What to know about the 9 most challenged books in Iowa schools, from 'Tricks' to 'Lawn Boy'

Part of an occasional series

Over the past three years, parents and community members have challenged nine books more than any others in Iowa schools.

A Des Moines Register examination of the state's 327 public school districts found 60 books and one film were challenged through 100 complaints filed in 36 districts from August 2020 to May 2023.

Iowa’s new law, Senate File 496, which took effect July 1, prompted the Register's investigation. The law bars instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation through sixth grade and requires school districts to remove most books that depict sex acts.

The law kept in place districts' formal challenge processes, but Republicans who passed SF 496 contended the law was needed in part because school districts' challenge process was too ineffective at winnowing out "age inappropriate" books. The law could lead to far more books removed from school shelves.

The Register's investigation found that nine novels were challenged more than any others in Iowa schools, including three that are among the most challenged or banned books in America: “Gender Queer,” “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” and “All Boys Aren't Blue."

More: In 3 years, 60 books have been challenged in Iowa schools. A new law could ban far more.

Here are the nine most challenged books in Iowa:

'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,' by Sherman Alexie

What it's about: ”The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is the story of 14-year-old Junior, who lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation, and his journey to get an education and pursue his dream of becoming a cartoonist. The book details Junior’s life with his parents, who have battled alcohol addictions, his health trials and his navigation of friendships and bullying. The book was inspired by author Sherman Alexie’s experiences.

Documented challenges: 8

Related: Why Iowa's ban on books with sex could sink libraries shared by schools and small towns

Districts challenged: Ankeny, Bondurant-Farrar, Johnston, North Polk (2 challenges), Ottumwa, Urbandale and Oskaloosa. Only Bondurant-Farrar Community School District restricted the book.

Reasons why it was challenged: Perceived sexual content, obscene material, profanity, racism, obscene sexual material, homosexual slurs, denigrating Christianity, divisive concepts against Native Americans and whites, and inappropriate language.

“Sexually explicit details such as masturbation, erections should not be distributed by adults (educators) to a minor without parental consent,” a challenger wrote to the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District.

Related: Government reorganization, school book bans: 10 new Iowa laws taking effect July 1

'Gender Queer,' by Maia Kobabe

What it's about: “Gender Queer” is a visual autobiography by Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns. Kobabe traces eir journey with bodies, sexuality, relationships and gender identity through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood.

Documented challenges: 8.

Districts challenged: Removed in the Ankeny, Indianola and Waukee school districts. Retained in Carlisle, Urbandale and West Des Moines, which received two challenges. Oskaloosa previously reviewed and removed it without a complaint, and it was not accessible to students at the time of the challenge.

Reasons why it was challenged: Perceived obscene content, adult themes and graphic images, sexual content, discussion of sexual identity.

“I believe the purpose of this book is to convince young girls to consider choosing to be genderless body haters, who do not have children,” a West Des Moines challenger wrote.

'All Boys Aren’t Blue,' by George M. Johnson

What it's about: "All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto" is George M. Johnson's coming-of-age story about growing up Black and queer in New Jersey and Virginia.

Documented challenges: 8

Districts challenged: Ankeny, Muscatine, Pleasant Valley, Urbandale, Waukee, Oskaloosa, West Des Moines and Southeast Polk school districts. All districts kept it on the shelves, excluding Oskaloosa because the school district never had a physical copy.

Reasons why it was challenged: Perceived sexually explicit content, rape, incest and pedophilia.

“I object to the explicit sexual content and level of detail of these encounters. One of the encounters describes his first sexual encounter, an incest experience with his cousin who was an adult while his (sic) was a minor and was told not to tell anyone — sexual assault of a minor,” a West Des Moines Community School District challenger wrote.

'Tricks,' by Ellen Hopkins

What it's about: “Tricks” is book one in a series by Ellen Hopkins. The story focuses on five teenagers who have all experienced different types of trauma and are living in Las Vegas working as sex workers.

Documented challenges: 4.

Districts challenged: The Carroll, Interstate 35, Linn-Mar and West Des Moines school districts voted to keep "Tricks" on the shelves.

Reasons why it was challenged: Perceived profanity, drug use and sexual content.

“Kids are reading about graphic child sex and rape. That would mess anyone up let alone a child,” an Interstate 35 Community School District challenger wrote.

'The Hate U Give,' by Angie Thomas

What it's about: “The Hate U Give" tells the story of Starr Carter, 16, who witnesses a white police officer shoot and kill her friend Khalil.

Documented challenges: 3.

Districts challenged: Johnston, Oskaloosa and Perry community school districts all kept the book.

Reasons why it was challenged: Perceived inappropriate language, teen drug use, racial slurs, rioting, politically divisive, portrayal of race, portrayal of police brutality, obscene material, violence and anti-police sentiment.

"Fictional book is politically divisive at the moment, and if this book is to be included in curriculum then the alternative view should be presented with realistic aspects of the police," a Johnston Community School District challenger wrote. "Only way to enable critical thinking is to present both sides of an issue, otherwise it’s a form of indoctrination. We object to using this book in a lit circle without a book with an opposing theme or at least an accurate portrayal of police officers risking their lives to protect the public."

Related: Dozens of books are being challenged in Iowa schools. Here's the ones targeted most often:

'Sold,' by Patricia McCormick

What it's about: Lakshmi is a 13-year-old girl living in a small hut in the mountains of Nepal with her family. After the family’s crops are swept away by a monsoon, her stepfather tells the teen she must leave home and take a job. Lakshmi — thinking she will be a maid for a rich woman — finds herself at a brothel and learns she must stay until her family’s debt is paid. Over time, she teaches herself to read and write in English. Eventually, she meets an American who is investigating the brothel owners.

Documented challenges: 3

Districts challenged: The Carroll, Earlham and Winterset community school districts each had challenges. Carroll kept the book. Earlham officials did not release the outcome of the challenge. The outcome of Winterset’s review is pending.

Reasons why it was challenged: Perceived sexual content and profanity.

“There are many descriptions of graphic sex acts. A 13-year-old is raped throughout the book. This is not age-appropriate material and should not be in the public school available to minors,” a Carroll challenger wrote.

More: Why and how the Register tracked down book challenges in 327 Iowa public school districts

'Out of Darkness,' by Ashley Hope Perez

What it's about: “Out of Darkness” is set just before the historic 1937 New London, Texas, school explosion and follows the relationship of fictional characters Naomi Vargas, who is Mexican American, and Wash Fuller, who is Black. The couple encounters racism in New London.

Documented challenges: 3

Districts challenged: Oskaloosa and twice at North Polk. Both kept the book.

Reasons why it was challenged: Perceived profanity and sexual content.

The Oskaloosa community member who challenged the book took issue with the “vulgar language, sexual content/pornography.”

'Looking for Alaska,' by John Green

What it's about: A 16-year-old boy named Miles, who is obsessed with “famous last words,” leaves his safe life at home for boarding school in this coming-of-age young adult novel. Miles becomes infatuated with a female classmate named Alaska, who later dies, and Miles and his friends seek details about her final day as they process her death and wrestle with the meaning of life.

Documented challenges: 3.

Districts challenged: The book was retained in the Indianola and Oskaloosa school districts. Earlham officials did not release the outcome of the challenge.

Reasons why it was challenged: Perceived sexual content, profanity, alcohol use, discussion of "gender ideologies."

One challenger believed the book was pornographic, but officials reviewing the book, using the definition of pornographic as material “that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement,” decided that did not apply.

'Lawn Boy,' by Jonathan Evison

What it's about: In this semi-autobiographical coming-of-age novel, Mike Muñoz is a young adult Mexican American who was fired from his job as a landscaping crew member after refusing to pick up after a client’s dog. Muñoz goes on a journey of self-discovery after a life of hardship as the novel explores sexual identity and what it means to be brown and working class in the United States.

Documented challenges: 3

Districts challenged: The book was retained in the Urbandale, Waukee and South Tama school districts.

Related: What is a sex act in Iowa? And how would it affect a likely school book ban? We found out:

Reasons why it was challenged: Perceived obscene material and sexual content.

Four people in the Waukee Community School District, who signed a single challenge, objected to a scene where the narrator reflects on a sexual encounter he had as a child with another boy, calling the scene “molestation and child sex” and “obscene.” The challengers also objected to the book’s use of profanity.

Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter.

Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.

Phillip Sitter covers suburban growth and development for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.

Books with 2 or fewer challenges:

• "A Court of Frost and Starlight" by Sarah J. Mass

• "A Court of Mist and Fury" by Sarah J. Mass

• "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Mass

• "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds

• "Alone" by Megan E. Freeman

• "Antiracist Baby" by Ibram X. Kendi

• "Beyond Magenta Transgender Teens Speak Out" by Susan Kuklin

• "Breathless" by Jennifer Niven

• "Check, Please" by Ngozi Ukazu

• "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins

• "Cut" by Patricia McCormick

• "Damsel" by Elana K. Arnold

• "Drama" by Raina Telgemeier

• "Flamer" by Mike Curato

• "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keys

• "George V George" by Rosalyn Schanzer

• "Hey, Kiddo" by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

• "Hooper" by Geoff Herbach

• "Identical" by Ellen Hopkins

• "Jacob's New Dress" by Sarah & Ian Hoffman

• "Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

• "Let's Talk About It" by Erika Moen & Matthew Nolan

• "Living Dead Girl" by Elizabeth Scott

• "Lucky" by Alice Sebold

• "Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl" by Jesse Andrews

• "My Friend Dahmer" by Derf Backderf

• "My Princess Boy" by Cheryl Kilodavis

• "Not That Bad" by Roxane Gay

• "One of Us is Lying" by Karen McManus

• "Openly Straight" by Bill Konigsberg

• "Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Steven Chbosky

• "Push" by Sapphire

• "Red Hood" by Elana K. Arnold

• "Red: A Crayon's Story" by Michael Hall

• "Speak" by Laurie Anderson

• "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

• "The Bad Guys" by Aaron Blabey

• "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

• "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

• "The Haters" by Jesse Andrews

• "The Infinite Moment of Us" by Lauren Myracle

• "The Scottsboro Boys" by James Haskins

• "This Book is Gay" by Juno Dawson

• "This One Summer" by Mariko Tamaki

• "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen

• "Traffick" by Ellen Hopkins

• "Walk 2 Moons" by Sharon Creech

• "Warriors Don't Cry" by Melba Beals

• "Watchmen (novel)" by Alan Moore

• "What Girls Are Made Of" by Elana K. Arnold

• "Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice" by Elizabeth Acevado & Olivia Gatwood

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: People have challenged 60 books in Iowa schools in 3 years. The top 9: