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In the Johnston Community School District, any parent has a right to request a copy of their child’s required and optional reading lists.

In addition, parents always have the right to request alternate reading materials if they do not feel that the reading lists offer appropriate selections. Nonetheless, a mother from Johnston initiated a formal reconsideration request with the school board, challenging the high school’s use of two books as optional reading selections for certain courses.

The first book that was challenged was “The Hate U Give.”

AN EXCERPT FROM THE CHALLENGE:

The main issue is the theme of the book; difficult to cite but over 80 times the word “fuck” is used. Chapter 23 is a good example of the negative theme of police and generalizing people on race. Story normalizes drug use, sex, racial slurs and rioting. [The] book is politically divisive at the moment and if this book is to be included in curriculum, then the alternative view should be presented with realistic aspects of the police. We object to using this book without a book with an opposing theme or an accurate portrayal of police officers risking their lives to protect the public.

The second challenged book was “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.”

AN EXCERPT FROM THE CHALLENGE:

Sexually explicit details such as masturbation, erections that should not be distributed to a minor without parental consent. Contains a joke on bestiality, teaches on generalizing people with prejudice through racial slurs and explicit language about Native American Indians, whites, blacks, homosexuals, teenage boys, teenage girls and attacks Christianity. Students in general are not at a mature age to decipher the extreme satire, racism and sexual nature of this text.

The reconsideration committee met in November. The meeting was standing-room only, and had two state senators in attendance (neither of whom represent Johnston). One state senator declared the books to be “obscene material” and threatened teachers and school librarians with criminal charges, including jail time, for providing students with access to those titles he deemed obscene.

The reconsideration committee ultimately recommended that the books both be retained in the school’s library. The decision to keep “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian ” was appealed to the school board, where the book was ultimately retained in a 4-3 vote after a shameful, slur-laden public comment session.

The founders of Annie’s Foundation find these attempts to ban books within their community to be unacceptable. Book bans only serve to silence the voices of marginalized populations. We all deserve access to books that celebrate the diversity of the world around us, and with characters we identify with. Annie’s Foundation will fight back by giving back, and by removing barriers to access to titles such as those challenged in Johnston and beyond.

Join us in standing up for the right to read. Support Annie’s Foundation in our mission to protect access to diverse and inclusive literature. Together, we can ensure every voice is heard and every story is told. Donate now or visit our toolkit page to help us remove barriers to access, one book at a time.