Certain Florida School Libraries Remove Books After Receiving Complaints
Removals due to an ‘objection raised by a parent of a public school student in the school district or a resident of the county.’
Books that were removed or discontinued by certain school districts in the 2023-2024 report include works such as Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye,” Judi Blume’s “Forever,” and Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five.”
The department listed over 700 books that were removed, with some school districts choosing not to take any books out.
The removals were prompted by objections raised by parents of public school students in the respective districts or by residents of the county where the school district is located, as stated by the department.
This list follows recent legislative changes in Florida that empower parents and community members to challenge books in school libraries. These changes also require school districts to submit yearly reports detailing restricted books.
Florida is at the forefront of removing books from school libraries, as reported by the American Library Association and PEN America.
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“Restricting access to books limits one’s freedom to read. Students lose the opportunity to explore books reflecting their own experiences and to learn from those with different perspectives,” stated Kasey Meehan from PEN America.
The 2023-2024 list includes works from celebrated American authors like Maya Angelou, Flannery O’Connor, and Richard Wright.
It also includes books on LGBTQ+ themes or discussions around gender and sexuality, such as “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George Johnson and “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe.
Several Holocaust-related books, like a graphic adaptation of Anne Frank’s diary and “Sophie’s Choice,” have been removed from some school libraries. Even a graphic novel version of George Orwell’s “1984” and three graphic novels from A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin were taken off shelves.
Stephana Farrell, co-founder of the Florida Freedom to Read Project, voiced concerns about the extent of the removals.
“From Toni Morrison and Alice Walker to ‘Slaughterhouse-Five’ and George Orwell, there is a clear issue with this trend if you examine the list,” Farrell mentioned.
Despite the book removals in Florida, the Department of Education insisted that no books are being banned in the state.
Spokesperson Sydney Booker criticized activists for perpetuating a “book ban hoax” in Florida and questioned their motives for exposing children to explicit materials.
The report highlights variations in book removals among different school districts in Florida, with some reporting no restrictions while others listed hundreds of titles removed from their collections.
Farrell believes that the report may underestimate the actual number of books removed, as it does not account for books taken out through internal staff reviews, as per her organization’s analysis of public records.
Various works by Stephen King have also been restricted, including his memoir “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft,” which was deemed inappropriate by officials in Clay County.
The removal of books has led to legal challenges in some Florida school districts. PEN America and Penguin Random House, a major publisher, are currently suing Escambia County over book restrictions.
In September, Nassau County school district reached a settlement following a lawsuit from the authors of “And Tango Makes Three.” Officials agreed to return several dozen books to library shelves.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
