{"id":29885,"date":"2023-02-08T10:13:33","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T15:13:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=29885"},"modified":"2023-02-08T10:13:40","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T15:13:40","slug":"ccdfs-latest-challenge-on-books-in-polk-school-libraries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2023\/02\/08\/ccdfs-latest-challenge-on-books-in-polk-school-libraries\/","title":{"rendered":"CCDF’s latest challenge on books in Polk school libraries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cNot appropriate for elementary school ages:\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Neptune Project” by Polly Holyoke<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong> The SLJ said the dystopian adventure in this book imagines an \u201cEarth that can no longer sustain life in many places and the United States\u201d and \u201chas devolved into a totalitarian government. The main character, Nere, a genetic-mutations experiment, \u201clives by the ocean and has always had an affinity for water\u201d but then the \u201cgovernment wants to close down the project and kill all involved\u201d forcing her to seek asylum via the ocean.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CCDF Summary:<\/strong> \u201cChild was involuntarily genetically modified and is being hunted (dead or alive) by her government, along with many others\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Gorilla Dawn” by Gilla Lewis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong> A child is enslaved to a greedy rebel leader who rules his band in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Imara accepts \u201ca 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.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CCDF Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cViolence of child trafficking, animal poaching\/slaughter in Africa, demon-possessed child who was disfigured and used as a tribe protector, genocide\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Be Light Like a Bird” by Monica Schroder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong> The main character, Wren is grieving the death of her father. His body was \u201clost at sea after a flying lesson crash.\u201d 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\u2019s Upper Peninsula. Wren then struggles to fit into sixth grade. She researches and starts an environmental movement to cope with her loss.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CCDF Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cDepicts father\u2019s death via airplane crash after having an affair leaving mother making bad decisions affecting child\/throws out all father\u2019s belongings\/moves 3 times; child enters the abandoned cabin with a stranger; discovered roadkill w\/extremely graphic guts description;\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Puritan Girl, Mohawk Girl” by John Putnam Demos and Harry N. Abrams<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong> 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\u2019s 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CCDF Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cGraphic 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”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong> 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CCDF Review:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cStoryline 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\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Roman Diary: The Journal of Iliona of Mytilini” by Richard Platt<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CCDF Review:<\/strong>\u00a0Premise of the story is a ship is attacked and a girl\u2019s parents are gruesomely murdered and she is taken as a slave; the book contains scenes of adult males pinching a child\u2019s butt; uses the word “piss” for urinating. Contains a scene of a child being sexually approached by the owner\u2019s son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Maximilian Fly” by Angie Sage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong> A persecuted family and friends go on a \u201cdark and brutal\u201d 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 \u201cthe influence of his demonic mother to rediscover loving connections.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CCDF Review:<\/strong>\u00a0Depicts transhumanism. A cockroach\/human mixed entity is portrayed as a human. Two children are taken in by this creature who is escaping \u2018an oppressive governing power\u2019. The children were abandoned by the father running off with the nurse.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Dead Boy” by Laurel Gale  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong>\u00a0Crow Darlingson died in the fourth grade but continues to live through his mind and spirit as his flesh are weak and decomposing. Readers gain \u201ca dark and surprisingly funny journey\u201d 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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CCDF Review:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cPremise: parents involvement in black magic shape shifter kills their son in 4th grade but he\u2019s half dead & half alive; he can\u2019t eat or sleep; his body parts fall off and mom sews them back on; he\u2019s full of maggots; he isn\u2019t 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Middle school books challenged for racial topics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remaining books, which did not include individual CCDF reviews, were all labeled by the conservative groups as \u201cShould not be in Schools according to Florida House Bill 7.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the middle school book titles CCDF objected to and the PCPS reviews: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Stamped (For Kids)” by Sonja Cherry-Paul  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong> 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Racial Justice Movement” by Kara Laughlin  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Rise Up: How You can Join the Fight Against White Supremacy” by Crystal Fleming  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Athletes for Social Justice: Colin Kaepernick, Lebron James and More” by Dolores Andral <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PCPS Review:<\/strong> For students interested in social justice movements for racial and gender equity, this book recalls athletes\u2019 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Books not reviewed by PCPS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Choose Justice” by Maribel Valdez Gonzalez  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Synopsis:<\/strong> 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.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Equality, Social Justice and Our Future” by Sabrina Adams  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Synopsis:<\/strong> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Peace Activism” by Virginia Loh-Hagan <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Synopsis:<\/strong> 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.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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