While the public debate had ended and a majority of Polk County School Board members voted to purchase books for two new school libraries, the campaign by conservative groups opposed to it continues.
The School Board at its Jan. 24 meeting agreed to buy 37,000 books for new school libraries, including 14 books identified by conservative groups as containing topics inappropriate for school-aged children, including “Marxist critical race theory” and “pornographic” content. School board member Rick Nolte cast the lone vote against the purchase.
The board had delayed the purchase of the books during its December meeting to give citizens time to review their content. The approval to acquire the books put into motion another 30-day period for the community to challenge books that they find unacceptable.
Superintendent Frederick Heid said his staff prepared a list of reviews of some of the books questioned by the conservatives. The following are a list of some of those titles accompanied by the school district’s review of them and the listed objections by the CCDF, which rated them as “Not appropriate for elementary school ages:”
“The Neptune Project” by Polly Holyoke
PCPS Review: The SLJ said the dystopian adventure in this book imagines an “Earth that can no longer sustain life in many places and the United States” and “has devolved into a totalitarian government. The main character, Nere, a genetic-mutations experiment, “lives by the ocean and has always had an affinity for water” but then the “government wants to close down the project and kill all involved” forcing her to seek asylum via the ocean.
CCDF Summary: “Child was involuntarily genetically modified and is being hunted (dead or alive) by her government, along with many others”
“Gorilla Dawn” by Gilla Lewis
PCPS Review: A child is enslaved to a greedy rebel leader who rules his band in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Imara accepts “a dark voice inside of her so she can survive in the role of the group’s Spirit Child. When the leader establishes an illegal mining operation inside a national forest, a baby gorilla kidnapped by Imara’s fellow child soldiers works its way into the girl’s closed-off heart, exposing her to all the dangers that being vulnerable can bring.”
CCDF Summary: “Violence of child trafficking, animal poaching/slaughter in Africa, demon-possessed child who was disfigured and used as a tribe protector, genocide”
“Be Light Like a Bird” by Monica Schroder
PCPS Review: The main character, Wren is grieving the death of her father. His body was “lost at sea after a flying lesson crash.” Instead of consoling her, her mother is angry and silent about it. Her mother then drives Wren to Georgia, then to another location until they get to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Wren then struggles to fit into sixth grade. She researches and starts an environmental movement to cope with her loss.
CCDF Summary: “Depicts father’s death via airplane crash after having an affair leaving mother making bad decisions affecting child/throws out all father’s belongings/moves 3 times; child enters the abandoned cabin with a stranger; discovered roadkill w/extremely graphic guts description;”
“Puritan Girl, Mohawk Girl” by John Putnam Demos and Harry N. Abrams
PCPS Review: In this book the capture of a Puritan girl by Mohawk warriors at age 7, in Deerfield, Mass., prior to the French and Indian War. Mohawks and settlers are killed and Eunice’s mother and newborn sister were among the dead. She is eventually taken to a French region in Canada with Catholic missions. Despite her father negotiating her release, she decides to stay.
CCDF Summary: “Graphic depiction of an Indian raid on the puritan village; the murder of baby; capture of 8 yr. old girl; Stockholm syndrome of girl remaining w/capturers”
“Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline
PCPS Review: A foster child named, Molly, is moved from one family to another. After stealing a copy of The Secret Garden from the public library, she is assigned community service: cleaning out the attic of the elderly, well-to-do Vivian Daly. She eventually comes to realize she shares a lot in common with Vivian, one of her foster parents with whom she forms a healing friendship.
CCDF Review: “Storyline is high school senior, orphan being kicked out of foster/child welfare system who is forced to take a job in community service or be homeless; foster mother is portrayed as oppressive and examples are given”
“Roman Diary: The Journal of Iliona of Mytilini” by Richard Platt
PCPS Review: This fiction follows the musings of a girl in second-century Rome. Born into a wealthy Greek family, Iliona and her brother, Apollo, are captured by pirates while on a journey to Egypt and she is sold as a slave to a senator in Rome. Her diary shows the culture of the era, including trips to the public baths, chores, and watching gladiatorial games at the Coliseum.
CCDF Review: Premise of the story is a ship is attacked and a girl’s parents are gruesomely murdered and she is taken as a slave; the book contains scenes of adult males pinching a child’s butt; uses the word “piss” for urinating. Contains a scene of a child being sexually approached by the owner’s son.
“Maximilian Fly” by Angie Sage
PCPS Review: A persecuted family and friends go on a “dark and brutal” outing after some have been genetically altered into big flying insects. They live in a dystopian town called Hope, which has a force field surrounding it since a contagion hit Earth. Maximillian escapes “the influence of his demonic mother to rediscover loving connections.”
CCDF Review: Depicts transhumanism. A cockroach/human mixed entity is portrayed as a human. Two children are taken in by this creature who is escaping ‘an oppressive governing power’. The children were abandoned by the father running off with the nurse.
“Dead Boy” by Laurel Gale
PCPS Review: Crow Darlingson died in the fourth grade but continues to live through his mind and spirit as his flesh are weak and decomposing. Readers gain “a dark and surprisingly funny journey” to learn about Crow’s loneliness at being homeschooled while maggots crawl out of his ears and nose. He faces many challenges but eventually investigates a mystery.
CCDF Review: “Premise: parents involvement in black magic shape shifter kills their son in 4th grade but he’s half dead & half alive; he can’t eat or sleep; his body parts fall off and mom sews them back on; he’s full of maggots; he isn’t allowed to leave the house except on Halloween; new girl moves in next door and they begin sneaking out to seek the same shape bender his parents used to kill him. His parents have separated and are dysfunctional.”
Middle school books challenged for racial topics
Seven books that were purchased for a middle school also drew objections from conservative groups for what they considered references to banned Critical Race Theory.
The remaining books, which did not include individual CCDF reviews, were all labeled by the conservative groups as “Should not be in Schools according to Florida House Bill 7.”
The bill, also referred to as the “Stop WOKE Act,” was signed by Gov. Ron Desantis in April and bans educators from teaching certain topics related to race, including critical race theory, especially if the topic would make students feel guilty or shameful about their race because of historical events. Critics say the measure limits race education in public schools.
Here are the middle school book titles CCDF objected to and the PCPS reviews:
“Stamped (For Kids)” by Sonja Cherry-Paul
PCPS Review: The author uses a rope as an extended analogy to explore unjust racial hierarchies and its use by dominant cultures to oppress people and its symbolism of the many power struggles against racial inequity.
“The Racial Justice Movement” by Kara Laughlin
PCPS Review: This title from The African American Library series is an illustrated and reworded update to the series. It discusses topics such as the killing of George Floyd and the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement, while placing them within the historical context of racism and civil rights in America.
“Rise Up: How You can Join the Fight Against White Supremacy” by Crystal Fleming
PCPS Review: The author leads readers through the history of resistance to white supremacy with the hope of inspiring and educating young activists on how to take up the fight. Each chapter’s topic, including policing, immigration, pop culture and sports examines the roots of racism and how it manifests.
“Athletes for Social Justice: Colin Kaepernick, Lebron James and More” by Dolores Andral
PCPS Review: For students interested in social justice movements for racial and gender equity, this book recalls athletes’ struggles and the causes they fought for, including Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protests, Naomi Osaka’s face masks with the names of victims of racial violence and the Milwaukee Bucks’ boycott of game 5 of the 2020 NBA finals, among others, including tennis star Billie Jean King.
Books not reviewed by PCPS
Of the books shared with The Ledger, the remaining titles were without reviews by the school district but the below reviews are based on their description at www.alibris.com:
“Choose Justice” by Maribel Valdez Gonzalez
Synopsis: This book guides student toward knowing when something is unfair and questions to ask if they suspect unfairness. The book helps them recognize injustice and how people have responded to injustice in the past.
“Equality, Social Justice and Our Future” by Sabrina Adams
Synopsis: The book explores the meanings of social justice and equality through the history of equality movements and goals for reducing inequality in the future. It explores social justice and equality and how they play out in society in terms of the way wealth, opportunities and resources are distributed within a society.
“Peace Activism” by Virginia Loh-Hagan
Synopsis: The book is about peace activism, from anti-war protests to fighting for world peace. Each chapter ends with a call to action, so kids can feel inspired to get involved in their own communities.