Removal of books sought at next school board meeting

BROOKSVILLE (Suncoast News) — The battle of the books continues in the Hernando County School District, with the removal of six books sought, according to the agenda for the Nov. 14 school board meeting.

All six have been challenged in other parts of the state and the country, though staff members of Moms for Liberty have said in the past that they are not seeking to ban books but remove students’ access to them in the schools. 

They still can get the books in question at Amazon, bookstores and public libraries, Moms for Liberty officials said.

Committees that considered the books recommended removing three of the books and keeping three of the books.

The six books that have been challenged are:

• “Thirteen Reasons Why,” by Jay Asher. The committee’s recommendation was 5-0 in favor of removing the book.

• “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson. The committee’s recommendation was 8-1 in favor of keeping the book.

• “The Handmaid’s Tale,” by Margaret Atwood. The committee’s recommendation was 4-3 in favor of removing the book.

• “Julian is a Mermaid,” by Jessica Love. The committee’s recommendation was 8-1 in favor of keeping the book.

• “The Family Book,” by Todd Parr. The committee’s recommendation was 9-0 in favor of keeping the book.

• “This Day in June,” by Gayle E. Pitman. The committee’s recommendation was 5-4 in favor of removing the book.

The final decisions will be made at the Nov. 14 meeting.