In a controversial move, thirteen popular books have been banned from all public schools in Utah under a new law that allows at least three of the state’s 41 school district boards to claim that the books contain pornographic or indecent material. This law, which gives just a few districts the power to make decisions for the entire state, is considered one of the most lenient for book banning in the United States by PEN America, an organization that advocates for free speech and tracks book banning across the country.
The banned books include works by well-known authors such as Sarah J. Maas, Judy Blume, and Margaret Atwood. The state’s two largest school districts, located in conservative areas, spearheaded the effort to ban these books. The Davis School District voted to ban all thirteen books on the list, while the Alpine School District banned seven, including Maas‘ popular young adult novel series, „A Court of Thorns and Roses.“
Despite the ban in public schools, the books remain available at public libraries. This move by Utah is part of a larger trend of increased book banning efforts in recent years, particularly by conservative groups. This has raised concerns among free speech advocates, educators, and parents who believe in the importance of diverse and uncensored literature in schools.
Kasey Meehan, the Freedom to Read program director at PEN America, criticized Utah’s law, calling it a „dystopian censorship regime“ that goes against local preferences and limits the diversity of library shelves for all Utahns. Similar trends are emerging in other states like Tennessee, Idaho, and South Carolina, where the state government is taking a more active role in book banning decisions.
Under Tennessee’s law, a single complaint can escalate to a statewide ban if deemed unsuitable for students. Idaho’s law requires materials deemed „harmful to minors“ to be segregated or face legal action. Utah’s law, which went into effect on July 1, mandates that banned books be removed from school libraries and cannot be sold or distributed.
The ban in Utah has sparked debate among members of the Utah Board of Education. While some support the move, others like Natalie Cline believe that the list of banned books is insufficient and that all sexually explicit content should be removed from K-12 schools. The law has also been criticized for giving too much power to a few parents to dictate what all students can read.
The rise in book challenges and bans across the country has led to increased self-censorship among librarians and educators. Lawmakers are considering harsh penalties for distributing books deemed inappropriate, with some advocating for imprisonment for offenders. This trend is particularly concerning for materials featuring racial and LGBTQ+ themes, leading to more conflicts over what constitutes „obscene“ or „harmful“ content.
As the debate over book banning continues, it raises important questions about censorship, free speech, and the role of literature in education. The decision to ban certain books in Utah reflects a larger societal shift towards stricter control over what can be read and discussed in schools, highlighting the ongoing battle between censorship and intellectual freedom.