These 5 books have been targeted by Wake parents who want them removed from schools
The Wake County school system has rejected all five book challenges it has received from parents since 2021.
The books that were challenged in Wake prominently feature LGBTQ characters and people of color. They touch on topics such as racial profiling and children identifying as transgender.
The parents who’ve filed the challenges have raised questions such as whether the books are age appropriate. They’ve also pointed to how the books may contain profanity and feature sex scenes.
In Wake, committees at each school review challenges. Those decisions can be appealed to the school board.
The school board is considering changing its policy so that decisions on book challenges would be binding for two years.
Here are the five books that were challenged in Wake.
‘Lawn Boy’
In November 2021, GOP congressional candidate Chad Slotta requested that “Lawn Boy” by Jonathan Evison be removed from Cary High School’s library.
The book is a coming-of-age story about a 22-year-old named Mike Muñoz who is growing up in poverty. The book has some sexual scenes, such as Munoz recalling how as a 10-year-old he had oral sex with another boy at a youth group gathering at their church.
It was the second-most challenged book in the U.S. in 2021, according to the American Library Association.
A school board panel voted 2-1 to uphold the decision by Cary High to keep the book. Board members said they were focusing on the totality of the book, including how it shows the main character overcoming adversity.
‘Out of Darkness’
In November 2021, Slotta also requested that “Out of Darkness” by Ashley Hope Perez be removed from Cary High’s library.
The book depicts the love affair between a Mexican-American teenage girl and an African American teenage boy leading up to the 1937 school gas explosion in New London, Texas, that killed roughly 300 people.
Slotta argued that the book contains scenes of forced sex, sexualization of youth and degrades Christianity.
It was the fourth-most challenged book in 2021, according to the American Library Association.
A school board panel unanimously upheld Cary High’s decision to keep the book. As in the case with “Lawn Boy,” board members noted it wasn’t required reading but something that student could choose to read in the library.
‘Melissa’
In November 2021, a request was filed to remove “Melissa” (previously called “George”) by Alex Gino from Apex Elementary School.
The book is about a 10-year-old transgender girl who struggles to come out to her family, friends and classmates, The News & Observer previously reported.
Melissa” (called “George” on these lists) was the most-often banned book in the U.S., according to the American Library Association, between 2018 and 2020.
The school committee decided to keep the book in the library.
‘Dear Martin’
In February 2022, a request was filed to remove “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone from South Garner High School.
The book tells the story of a Black student attending an elite prep school who becomes the victim of racial profiling. The student looks to the teachings of Martin Luther King for answers.
A superintendent in Western North Carolina made news last year for removing the book from a 10th grade English class. The book has been removed in other schools amid parental complaints about the book’s use of profanity and depiction of police.
The school committee decided to continue using the book as supplemental material in English I classes.
‘Call Me Max’
In July 2022, a request was filed to remove “Call Me Max” by Kyle Lukoff from Combs Elementary School in Raleigh.
The book is about a child discovering his identity as a transgender boy. It’s been challenged in schools by parents who don’t feel it’s appropriate to discuss transgender issues in elementary schools.
The school committee decided to keep the book in the library.
