Set Your Anti-Censorship Resolutions: Book Censorship News, December 30, 2022

Book Censorship News: December 29, 2022

It’s refreshing to have a quieter week in book ban news…but that’s likely going to change in the next couple of weeks.

• Let’s launch with good news: the majority of the 300 books pulled from Wentzville schools (Missouri) were put back on shelves. There were still 17 books permanently banned, and it’s not entirely clear whether or not the books are actually available or the district is saying they are, but let’s take the win here. My book, Body Talk, is among those allegedly returned.
• Less good and frankly, downright appalling: A Uvalde, Texas, resident — where there was a mass shooting that killed 21 young students and educators — is demanding the district throw out over 1,000 books because of “transgenderism” and other dog whistle words.
• PEN America offers a look at the year in censorship and its utter absurdity.
• How school librarians found themselves in the red hot center of right-wing book bans.
• “Almost every book the Meridian Library has seen challenged is either LGBTQ+ or about a person of color,” he said, “either as the main character or author.” This isn’t surprising, but it’s a look at the books being challenged at Meridian Public Library (Idaho).
• Locals are fighting to ensure books are not removed from the Rapides Parish Public Library (Louisiana).
• A high school junior at Great Neck High School (New York) penned a fantastic letter in defense of Gender Queer, a book that has been a focal point of the local library board elections.
• There are TEN committees reviewing the 97 books being challenged at Beaufort County School District (South Carolina).
• Comparing the decisions made over To Kill a Mockingbird as an instructional text to the actual removal of books from school library shelves in this piece is so disingenuous and fundamentally misunderstands the difference between a book ban and a curriculum update. TKAM was not banned and can, in fact, still be used as a classroom text; it’s just no longer mandated.
• Red Hood and The Haters will remain on shelves at Carroll High School (Iowa).
• Let’s Talk About It will be under discussion at the Valley City Barnes County Public Library (North Dakota) in early January to determine whether or not it’ll be removed from shelves.
• A look at what’s happening at the Llano County Public Library (Texas) from Texas Monthly.
• “Calling herself a concerned Christian and grandmother, Murray said the books were “sickening and perverse” and alleged they equated to “child grooming.” She said the library is funded by taxpayers and a part of government, which had no role in teaching children the ideas she claimed the books espouse.” Of course they’re all queer books or books about sexual education. This is from the Keene Memorial Library in Fremont, Nebraska and the story/complaints have all of the keyword ideologies you’d expect from right-wing fanatics.
• Teens should not be schooling adults about why a wide range of books should be on library shelves, but they are and this story is a look at how smart, articulate, and frustrated the teens of Nixa, Missouri, are.
• “Fences was one of four books LCPS parents sought to remove in the 2022-23 school year. It was the only successful challenge. Challenges are decided on by a textbook committee and the school superintendent.” This is Loudon County, Virginia, removing Fences from upperclassmen curriculum.