Polk book panels approve 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' and 'It's Perfectly Normal'

LAKELAND — Two book review panels have once again voted to keep in Polk County Public Schools' libraries two books a conservative group deemed "pornographic" or "harmful to children."

The two committees, each made up of 18 parents, teachers, psychologists, librarians and students, approved keeping "It's Perfectly Normal," a sex-education book by Robie Harris, and "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," a novel about Sept. 11th's aftermath by Jonathan Safran Foer, in middle and high school libraries.

The issue in Polk schools began late last year when County Citizens Defending Freedom found that 16 books the group deems objectionable were available in PCPS media centers. CCDF said the books are “harmful to children” or meet the definition of pornography under Florida State Statutes 847.001 and 847.012. Distributing pornography to minors is a third-degree felony.

CCDF presented PCPS Superintendent Frederick Heid with complaint forms filled out by Florida Citizens Alliance members. Heid placed the books in “quarantine” at the end of January until they could be reviewed and it could be determined whether they were pornographic, harmful or age-inappropriate.

Two committees were formed to read and review eight books each. The committees consist of 17 adults each. In addition, more than a dozen students are rotating participation for each review.

So far, the committees have agreed overwhelmingly to return to high school media centers: "Beloved" by Toni Morrison, "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult, and "The Vincent Boys" by Abbi Glines; and to middle and high schools "Drama" by Raina Telgemeier, and "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. So far, one book — "George" by Alex Gino — was voted to be returned to all PCPS libraries.

READ MORE ABOUT POLK COUNTY'S BOOK CONTROVERSY:

• Conservative group trying to ban 16 books from Polk Schools, calling them pornographic

• These are the 16 books a conservative group wants banned from Polk public schools libraries

• National effort to label schools' library books pornography takes root in Polk County

• Why Polk County schools are handling these 16 books differently than a normal 'complaint'

• US Supreme Court has consistently sided against banning books

Discussion about 'It’s Perfectly Normal'

According to a quick summary provided by Ann Everett, PCPS senior director of kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum and instruction, “It’s Perfectly Normal” “provides answers to nearly every conceivable question children may have about sexuality, from conception and puberty to birth control and aids.” It contains cartoon illustrations of people with different body types and different races engaged in self-discovery and sexual intercourse.

Author Robie Harris has said in interviews that she wrote the book for her own children after realizing there wasn’t a lot out there to honestly explain to children about their bodies and sex. It was first published in 1994 by Candlewick Press.

It was available in one school in Polk County – Haines City High School – and had not been checked out in the past two years.

Someone with the last name Boone in Brevard County reviewed the book for Florida Citizens Alliance and that complaint was submitted to Heid.

“I can’t believe this book is advertised appropriate for 10-year-old children. The book has a strong liberal bias, and is full of half-truths and factual errors,” Boone wrote in their review. “It attempts to ‘normalize’ aberrant behaviors that defy the standards of decency and moral values in our community and nationwide. Behaviors where sickness is casually stated ... ‘one day they feel they are a girl and one day they feel they are a boy.’ This blasé attitude is presented as ok and there is nothing wrong with ‘exploring.’ The author demonstrates a disdain for the unborn in this cold and calculating exaltation of abortion. Alternatives to abortion are never mentioned.”

The reviewer also called the illustrations “absurd, offensive, and inappropriate.”

Nearly everyone agreed that the purpose of the book was to educate.

"I think that a person who reads this book will learn about how the human body works and the changes that it goes through as humans get older, including the range of emotional and physical changes that affect the way that humans interact with other humans,” said Colton Rankey, an English teacher at Davenport High School. “I thought it definitely had literary merit. I think that this is an example of excellent science writing and excellent science communication.”

Holly Barnett, a parent of sons at Winston Academy and Lakeland High School, said it is a book she wished she had been able to read when she was a teenager.

“I felt like what I was picking up from the book is that part of the objective was to remove, like, the taboo and the dirtiness of the subject matter,” Barnett said. “I came from that ... upbringing where my parents, they were incredibly religious. You were not allowed to talk about that. You know, you were a bad girl. You're a bad person and, you know, there was something — it was wrong if you were thinking about any of those things before you hit like some golden age, which was probably the day that you walked down the aisle. And so, there were a lot of kids that were around me, that were in my church group or in my school group or in the National Honor Society. And they were doing a lot of exploration that my mother would have been horrified about.”

She said the book would have been something positive for her high school senior to have early on to demystify the female body. But, she added, there were also some things that might be questionable for a younger audience.

“I have an 11-year-old, and he walked in and he's like, ‘What in the world is on page 60?!’ And I was like, ‘We’ll go over that together at different times,’” Barnett said. “But I could see how there would be a lot of concepts in there that a child might pick up a book and maybe talk to their parent, or maybe just understand I'm not a weirdo, you know, and this stuff that is happening to me 'cause as adults, like, we understand that that's just human nature. But I mean, like as a 12-year-old, you might think you have some sort of disease or something.”

Kathy Bucklew, a CCDF member and retired registrar and director of student enrollment at Polk State College, is opposed to the book being available for students of any age.

"It's a sex education class book and it's designed, to me, it appears to be an indoctrination of a gender identity ideology forced upon children without regard to parental rights and it hyper-sexualizes the human sexuality for children,” Bucklew said. “This is too much for children who aren't mature enough emotionally and psychologically to really understand its content. I just don't think it's a good book for children for the age it was written for.

She also felt that the book violates Florida’s recently passed legislation of parental control over their child’s education.

"I don't see how it could be acceptable on a library shelf and still meet Florida Statute 1014.05 or 1002.203 D, which talk about a parent’s right to opt their children out of certain parts,” she said. “I could be more positive about the book, but I think it's offensive to the religious beliefs of the majority of religions here in our county, not just Christianity, but Muslim, Hindu and Jewish religions, who don't espouse to, you know, the gender identity ideology … we all have the right to teach our children our own family values and how we want them to understand and experience human sexuality. And to children who are comfortable with their sex and gender as boy or girl, you don't have to accept being bullied, shamed, or indoctrinated, and abuse and ideas about human sexuality that are, contrary to your religious beliefs and your family values. And I don't want any child to feel that way.”

Michelle Jarrett, president of Florida Association for Media In Education and the parent of a student in a Polk County Public School, reminded the panel that they were reviewing the book based on statute 847.012 and whether or not the book was harmful to children.

"So, no one’s saying that any child would have to choose a book. It's an option out of the 13,000 or whatever number that are available to students,” Jarrett said. “And 'harmful to minors' states that, 'taken as a whole, it's without serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.' And, to me, this has scientific value.”

Nicole Iatarola, a media specialist at George Jenkins High School, said there is a system in place at Polk County schools for parents to opt their child out of any book.

"Parents are able, at any time, to opt out of their students' having access to this book or other books similar to this book with a phone call or email,” Iatarola said. “And everything that is in our libraries is visible online to anybody. So there's no secret here of what's available, and parents do have the option and the choice to opt out of the book.”

Santiago Duarte, a 16-year-old junior from Winter Haven High School, said no one is forcing students to read the book or adhere to everything in it.

"It just gives you information and does not make you, or is not supposed to at least, make you feel any particular way about it. You are open to interpret that information as you choose,” Duarte said. "Just as someone growing up in well, you know, let’s all be honest here, a conservative county, sources like this, I mean, even if it wasn't related to growing bodies, I still would have loved to read these sources as I grew more because, unfortunately, some of us have to grow up faster than others. These are the kinds of books that we need whenever we don't have the resources, say, at home or in other areas. I'm not saying that that's the situation with me. But again, that there are a lot of references to not only LGBTQ-plus ideas or religious practices. Again, I think this book offers an opportunity to understand and better appreciate the aspirations, achievements and problems of different cultures and minority groups in a perfectly acceptable manner.”

Duarte said he felt that the illustrations were an important component to the text and would be helpful to younger readers to understand some of the subject matter.

“You can explain concepts to someone over and over again, but if you don't give them, like for example, visual elements or detailed understandings in that way, then you're not going to get very far,” Duarte said. “I do believe that concepts are indeed presented in a manner appropriate to the ability and maturity of the book’s suggested audience, again, my personal opinion, wrapping back to the grade level of six or 12. But overall, for that 10 and up, I think it is appropriate. The book does visualize certain topics such as birth or sperm production through, like, cartoon drawings. And you know I mean occasional humorous dialogue. They've got a talking bird and a talking bee in the book. But the text, overall, is really careful not to dismiss any concerns that the readers might have or may want to know about. And, once again, are all inclusive with no elements of ridicule or taunting.”

Duarte said the allegations brought against the book were unfounded.

“Overall I felt Florida statue 847.012 has not been violated, as the nudity and sexual conduct of the human body represented in this literary work cannot be constituted as harmful to minors in any way, shape or form,” he said.

'It’s Perfectly Normal' votes

• One to remove the book from all libraries

• Two to keep the book at ALL school levels

• 14 to keep the book at middle and high school levels

• One to keep the book at high school level only

District officials said that three people voted to keep the book for fourth grade and above. The votes were tallied as middle and high school levels to better align with school library collections. In addition, one vote was to keep the book for eighth grade and above. This vote was tallied as high school level only to better align with school library collections.

Discussion about 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close'

“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” is about 9-year-old Oskar Schell as he searches for information about his father, who died in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, and tries to find the lock that fits the mysterious key his father left behind. Oskar encounters a number of interesting people on his journey. It also intertwines his family's history with war and trauma.

It was available at George Jenkins, Haines City, Kathleen, Mulberry and Tenoroc High schools, Jewett Middle Academy, and Travis Technical College. It was checked out once from Haines City High and twice from Jewett Middle Academy in the past two years.

A reviewer with the last name Jaindl said the book contained material that is “explicit and detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual excitement, or sexual conduct and that is harmful to minors.” Jaindl quoted six passages that contained sex, although none of them included explicit descriptions.

Most of the reviewers discussed the book’s descriptions of handling grief for several generations of Oskar’s family and how it could help the reader overcome their own anguish.

“Grief is not a linear process, and it doesn't look the same for everyone,” said Dana Hamilton, and English teacher at Lake Gibson Middle School. “Some may stop talking, as a grandfather did, or go on this quest to have more time, kind of, with the parents. And I also noted that it illustrates that sometimes people hide things or we keep truth to ourselves with good purposes, but they all have consequences, whether they are intended or not. And so it just lends itself to being compassionate and understanding as to why people do the things that they do, even if we don't understand.”

Two panelists shared their opinions about the book as they also divulged personal and painful details about their lives.

Matti Friedt who recently retired as the director of PCPS’s Pre-Kindergarten Program and is a member of CCDF, said the sexual content negated having the book available for students.

"The explanation of the sexual behaviors were really, in my estimation, not essential to the storyline, yet it reoccurred several times,” Friedt said. "It made, in my estimation, it made the book less of what it could have been. I studied death, dying and loss in adolescence after I lost my first child. And I understand how differently people respond to this kind of traumatic experience. That was a wonderful piece of this book to revisit that. However, I thought it was minimized by having scenes that did not focus on the true pain.”

She said the book has merit for adults to read, but not for children.

READ ABOUT THE PREVIOUS VOTES ON OTHER BOOKS:

• Panels vote to keep 'The Kite Runner' and 'Drama' in Polk high schools and middle schools

• The Vincent Boys and George should remain in libraries, panelists say

• Panels vote to keep “Beloved” and “Nineteen Minutes” in libraries

"I understand that children are exposed to many things. Because one child or all children are exposed, it doesn't necessarily mean that we should support that exposure,” Friedt said. “I understand that children across our nation are exposed to sexual activity and engagement long before their time that should have occurred for them. That doesn't mean that we allow it to happen to everyone. So using that logic is rather weak, in my estimation. I just wanted to mention that I believe that it violated too many of Florida current codes for it to have significant merit to be in our libraries, our public school libraries.”

School psychologist Tim Owens worked near New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.

"I highly doubt anyone is gonna pick up this book to look for those scenes for some kind of sexual gratification,” Owens said. “I was in New York during 9/11, two days after — I was just outside of New York City — and two days after and for about three days we smelled 9/11. We didn't have to see the images, we smelled it. And I dealt with numerous students who had either first- or second-degree losses during that time. It was real. The trauma was real … It changed everything in that community for a long time.”

He said he was unaware of Foer’s book when it was published four years after the attack on the World Trade Center.

“I felt very privileged that I had the opportunity to read this book, even though it was very, it was a very tough weekend for me reading this,” Owens said.

Simone Paolercio, the parent of a George Jenkins High School student and a social studies teacher at Lakeland Highlands Middle School, said the images of war in the book were more bothersome to her than any of the instances of sex.

"I was more offended with the description of the bombing in Dresden, where it says they were jumping in the rivers and their whole upper half was gone. I was more disturbed by that than I was about the sexuality,” Paolercio said. “We should be more concerned with the brutality of it as opposed to this lady talking about how and why they make love. So I think as a society we focus more on sexual relations and not the violence. We probably should focus more on the violence.”

And, she added, the active shooter drills and lockdowns can traumatize students.

"What's more traumatic than looking at your students and go, ‘I need you to go in that corner and get under that table just in case someone shows up with a gun to kill us,’” Paolercio said. "I think when we start taking away our children and our First Amendment rights, to take away something that they can choose, it crosses a dangerous line. … You can't tell someone, especially me, as a mom who said I want my son to be able to select this book. You don't tell me that my son can't select this book because it offends you. It may not offend me and my household. It's not part of the curriculum. It's his choice to read it.

Lindsay Persohn, who sits on the education committee of the NAACP, talked about the fact that students the age of many high school seniors can enlist in the military and be killed.

"As I was reading, I was thinking about how we asked our 18-year-olds to go off to war before they're able to get a beer in a bar, so I think that having a work like this, it really is graphic in those descriptions of, you know, what bombs do to people and to communities,” Persohn said. “And I think that if we are going to ask our 18-year-olds to enlist and fly overseas or, God forbid, you know, a war in our own country. I think that this helps to prepare us for those realities because it, you know, it's a very, it is a very graphic description, but that's what war is.”

Matthew Grocholske, a senior at George Jenkins High school, said he reads about sex in other works of literature.

"Those scenes are, like, graphic in nature and everything. As students in high school and middle school even, we're exposed to so much of that in literature that isn't even being contested,” Grocholske said. “That, to me, it's kind of void because a lot of Shakespearean plays, for example, include scenes like that, and again, they're not being contested and while it may, in some eyes, devoid this of literary merit, I think that the message is clear and the book as a whole is a symbol of how ... children deal with grief, especially on such a giant scale as 9/11. So while, in some people's eyes, it does discourage this book as a whole, I think the themes that are interwoven in the book still hold up.”

Grocholske said he and his classmates have been shown videos of what happened on Sept. 11, including the planes flying into the buildings and people jumping out of the twin towers to their deaths.

"A lot of people kind of forget that we're shown, like, graphic depictions of 9/11. We're shown footage of 9/11 and to me that supersedes any type of sexuality in any element because kids are literally shown, like people dying, pretty much and in the eyes of many people, like, sexuality is more offensive than that,” he said. “And this book, in my opinion, showcases to students that those things that happen like 9/11 for example, like traumatic experiences, can be A, mentally exhausting (and) B, how to try and cope with those.”

Finally, he reminded the other panelists that reading “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" is not mandatory and it is not taught in any class.

"We have, like, organizations, that are Pro-Christian at my school, like we have Youth Alive, for example,” he said. “That's a selective organization to be a part of. This book is selective to pick up as a student. You're not going to have every single kid at high school pick up this book as a simple fact. And I don't know of any teachers that incorporate this as a part of their curriculum at all. So again, it's not being forced onto students to read and, again, I think at least as far as my school is, parents can call and tell the librarian that they don't want material or like related material to an event to be read or taken by a student.”

'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' votes

• One to remove the book from all libraries

• One to keep the book at ALL school levels

• 12 to keep the book at middle and high school levels

• Four to keep the book at high school level only

The Polk County School Board must still vote on these books and several others at its April 26th meeting.

Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached at kmoore@theledger.com or 863-802-7514. Follow her on Twitter at @KMooreTheLedger.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk panelists approve 2 more books on list of 16 that were challenged