Marshall University does not ban books! The information is provided to let people know what has been banned/challenged elsewhere.
2022
The Protect Nebraska Children Coalition brought an extensive list of books to the Wauneta-Pallisade (NE) Public Schools board meeting and wanted the books removed from both the elementary and high school libraries. The list of more than 30 titles included The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Dear Martin by Nic Stone, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, Pink Is for Boys by Robb Pearlman, and Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson. The books were removed for evaluation.
2020
Parents of the Westwood (NJ) Regional Schools argued that Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, and Can’t Get There From Here and Boot Camp by Todd Strasser, had the potential to do “irrevocable harm and should be pulled from the school.”” Following an author visit from Strasser, all three books were added to the Westwood Regional Middle School language arts classroom library by the principal. After committee evaluations, she replied to patents’ complaints: the two Strasser books would remain in the classroom collections and Asher’s book would be relocated to the school library. The school board voted to retain the titles. A local police chief, in favor of removing the books, announced that he was running for a seat on the board.
2019
Banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide.
2018
Temporarily removed from school library shelves at the Mesa County (CO) School District because of recent teenage suicides in the community by the curriculum director. Book was returned after protest by school librarians. Banned at Red Deer Catholic School Division (Canada) after school counselors and psychologists hosted an evening discussion with families on mental health and safety over concerns that the TV series glamorized teen suicide. Banned at Stone Lakes Elementary School (FL). The principal said “Besides depicting the suicide itself in a somewhat graphic nature, there is frequent use of profanity, alcohol and sexually material (both in the book and TV show).” Retained as required reading for sophomores at a Fort Wayne (IN) Community Schools high school after a mother complained about the book. Her concerns centered on the tone of the main characters expressions, lack of mental health care, and author’s lack of moral lesson for those suffering depression. Banned from Anderson County (KY) Middle School libraries and classrooms by the superintendent after the Netflix series aired. Many viewers claim that the series based on the novel glamorizes teen suicide and unrealistically portrays relationships with adults and counselors.
2017
Challenged and under review in the sophomore-level Academic English II classes at Lemont (IL) High School District 210 because a parent considered it “pornographic.”
2013
Challenged for drugs, alcohol, smoking, being sexually explicit, suicide, and being unsuited for age group.
On These Pages
A Banned book has been removed from a library, classroom, etc.
A Challenged book has been requested to be removed from a library, classroom, etc.
For additional information contact
Ron Titus, titus@marshall.edu
304-696-6575
Last updated
September 27, 2022