in books? or through the media) and issues that some Parents should be concerned about what adults consider appropriate for children's their children are exposed to; good for them. books. It's as if fiction for kids should avoid They should read the book in question, and if subjects that mirror the real world, as if they feel that it isn't appropriate, choose fiction should be "safe." This is implicit (if another book. Alternatively, read the book naïve) recognition of the power of literature, together and be open to questions and and simultaneously a disservice to and discussion. Books don't harm kids; they arm undermining of children. I believe that them to think more deeply and to make better writers must trust in the intelligence of choices. readers. Photo credit: Renee Patron

23 ACLU FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Paul H. Asofsky, President David Broiles, Vice President-Legal Randall Ellis, Vice President for Program Mary Scott Hagle, Vice President for Development Everard Santamarina, Treasurer Nancy Friedman, Secretary Lisa A. Dreishmire, General Counsel James Aldrete Jim Cornehls Ana Yáñez Correa Fran Compton Mary C. Decker Madan Goyal Sharon J. Hines Reverend Charles Kiker Kevin McHargue Michael Oeser Mohammed Tariq, M.D. Suna Umari Michael Wyatt

MANAGEMENT STAFF Richard Alvarado, Interim Executive Director Lisa Graybill, Legal Director James Canup, Development Director Amy Everhart Davis, Communications Director Courtney Watson, Field Director

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Banned Books Project Co-Directors Carol Simpson Courtney Watson

Volunteer Judie Niskala

Special Thanks to: Susan Patron James Canup Amy Everhart Davis Kim Skotak ACLU of Texas Chapter Leaders Texas Library Association Texas School Librarians and Administrators

Austin Headquarters P.O. Box 12905 Austin, TX 78711 www.aclutx.org

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. 24