TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — August typically signals the start of another school year in the Tampa Bay area. To mark the occasion, WFLA.com compiled a list of every banned or under-review book heading into the 2023-2024 school year.
Under Florida law, it is illegal for faculty and staff to provide pornography and sexual material in the classroom. In addition, Florida school districts are required to report the number of books removed from schools based on legislation passed in 2022.
During the 2022-2023 school year, 175 books were removed across the Sunshine State. According to the Office of the Governor, 153 (87%) books were identified as pornographic, violent, or inappropriate for their grade level.
WFLA.com reached out to 10 counties and received the following responses:
Citrus County
WFLA has submitted a records request but has yet to hear back.
Hardee County
WFLA has submitted a records request but has yet to hear back.
Hernando County
District officials told WFLA.com that three novels were removed with board approval.
“Lucky” by Alice Sebold, “The Sun and Her Flowers” by Rupi Kaur, and “Marvin Redpost: Is He a Girl?” by Louis Sachar were removed from all school shelves. No books were challenged or under review.
Highlands County
No books are currently under review. Officials told WFLA.com they are checking library shelves to ensure “content appropriateness.” Any books intended for upper-grade-level classes found in lower-grade-level classrooms will be removed.
Hillsborough County
Following a controversial vote in March 2023, Hillsborough County Schools chose to remove a book titled “This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson from all middle schools.
The book explores a number of topics, including stereotypes and “coming out.” Advocates and the book’s author said it was written to help young people who are beginning to explore their sexuality.
Manatee County
District officials told WFLA.com there were a total of 43 books in physical and digital form that were reviewed ahead of the 2023-2024 school year. More information can be found here.
- Both Can Be True – Jules Machias
- Mondays Not Coming – Tiffany Jackson
- The Nowhere Girls – Amy Reed
- Damsel – Elana Arnold
- Crank – Ellen Hopkins
- Impulse – Ellen Hopkins
- Flowers in the Attic – V.C. Andrews
- Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me – Mariko Tamaki
- My Jim – Nancy Rawls
- The House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros
- Scars – Cheryl Rainfield
- Light It Up – Kekla Magoon
- Protesting Police Violence in Modern America – Duchess Harris
- Pet – Akwaeke Emezi
- Race and Policing in America – Duchess Harris
- The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
- The Prince and the Dressmaker – Jen Wang
- Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
- 13 Reasons Why – Scott Menchin
- Insect – Laurence Mound
- Christian, the Hugging Lion – Justin Richardson
- Families, Families, Families – Suzanne and Max Lang
- Fathers Are Part of a Family – Lucia Raatma
- In Our Mother’s House – Patricia Polacco
- Michelangelo – Mike Venzia
- Mothers Are Part of a Family – Lucia Raatma
- The Family Book – Todd Parr
- I am Jazz
- When Aiden Became a Brother
- Red Hood
- Tricks
- Push
- L8r, g8r
- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
- Ready or Not
- Lily and Dunkin
- Sold
- The Talk
- What on Earth is a Pangolin
- The 57 Bus
- The Art of Junji Ito: Twisted Visions
- My Hero Academia Origin: Volume 5
- Friends Forever
Pasco County
A district representative said there are no books that have been banned or are under review by the Pasco County school district.
Pinellas County
A district representative said no new books were removed for the 2023-2024 school year.
The district, however, recently received a formal objection for a book titled “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold. According to state statute, the book was removed pending review.
Polk County
WFLA has submitted a records request but has yet to hear back.
Sarasota County
“Lawn Boy” by Jonathan Evison and “Looking for Alaska” by John Green were challenged during the 2022-23 school year. A county representative said, “The titles were reviewed by a school-based committee and the results were sent to the complainant who has yet to respond.”