SJSD reviewing 10 library books after community challenges

By Ashley Luthans

The future of several St. Joseph School District library books is in limbo after community members called for them to be banned.

Ten books are under consideration to be banned: “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, “Looking for Alaska” by John Green, “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, “If I Was Your Girl” by Meredith Russo, “Crank” by Ellen Hopkins, “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins, “Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher, “Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson, “The ABCs of LGBTQ+” by Ash Hardell and “This Book is Anti-Racist” by Tiffany Jewell.

LaTonya Williams, the president of the St. Joseph Board of Education, said the district is taking the concerns of book challenges seriously and will go through proper reviews to determine if these books will be allowed in local schools.

She said because the reviews will be so thorough, it may be a lengthy process, and that the first book to be looked at will take about a month to review.

“And then it’s not a process to rush or hurry,” Williams said. “I mean, the district is taking the concerns of the community members extremely seriously, while being open to the professional opinions of the librarians as well.”

The first book to receive challenges was “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, a book from the 1970s. It is currently being evaluated by the district to determine whether it should be banned from the high schools in the district.

However, not everyone in the community is on board. Resident Sydney Pinion started a petition on change.org, calling for Morrison’s book to be kept in libraries.

“Banning books is a dangerous and misguided endeavor that goes against the fundamental principles of free expression and intellectual freedom,” Pinion said in the petition description.

Pinion said she started the petition because she doesn’t think she’s the only one in the community who is against these book challenges.

“I think that a lot of people kind of feel the same way I do about it, but maybe, like me, weren’t sure what if anything they could do,” Pinion said. “And so, to quote the controversial author herself, Toni Morrison, ‘If you have some power, then it’s your job to empower others.’ And so using my tiny voice is the small way that I can try to empower and uplift voices of people that might also think that we need to have access to this literature.”

Some community members say that certain books are inappropriate for younger students, commenting on News-Press NOW social media that some of these books go against their values.

The review process for all challenged books will involve several district employees.

“According to board policy, a committee is formed and on the committee there will be a librarian, a community member, a principal of the building that the book is at and a person also out of administration, as well,” Williams said. “They will read the book and look for if there are any topics or wording, anything that could be considered not age-appropriate.”

Central High School junior Macormick Carlson said he doesn’t agree with the idea of banning books and taking away the choice of the student.

“I feel like we all have an opinion and we all should have the right to choose what kind of book we want to read,” Carlson said. “Maybe if the parent doesn’t want that kid to read that book, maybe take it up with the parent. But still having that option to have that book out there and be out in the world, and not banning it from another kid to learn from a lesson.”

Carlson went on to say that he thinks reading is integral in educating people about the world.

“Each book that I’ve read, I’ve always grown from a lesson, learned something new,” Carlson said. “If I didn’t support it or I did support it, I’m still learning and you’re still getting educated.”