Utah Bans 13 Books From All Public Schools

Books|Utah Bans 13 Books From All Public Schools

The state of Utah has ordered schools to remove 13 books from classrooms and libraries, including books by Margaret Atwood and Judy Blume, because they have content considered pornographic or indecent under a new state law.

The edict issued on Friday was intended to comply with a law that went into effect on July 1, which says that local education agencies — including school boards and the governing boards of charter schools — should prioritize “protecting children from the harmful effects of illicit pornography over other considerations.” Traditionally, schools and librarians have decided whether a book is appropriate for children based on a range of factors, including its literary or artistic value.

Any materials that include a description of sex or masturbation would run afoul of the new rule. When a local education agency removes a book because it violates the new law, it must notify the state board of education. And when something is removed by three school districts — or by two school districts and five charter schools — it must be removed statewide.

The Utah State Board of Education said it was required by law to compile the list and was committed to compliance.

PEN America, a free speech organization that has been tracking efforts to restrict books for several years, said this is the first time it has seen a state require all of its schools to remove a list of titles.

“This is different,” said Jonathan Friedman, the managing director of the U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America. “This is literally the government saying that ‘Oryx and Crake,’ by Margaret Atwood, cannot be shelved in public schools.”

The new law in Utah is one of several regarding book access to take effect this summer. Proponents of these restrictions say they are necessary to protect children from encountering sensitive topics while alone in the library or in the classroom without the guidance of their parents.

The Utah list includes several books by the best-selling fantasy author Sarah J. Maas, including “A Court of Thorns and Roses” and “A Court of Mist and Fury.”

The list also includes “Forever,” by Judy Blume, an award-winning graphic novel called “Blankets,” by Craig Thompson, and “Tilt,” by Ellen Hopkins, which follows three teenagers as they navigate issues like teen pregnancy and a romantic relationship between two young men, one of whom is H.I.V. positive.