WFLA

Here’s a list of banned books in Tampa Bay area schools

Amanda Darrow, director of youth, family and education programs at the Utah Pride Center, poses with books that have been the subject of complaints from parents in Salt Lake City on Dec. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

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.

  1. Both Can Be True – Jules Machias
  2. Mondays Not Coming – Tiffany Jackson
  3. The Nowhere Girls – Amy Reed
  4. Damsel – Elana Arnold
  5. Crank – Ellen Hopkins
  6. Impulse – Ellen Hopkins
  7. Flowers in the Attic – V.C. Andrews
  8. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me – Mariko Tamaki
  9. My Jim – Nancy Rawls
  10. The House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros
  11. Scars – Cheryl Rainfield
  12. Light It Up – Kekla Magoon
  13. Protesting Police Violence in Modern America – Duchess Harris
  14. Pet – Akwaeke Emezi
  15. Race and Policing in America – Duchess Harris
  16. The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
  17. The Prince and the Dressmaker – Jen Wang
  18. Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
  19. 13 Reasons Why – Scott Menchin
  20. Insect – Laurence Mound
  21. Christian, the Hugging Lion – Justin Richardson
  22. Families, Families, Families – Suzanne and Max Lang
  23. Fathers Are Part of a Family – Lucia Raatma
  24. In Our Mother’s House – Patricia Polacco
  25. Michelangelo – Mike Venzia
  26. Mothers Are Part of a Family – Lucia Raatma
  27. The Family Book – Todd Parr
  28. I am Jazz
  29. When Aiden Became a Brother
  30. Red Hood
  31. Tricks
  32. Push
  33. L8r, g8r
  34. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
  35. Ready or Not
  36. Lily and Dunkin
  37. Sold
  38. The Talk
  39. What on Earth is a Pangolin
  40. The 57 Bus
  41. The Art of Junji Ito: Twisted Visions
  42. My Hero Academia Origin: Volume 5
  43. 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.”