Latest news with #EllenHopkins
Axios
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Utah bans more books from schools — including bestseller "Water for Elephants"
Utah has banned two more women-authored books from public schools statewide. The latest: The state Board of Education this week added Sara Gruen's bestselling 2006 novel "Water for Elephants" to a list of 18 titles forbidden in public schools. In March, the board banned "Tricks" by Ellen Hopkins — the author's third book to appear on the state's list of "objective sensitive materials." By the numbers: Utah has banned 18 titles from schools since state lawmakers in 2024 ordered schools to remove any book or other content if at least three districts deem it to be inappropriate. 16 of those books were written by women. How it works: Per guidance drafted by the state board of education, districts forward complaints of "sensitive materials" to a committee where parents outnumber educators, to determine whether the content should be restricted. To decide what counts as "sensitive material," districts use criminal statutes that define "pornographic," "indecent" or "harmful" material for children. Those laws allow for content with "serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors," taking into account the children's ages. But the book-banning law requires districts to "prioritize protecting children from the harmful effects of illicit pornography over other considerations" as they decide which books to forbid. Zoom in: "Water for Elephants" was targeted by Davis, Tooele and Cache school districts. "Tricks" was flagged by Davis, Tooele and Washington districts. The intrigue: Davis School District — which briefly banned the Bible in 2023 — has been one of the contributing districts for all 18 banned books. "Water for Elephants" chronicles the memories of a fictional veterinarian who works for a traveling circus during the Great Depression. It was a No. 1 New York Times bestseller. A 2011 film adaptation starred Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, and a Tony-nominated stage musical opened on Broadway last year. Zoom out: It's not the only Utah-banned book to get Hollywood treatment. Judy Blume's "Forever" inspired an 8-episode Netflix series that launched this week. The 1975 novel, which describes a teen couple's "first time," was considered controversial by late 20th-century standards. Catch up quick: The state has banned four books from schools so far this year. "Like a Love Story" by Abdi Nazemian was listed among "The 100 Best YA Novels of All Time" by Time Magazine in 2021, along with "Forever." "Damsel" is the second book by Elana K. Arnold to be banned in schools. Both books were added to the "sensitive materials" list in January. Here are the other books on the list:
CBS News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Banned books return to a Colorado school district's shelves as legal battle continues
Nineteen books are back on the shelves at the Elizabeth School District in Colorado after being removed and disposed of in September. Earlier this month, a preliminary injunction ordered the banned books be returned to shelves while an ACLU lawsuit against the district plays out. The Elizabeth School District appealed. On Monday, an appeals court denied that request and gave the district a deadline to re-shelve the books by Friday at noon. But the books were already replaced as of Thursday afternoon, according to the superintendent of Elizabeth Schools. "Obviously we're disappointed. We still feel like there's a lack of understanding of the content of these books, but obviously we're complying with the court order," said Dan Snowberger, superintendent of Elizabeth Schools. It's a win for the ACLU, who brought suit against the district alleging the removal violated free speech protections. "We think government ought to be out of the business of telling people the ideas that are acceptable," said Tim Macdonald, legal director for the ACLU of Colorado. Most of the books feature stories of LGBTQ+ individuals or people of color. Titles include Toni Morrison's Beloved, The Kite Runner, The Hate U Give and Thirteen Reasons Why. The books in question are as follows: "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas "Beloved" by Toni Morrison "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini "You Should See Me in a Crown" by Leah Johnson "#Pride: Championing LGBTQ Rights" by Rebecca Felix "George" (now published and referred to as "Melissa") by Alex Gino "It's Your World-If You Don't Like It, Change It" by Mikki Halpin "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher "Looking for Alaska" by John Green "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins "Glass" by Ellen Hopkins "Fallout" by Ellen Hopkins "Identical" by Ellen Hopkins "Burned" by Ellen Hopkins "Smoke" by Ellen Hopkins "Redwood and Ponytail" by K.A. Holt. "It's a viewpoint discrimination, and it's a violation of the First Amendment and the Colorado Constitution to say we're going to take books out because we don't agree with the political orthodoxy. They don't align with our political values, and so we're going to purge them. The Constitution prohibits that," Macdonald said. "These are not books about LGBTQ or people of color. These are books that have obscene content and that children should not access them at school," Snowberger said. Snowberger says the books were thrown away with support from a majority of parents, and three months later, the ACLU filed the lawsuit. "Anyone who reads content in the books sees a graphic depiction of child rape, sees graphic depictions of incest, sees directions on how to commit suicide, sees vivid descriptions of school shootings. People who feel that belongs in child's hands -- it's sad. I'm very sad about that," Snowberger said. When the district was ordered to return books to shelves, law firm Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell donated copies of the books to the district, but the board voted to reject them. "The Elizabeth School District claimed it could not comply with the court's injunction because the school district already had disposed of the books. As part of our representation of our clients in the case, we provided copies of the books used during the litigation to the school district's lawyer to help facilitate the school district's compliance with the federal court order," a firm spokesperson told CBS Colorado. But after the district's appeals failed, new copies were donated by a local group that wishes to remain anonymous, and returned to shelves Thursday. "We'll put them on the sensitive topic list so that parents who are concerned about this type of content can protect their children from accessing it," Snowberger said. According to Snowberger, the books were primarily shelved in the high school, with one title in an elementary school and five in the middle school. The district received the exact number of copies as they threw out. For most of these titles, the district only ever had one copy. Many of these books have been on the school's shelves for decades, and some have never been checked out. While the books are back in schools, the legal battle isn't over. "The case will move forward in the trial court, and we look forward to prevailing at trial," Macdonald said. "We don't want a liberal school district saying you can't have conservative ideas in the school library. And we don't want self-described conservative school districts saying, 'Here are ideas that we disagree with, and we don't want in the library.'" "We'll take this to court until we get the outcome we need to. There has not been a decision on library books from the Supreme Court since 1982," Snowberger said. Macdonald says this is the first case of its kind that's been litigated in Colorado to his knowledge, but he says it's part of a concerning trend of book banning in the country. "Some groups that have cropped up, like a group called Moms for Liberty, that has pushed an agenda of banning books that involve LGBTQ+ characters or authors and diverse authors. And we've seen it around the country, and it looks like that's the playbook that was run in the Elizabeth School District," Macdonald said. There is no trial date set yet, but both sides say they're prepared to take this fight to the Supreme Court.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cobb County removes 'American Psycho' from school libraries
The Brief Cobb County leaders have removed Bret Easton Ellis' novel "American Psycho" from school libraries over what they say is "sexually explicit content." The novel, which was made into a movie in 2000, is about a New York investment banker who has a secret double life as a sadistic serial killer. It's the 36th book to be removed from the county's school libraries since 2023. COBB COUNTY, Ga. - Cobb County leaders say they've removed another novel from school libraries over what they say is "inappropriate material." With the removal of Bret Easton Ellis' "American Psycho," the school district has removed 36 books from its library shelves in the last three years. What we know Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced the removal at a school board meeting last week, saying that the book was removed due to its "sexually explicit content." Ellis' black comedic novel, which was published in 1991, was made into a popular film starring Christian Bale in 2000. The novel follows Patrick Bateman, a New York investment banker who hides a secret sadistic double life as a serial killer. The book's subject matter has been a source of controversy for decades, with many libraries and schools either banning it or challenging its inclusion since its publication. Some other countries have limited its sale to only people 18 years old or older. What they're saying "The Cobb County School District is not engaging in book-banning or book-burning," Ragsdale has said. "We are following well-established federal and state law and policies and practices of this District that have been with us for years, if not decades. Instruction in this District is built around Georgia state standards, not any individual or group's political agenda." The backstory "American Psycho" is the fourth book removed from school libraries in Cobb County this year. Last month, the county removed Jason Myer's "2011 novel "Dead End," which centers around a runaway teenage couple that features sexual assault, drug use, and graphic violence. Other books that have been removed include: "Triangles" by Ellen Hopkins explores the intertwined lives of three women, each grappling with personal struggles, desires, and the complexities of adulthood. The book delves into themes of love, infidelity, parenthood, loss, and self-discovery. "A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard is a true crime book by American kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard, who spent 18 years sequestered and enslaved in California. The memoir describes what she died to survive and cope mentally with extreme abuse. "Laid" by James Dawson: This book is said to serve as a guide for teenagers navigating sexual relationships, offering advice on consent, safe sex, and emotional well-being, framed in a humorous and approachable manner. "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins: A powerful novel-in-verse that follows Kristina, a teenage girl whose life spirals out of control after she becomes addicted to crystal meth, leading to devastating consequences for herself and those around her. "Tricks" by Ellen Hopkins: This novel explores the lives of five teenagers, each grappling with their own issues and ultimately turning to prostitution as a means of survival, highlighting the harsh realities of exploitation and despair. "Push" by Sapphire: This raw and intense novel tells the story of Precious, an illiterate teenager in Harlem who endures horrific abuse but finds hope and empowerment through education and the support of those who believe in her. "Push" won several awards, including the Book-of-the-Month Club Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. The film adaptation "Precious" won several Oscars, including Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. The movie was rated R. "Milk and Honey" by Rupi Kaur: A collection of poetry and prose divided into four parts, each dealing with a different aspect of life, love, loss, and healing, with a focus on the female experience and resilience. "It Starts with Us" by Colleen Hoover: A sequel to "It Ends with Us," this novel continues the story of Lily and Atlas, delving into their pasts and exploring themes of love, forgiveness, and second chances. "The Infinite Moment of Us" by Lauren Myracle: A contemporary romance that follows two teenagers, Wren and Charlie, during the summer after high school as they navigate love, identity, and the challenges of transitioning into adulthood. "The Casual Vacancy" by J.K. Rowling: A darkly comic novel that explores the complexities of a small English town after the unexpected death of a local councilman, revealing the deep-seated tensions and secrets among the residents. "Identical" by Ellen Hopkins: This novel-in-verse tells the harrowing story of identical twin sisters, Kaeleigh and Raeanne, who struggle with the trauma of their abusive father, leading them down paths of self-destruction and mental anguish. "Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson: A memoir-manifesto that discusses the author's experiences growing up as a Black queer man, addressing themes of identity, family, and societal expectations through a series of personal essays. This book has been highly praised by critics and was nominated for several awards, including the ALA Stonewall Book Award and was listed as a William C. Morris YA Debut Award finalist. "Juliet Takes a Breath" by Gabby Rivera: This coming-of-age novel follows Juliet, a young Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx, who comes out as gay and spends a transformative summer in Portland, Oregon, exploring her identity and activism. This book was highly acclaimed and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in LGBTQ Children's/Young Adult. "Monday's Not Coming" by Tiffany D. Jackson: A gripping mystery about Claudia, a young girl determined to find her missing best friend Monday, and uncover the dark truths that surround her disappearance and the community's indifference. This book won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult. "City of Thieves" by David Benioff: Set during the Siege of Leningrad in World War II, this novel follows Lev and Kolya, two unlikely companions on a dangerous mission to find a dozen eggs for a Soviet colonel, blending dark humor with the horrors of war. "Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl" by Jesse Andrews: This darkly comedic novel follows Greg, a high school senior who, along with his friend Earl, befriends a girl with leukemia. The book was adapted into an award-winning film in 2015, gaining significant critical acclaim. The movie was rated PG-13. "Flamer" by Mike Curato: A graphic novel set in the summer before high school, following a boy named Aiden as he struggles with his identity, bullying, and self-acceptance. The book has received several awards, including the Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Young Adult Fiction. "Blankets" by Craig Thompson: An autobiographical graphic novel that explores themes of family, faith, and first love. It is a highly acclaimed work that won several prestigious awards, including two Eisner Awards and two Harvey Awards. "It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover: This novel tells the story of Lily, a woman caught in a complex and abusive relationship. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky: A coming-of-age story about a high school freshman named Charlie, dealing with trauma, friendship, and self-discovery. It was adapted into a successful film in 2012, and the book has won numerous awards, including the ALA's Best Books for Young Adults. The film was rated PG-13. "Lucky" by Alice Sebold: A memoir recounting the author's experience of being raped in college and the impact it had on her life. It has been critically acclaimed and was a New York Times Notable Book. "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher: A novel about a teenage girl who leaves behind cassette tapes explaining her reasons for suicide. The book was adapted into a highly controversial Netflix series and has won awards like the California Book Award for Young Adult Literature. The TV series was rated TV-MA. The Source Information for this story came from the Cobb County School District and previous FOX 5 reporting.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Judge: Elizabeth School District must return banned books to libraries during appeal process
DENVER (KDVR) — While the Elizabeth School District is working to appeal a ruling that prevents the district from removing books for expressed views from its libraries, a judge ruled that the banned books must be put back on the shelves while the trial plays out. On Thursday, a U.S. district court judge for the District of Colorado announced that the school district needs to return the removed books to their libraries by 5 p.m. on Saturday. This came after a U.S. District Court judge ruled the district must return all books it removed no later than March 25, which the district appealed. Elizabeth School District facing further legal action regarding book ban The Elizabeth School District argued to keep the books off the shelves during the appeal process; however, on Thursday, a judge ruled that the books must be put back by Saturday while the appeal is underway. This court ruling stems from an ongoing effort by the district to remove several books from libraries. In August 2024, the Elizabeth School District 'temporarily' pulled 19 books from the shelves and adopted a 'sensitive topic protocol' due to the material in the books. This material includes LGBTQ+ topics and racial issues. These books included: 'The Hate U Give,' Angie Thomas 'Thirteen Reasons Why,' Jay Asher 'Pride: Championing LGBTQ Rights,' Rebecca Felix 'You Should See Me in a Crown,' Leah Johnson 'It's Your World — If You Don't Like It, Change It,' Mikki Halpin 'The Kite Runner,' Khaled Hosseini 'Beloved,' Toni Morrison 'The Bluest Eye,' Toni Morrison 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' Stephen Chbosky 'Looking for Alaska,' John Green 'Nineteen Minutes,' Jodi Picoult 'Speak,' Laurie Anderson 'Identical,' Ellen Hopkins 'Fallout,' Ellen Hopkins 'Glass,' Ellen Hopkins 'Burned,' Ellen Hopkins 'Crank,' Ellen Hopkins 'Smoke,' Ellen Hopkins 'George,' Alex Gino The district was sued in December 2024 after the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, representing two students in the Elizabeth School District and other stakeholders, claimed that the books were removed because they violated some 'school board members' partisan and political values.' The lawsuit claimed that removing the books violated the First Amendment. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox A U.S. District Court judge ruled in March that the district can't remove books if it 'disagrees with the views expressed therein or merely to further their preferred political or religious orthodoxy.' The judge ordered the district to lift the ban while it plays out in court, but the district appealed that ruling. The district is still working to appeal this ruling, but for now, the books are ordered to go back on the shelves by Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Judge orders Colorado's Elizabeth School District to place 19 banned books back on its library shelves by this weekend
A federal judge has refused a request from a school district in Colorado to put a hold on her ruling that mandates the restoration 19 different books to its school library shelves. The Elizabeth School Board voted to remove the books from school libraries last year due to concerns over violence, discrimination, sexual situations and other content. The superintendent says parents overwhelmingly approved of the district's decision to remove the books from the shelves -- saying they were inappropriate for kids. Two parents, the Author's Guild and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the ban in December. Last month, a federal district judge ruled that the books need to go back on the shelves. The "students' interest in accessing books in their respective school libraries is constitutionally protected" by the First Amendment, Judge Charlotte Sweeney wrote in her decision. The school district asked for a hold on the ruling but that was just denied. The court says Elizabeth schools now must return the books to school libraries by Saturday at 5 p.m. The district had said it may take some time to get the books on the shelves again as they threw them out, but a law firm said it would donate the books. The books in question are as follows: "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini "Redwood and Ponytail" by K.A. Holt "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins "Glass" by Ellen Hopkins "Fallout" by Ellen Hopkins "Identical" by Ellen Hopkins "Burned" by Ellen Hopkins "Smoke" by Ellen Hopkins "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas "Looking for Alaska" by John Green "You Should See Me in a Crown" by Leah Johnson "#Pride: Championing LGBTQ Rights" by Rebecca Felix "George" (now published and referred to as "Melissa") by Alex Gino "It's Your World--If You Don't Like it, Change it" by Mikki Halpin "Beloved" by Toni Morrison "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult
