Panel advises removing two books from Hernando schools
BROOKSVILLE (Suncoast News) - At the next school board meeting, two books are listed as being challenged and — in both cases — the recommendation is for removal.
The book “It’s So Amazing: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families,” by Robie H. Harris, was challenged and its removal is sought from Hernando County’s Schools, according to agenda materials released for the Tuesday, Oct. 24, school board meeting.
It was first published in 2014.
The second book is “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” by Steven Chbosky, first published in 2010.
Julia Thomas, committee chair for the Curriculum and Materials Review Committee of the Hernando County Chapter of Moms for Liberty, made the challenges.
In response to a request for comment, Thomas sent this statement:
“Moms for Liberty is not in the business of banning books. We are working with parents who want to ensure their children do not have access to age inappropriate and sexually explicit books in public school libraries. For the parents who want their children to have access to age inappropriate material, they can visit the county libraries, Amazon, eBay and other stores."
Citizen request
“Eastside Elementary School’s Review Committee met on September 18, 2023 and September 28, 2023 to discuss a citizen’s request for school reconsideration of the book, ‘It’s So Amazing.’ The committee voted 7-0 to recommend to the Superintendent that the book be removed from Hernando County Schools,” the executive summary said.
On Amazon.com, customers have rated the book as suitable for ages 7 to 10.
The pitch for the book reads: “How does a baby begin? What makes a baby male or female? How is a baby born? Children have plenty of questions about reproduction and babies — and about sex and sexuality, too. It’s So Amazing! provides the answers — with fun, accurate, comic-book-style artwork and a clear, lively text that reflects the interests of children age seven and up in how things work, while giving them a healthy understanding of their bodies.”
The book was found at Eastside Elementary School.
Having her books banned is nothing new for Harris. According to the website of “Banned Books Awareness and Reading for Knowledge,” “‘It’s Perfectly Normal’ was the ALA’s #1 Most Challenged Book of 2005, and ‘It’s So Amazing’ closed out the top 10 that same year. ‘It’s Perfectly Normal’ currently sits at the #12 spot on the ALA’s 100 Most Banned Books of the 21st century and ‘It’s So Amazing’ joins in at #37.”
‘Wallflower’ novel
The second book is “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” by Steven Chbosky, first published in 2010.
It’s Chbosky’s debut novel, according to Amazon.com, and is described as follows:
“The critically acclaimed debut novel from Stephen Chbosky, Perks follows observant ‘wallflower’ Charlie as he charts a course through the strange world between adolescence and adulthood. First dates, family drama, and new friends. Sex, drugs, and ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show.’ Devastating loss, young love, and life on the fringes. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie must learn to navigate those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.”
The agenda materials say, “Central High School’s Review Committee met on September 22, 2023 and October 2, 2023 to discuss a citizen’s request for school reconsideration of the book, ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ written by Stephen Chbosky. The committee voted 4-1 to recommend to the Superintendent that the book be removed from Hernando County Schools based on statute.”
The recommended reading age is 14 and older.
“The story takes place in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the 1991-1992 school year and explores such topics as introversion, teenage sexuality, homosexuality, abuse, and the general awkwardness of adolescence; it also touches on drug use through Charlie’s first-hand experiences,” according to the website of “Banned Books Awareness and Reading for Knowledge.”
The book was found at Central High School.
According to a letter to the committee from Thomas, who also challenged “It’s So Amazing,” the book “… contains sexual age-inappropriate and drug content: sexual activities, ‘assuly assult’ (sic) and battery, sexual nudity, profanity, violence, alcohol and drug use, homophobic language, and suicide. The actions of the media specialist or administrative staff in selecting this book currently violates H.B 467 s. 847.012 (b) that media specialists are responsible for selecting books free of pornographic and sexually explicit materials. Furthermore, the Hernando County School District is also in violation of H.B 1557 for teaching and/or introducing sexual orientation and gender identity to children, as well as multiple provisions of H.B. 1069.”
Included are four pages of passages, a list of obscene words used in the book, and pages of comments, both positive and negative, on the book.
According to the website of “Banned Books Awareness and Reading for Knowledge,” “The book has been at the forefront of the American Library Association’s banned books list throughout the last decade and was third on the ALA’s list for 2009.”
(https://bbark.deepforestproductions.com/column/2011/05/15/banned-books-awareness-perks-wallflower/)
In both cases, the School Board will make a final decision on what happens to the books.