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We should trust individuals to make their own decisions. Raise your voice for everyone’s freedom to read. #UniteAgainstBookBans

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Freedom to read, to access information and speak in public spaces is crucial to maintaining a healthy democracy. The menu below contains resources to help you better understand your First Amendment rights and responsibilities, learn about notable cases and take action against censorship in your communities.
Has your right to speak, think or create been threatened?
Featured Resources for Librarians

Click for all of NCAC's resources.

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Freedom to read, to access information and speak in public spaces is crucial to maintaining a healthy democracy. The menu below contains resources to help you better understand your First Amendment rights and responsibilities, learn about notable cases and take action against censorship in your communities.

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LGBTQ Book Bans and Challenges
The following is a list of some of the many books that have been banned and challenged To read more about book challenges and bans check out the Kids' Right to Read Project Report and the NCAC's Book Challenges Report because of their LGBTQ content and themes.
For tips on how to respond to bans and challenges see NCAC's Book Censorship Toolkit

And Tango Makes Three
By Justin Richardson and Henry Cole (Simon and Schuster)
And Tango Makes Three is based on the true story of two male penguins raising a chick in the Central Park Zoo. According to the American Library Association it was the most challenged book of 2006, 2007 and 2008. One incident at a Loudoun County, Virginia elementary school involved the book's removal from shelves in a decision by the local superintendent. There was an immediate backlash and many called for a reconsideration. Opponents of the book claimed that it promoted a 'homosexual agenda.' In another incident at a Southwick, Massachusetts elementary school, a librarian claimed she feared losing her job after introducing a class of second graders to the story. The librarian subsequently received a letter from her principal requesting that she 'take [the] matter seriously and refrain from disseminating information that supports alternative styles of living,' and that, 'further infractions [could] result in discipline up to and including suspension and/or termination of employment.' In a third incident, the book was ordered off bookshelves in one of North Carolina's largest school districts in Charlotte in 2006.

Am I Blue? Coming Out of the Silence
By Marion Diane Bauer (Tricycle Press)
Am I Blue? Coming Out of the Silence was one of 55 books that parents in Fayetteville, Arkansas petitioned to have removed from school libraries. The parents formed Parents Protecting the Minds of Children and objected to the profane language and depictions of sexuality in the book. They also accused librarians and other opponents of their efforts of promoting a homosexual agenda. PPMC objected specifically to the book because of its gay content, as well as the fact that proceeds from the sale of the book went to Parents and Friends of Gays and Lesbians.

Annie on My Mind
By Nancy Garden (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Annie on My Mind was published first in 1982 amidst controversy because of its positive portrayal of the story's gay protagonists. There have been several attacks on the book because it centers on two 17 year old girls exploring their sexual orientation, though there are no explicit sexual encounters in the novel. The book was also reportedly banned in some Kansas City schools.
The book was at the center of a high-profile 1995 case in which US District Court Justice Thomas Van Bebber ruled that the novel must be returned to high school libraries where it had been removed because it was educationally suitable.

Athletic Shorts
By Christopher Crutcher (HarperCollins)
Click here for the Kids' Right to Read Project interview with Chris Crutcher.
Athletic Shorts was one of several books attacked in Vero Beach, Florida. Part-time librarian and graduate student Meagan Albright decided to focus on gay, lesbian, and transgendered themes as part of a University of South Florida course called Multicultural and Special Population Materials for Children and Young Adults and created a display honoring LGBTQ books and authors. Subsequent protest from three visitors to the library prompted attacks on the books, as well as a town ordinance prohibiting county government from acknowledging or promoting gay pride and events. Crutcher, a child therapist who brings the gritty realities of his patients to the page, is an often-banned and -challenged author and later claimed that it was, 'An honor to be banned.'

Baby Be Bop
By Francesca Lia Block (HarperCollins)
Click here to view Kids' Right to Read Project interview with Francesca Lia Block.
Baby Be Bop was one of 55 books that parents in Fayetteville, Arkansas petitioned to have removed from school libraries. The parents formed Parents Protecting the Minds of Children and objected to the profane language and depictions of sexuality in the book. They also accused librarians and other opponents of their efforts of promoting a homosexual agenda. PPMC objected specifically to Baby Be Bop because of its written style, saying 'There are just plain too many teenager-aimed books nowadays that have this sort of choppy, half-conscious, half-delirious, not quite stream of consciousness style of writing.'
Baby Be Bop is also on a list of titles that a local group in West Bend, Wisconsin called West Bend Citizens for Safe Libraries objects to seeing in the local public library. In February, the group requested that the library board remove a page of recommended titles about LGBTQ issues for young people (including Baby Be Bop). They also demanded that the books be moved from the youth section of the library and placed with the adult collection, 'to protect children from accessing them without their parents' knowledge and supervision.' The Christian Civil Liberities Union - Milwaukee branch filed legal suit against the city of West Bend claiming its elderly plantiffs were damaged mentally and emotionally by the book's presence at the local public library. The claim seeks financial damages and the right to publically burn the library's copy of Baby Be Bop.

The Bermudez Triangle
By Maureen Johnson (Penguin)
On March 4th, 2007, in Oklahoma, a book challenge against The Bermudez Triangle was submitted to the school board of Bartlesville Public Schools in Oklahoma. Someone felt that a book had "no moral fiber" and asked for it to be removed "at once." The book chronicles the relationship between 3 female best friends and the trouble they run in to when 2 start to secretly date. The Bermudez Triangle was also challenged in the local Leesburg Public Library. Click here for the Kids' Right to Read Project interview with Maureen Johnson.

By Eric Jerome Dickey (Dutton)
Cheaters was one of 55 books that parents in Fayetteville, Arkansas petitioned to have removed from school libraries. The parents formed Parents Protecting the Minds of Children and objected to the profane language and depictions of sexuality in the book. They also accused librarians and other opponents of their efforts of promoting a homosexual agenda. PPMC objected to this novel specifically because of its depictions of sex, particularly homosexual sex.

Daddy's Roommate
By Michael Willhoite (Alyson Publications)
Daddy's Roommate was on of several books that was challenged during the period of Sarah Palin's inquiries into school libraries in the Wasilla region of Alaska. Palin complained that Daddy's Roommate - a book that helps children understand homosexuality-did not belong in the Wasilla Public Library. When Laura Chase, Palin's first mayoral campaign manager, asked if she had read the book, the mayor responded, "she didn't need to read that stuff." Chase told the New York Times that she found it 'disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn't even read it.' The book has been banned in other circumstances for being age inappropriate and 'promoting homosexuality.'

Dance on My Grave
By Alan Chambers (Doubleday)
Library Patrons of Texas, a conservative community group, attacked Dance on My Grave and 15 other LGBTQ or sex-themed books in the Montgomery, Texas library. Ultimately, none of the books were removed or restricted. The book tells the story of a 14 year old gay boy and his first gay relationships.

The Drowning of Stephan Jones
By Bette Greene (Laurel Leaf)
The Drowning of Stephan Jones was one of 4 books that drew complaints from a parent based on their LGBTQ content. The parent formally complained to Barron High School and despite recommendations from a specially convened committee, the District Administrator decided to ban two of the books immediately. At its September 21, 1998 meeting the Board banned The Drowning of Stephan Jones indefinitely.

Fun Home
By Alison Bechdel (Mariner, Houghton Mifflin)
Alison Bechdel's Fun Home is a graphic novel memoir of the author's childhood, particularly focused on her relationship with her closeted gay father Bruce. As Alison grows older and realizes that she is a lesbian, she and Bruce are both forced to confront how his repression may have affected her own self-image and the way that she dealt with her sexuality. Time magazine named it the best book of 2006, describing it as "a masterpiece about two people who live in the same house but different worlds, and their mysterious debts to each other." The musical adaptation of Fun Home won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Musical. In 2018, two New Jersey parents requested that it be removed from the 12th grade honors curriculum because of its "sexually explicit nature."

Geography Club
By Brent Hartinger (HarperCollins)
Geography Club has recently become one of the most banned and challenged books in the United States. It was banned in the author's hometown of Tacoma, Washington. More recently, the book has come under fire in West Bend, Wisconsin, where community members object to its presence in the local library because of its 'immoral' gay content. Click here for the Kids' Right to Read Project interview with Brent Hartinger.

Good Moon Rising
By Nancy Garden (Farrar Straus & Giroux)
Library Patrons of Texas targeted author Nancy Garden's books, including G ood Moon Rising. The book is considered objectionable by the group because it presents homosexuality in a non-judgmental context.

Hey Dollface
By Deborah Hautzig (Bantam)
Library Patrons of Texas attempted to remove this book from Montgomery libraries because it tells the story of two girls' friendship and blossoming sexuality. The book was reviewed along with several other titles, none of which were ultimately removed.

It's Perfectly Normal
Robie H. Harris (Random House)
It's Perfectly Normal was restricted but later returned to general circulation in Holt Middle School library in Fayetteville, Arkansas due to complaints that it was sexually explicit, moved from the young adult to the adult section in Ford Bend County Library in Richmond, Texas, challenged but retained in the Montgomery County, Texas library system after the Republican Leadership Council characterized the book as 'vulgar' and trying to 'minimize or even negate that homosexuality is a problem,' challenged in a Holland, Massachusetts public library and challenged in a Marion County, Florida public library for sexually explicit content. It's Perfectly Normal is a sex education book.

King and King
By Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland (Tricycle Press)
In 2004, King and King ignited controversy after first-grader Olivia Hartsell brought the book home on March 1 and her parents Michael and Tonya Hartsell complained to administrators at Rachel Freeman Elementary School in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Hartsells objected to the book's acknowledgement of homosexuality and also of divorce ("When I was your age, I'd been married twice already," the prince's mother tells him, in encouraging him to find a mate). The Hartsells threatened to enroll their daughter in a different school and refused to return the book to the Freeman school library, for fear some other child might check it out. It was also challenged in a public library in Lower Macungie, Pennsylvania in 2007 by parents Eileen and Jeff Issa who requested the book's removal due to its homosexual content. Their request was denied, prompting the Issas to appeal to the township supervisors who upheld the library's decision in a 2-1 vote.

Maurice and The Education of Harriet Hatfield
By E. M. Forster (Penguin)
Maurice was among several books removed from a regional high school. The novels' purchase was financed by a grant that teacher Penny Culliton received and was approved by the school superintendent and principal. However, shortly after a local newspaper reported that Culliton was involved with a lesbian and gay support group for young people, the books were found unsuitable and were banned. Maurice and The Education of Harriet Hatfield were seized from the students while they were reading the novels in class. Personal attacks on the teacher and demands for her dismissal were so vehement that her job was jeopardized.

My Father's Scar
By Michael Cart (MacMillan)
Library Patrons of Texas, a conservative community group, attacked My Father's Scar and 15 other gay or sexually-themed books in the Montgomery, Texas library. None of the books were removed or restricted. The book tells the story of a college student's first gay relationship and his struggle with an alcoholic father and a prejudiced community. My Father's Scar was also one of 55 books that parents in Fayetteville, Arkansas petitioned to have removed from school libraries. The parents formed Parents Protecting the Minds of Children and objected to the profane language and depictions of sexuality in the book. They also accused librarians and other opponents of their efforts of promoting a homosexual agenda. PPMC specifically objected to My Father's Scar because of its depictions of homosexuality and sexual abuse.

The New Joy of Gay Sex
By Charles Silverstein
The New Joy of Gay Sex met various challenges including its being challenged at a Clifton, New Jersey library where the board voted to limit access to the book, keeping it hidden behind the circulation desk and requiring that patrons ask for it specifically by name. Additionally, a York Township woman in Medina County, Ohio quit her job as a librarian in protest over children being able to check out adult-oriented materials like The New Joy of Gay Sex. The library took no action maintaining that its policy was a parental responsibility to monitor which books children checked out.

Rainbow High and Rainbow Boys
By Alex Sanchez (Simon & Schuster)
Rainbow Boys was challenged by local community members at the Owen-Withee Junior and Senior High School in Wisconsin who described the book as pervasively vulgar and decried the book's gay content. After a school board review, the book remained in the schools. Both Rainbow Boys and Rainbow High were on the list of 55 books that parents in Fayetteville, Arkansas petitioned to have removed from school libraries. The parents formed Parents Protecting the Minds of Children and objected to the profane language and depictions of sexuality in the book. They also accused librarians and other opponents of their efforts of promoting a homosexual agenda. PPMC specifically objects to these novels because of their depictions of gay teens and the use of profane language. Both novels have gay, male, teen protagonists and multiple queer characters.

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The following is a list of some of the many books that have been banned and challenged because of their LGBTQ content and themes. To read more about book challenges and bans check out the Kids' Right to Read Project Report and the NCAC's Book Challenges

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Admin. “The Freedom to Read Statement.” Advocacy, Legislation & Issues, 25 June 2023, www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement.

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Fleck, Anna, and Felix Richter. “Infographic: Book Challenges on LGBT+ Topics Soar in the U.S.” Statista Daily Data, 9 June 2022, www.statista.com/chart/27600/reasons-for-book-bans-in-the-us/.

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Infographic: Book Challenges On LGBT+ Topics Soar in the U.S.

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This chart shows the main reasons books are challenged in 2013 and 2020 in the U.S.

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Philippi, Becky Calzada & Liz. “Why Collection Development Is Important in the MAR/Apr 2022 Issue -.” -, 7 Dec. 2022, knowledgequest.aasl.org/why-collection-development-is-important-in-the-march-april-issue/.

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When the opportunity to share about collection development came up, we both understood the urgency, timeliness, and impact of this multifaceted topic. We hope this issue will challenge you with new ideas and engage you with opportunities to view the process of collection development in some critically important and necessary ways. Now more than ever, school librarians need to make time to review collection development processes frequently and consider ways to update them to meet the diverse needs of all learners. The need for diverse and inclusive materials in our collections is important now more than ever and we hope this issue offers ways to carefully evaluate and update your collections to ensure that all learners in our communities are represented in the materials we offer.

The articles in the March/April 22 issue cover a variety of topics related to building and enhancing a school library collection. There are many nuances to children and young adult literature and we hope these articles will define and expand knowledge about these impactful forms of literature. The collection development process can be both daunting and rewarding and it is vastly different for every community served. With that in mind, we hope the information in all topic areas provided in this issue will be helpful for librarians in navigating any collection development hurdles you encounter.

About the content experts

Becky Calzada (she/her/hers) is the library services coordinator for the Leander Independent School District in Leander, Texas. She coauthored the 2021 Knowledge Quest blog post "Censorship in Texas: #FReadom Campaign Inception, Reflection, and Highlights" and the 2020 American Libraries article "Reset and Reconnect: Adapting and Advocating amid the Pandemic." She is a member of AASL and serves as a Director-at-Large on the AASL Board of Directors.

Liz Philippi (she/her/hers) is the school program coordinator for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in Austin, Texas. She was a Texas Association of School Librarians Councilor and is a participant in the TALL Texan Leadership Institute and a member of the Texas School Library Standards committee. Liz was a committee member for the TLA Conference Program and served as chair of the Texas Association of School Library Administrators. Liz is a member of AASL and was co-chair of the 2021 AASL National Conference Committee. She's also a member of ALA and is an ALA Councilor-at-Large. She is serving on the ALA Sustainability Committee, the ALA Digital Content Working Group, the ALA Ken Haycock Award Committee, and ALA Ernie Dimattia Award Committee.

Features

Why Collection Development Is Important
Becky Calzada and Liz Philippi

Reflecting Our Students and Our World in Our School Library Collections
Casey Grenier and Lauren Lynn

LGBTQ+ Inclusive Collections: School Librarians Self-Reflections and Collection Development Guide
Rachel Altobelli and Nancy Jo Lambert

Collection Development Answers from the Field
Becky Calzada, Nicole Cruz, Jacob Gerding, Maegan Rose, and Suzanne Sanwald

A School Librarian's Journey through Manga Collection Development
Jillian Rudes

Articles

My Journey Toward Equity-Minded School Librariansh i p
Kim R. Krutka

Stoking the Reading Flame with Personalized Book Baskets
Melissa Williams

Columns

Research into Practice
How School Librarians Can Partner with K-12 School District Leadership to Support School Libraries
Melanie Lewis Croft

CBC Column
Representation Matters
Chris Singleton

Departments

President's Column
Discernment and Censorship-The Collection Development Conundrum
Jennisen Lucas

KQ Editorial Board Liaison Column
Back to Basics on Collection Development
Jennifer Sturge

Categories: Collection Development, KQ Content

Tags: #AASLkq, collection development

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Why Collection Development is Important in the Mar/Apr 2022 Issue -

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When the opportunity to share about collection development came up, we both understood the urgency, timeliness, and impact of this multifaceted topic. We hope this issue will challenge you with new ideas and engage you with opportunities to view the process of collection development in some critically important and necessary ways.