TAKE ACTION!
We encourage community involvement to help us fight for the future of Texas. Here you will find our Call-to-Action section of our website. We love help with auditing school libraries, legislative work and events throughout Texas.
What is in Your Child's School Library?
How To Audit Your Local School Library For Inappropriate and Obscene Books
Where to start!
Booklists:
The easiest place to start is with a working list of books that have already caught the attention of other groups, activists, concerned parents, and school districts. You can find lists from several resources, including: www.texanswakeup.com https://restoreottawa.substack.com/p/inappropriate-book-list-school-libraries?s=r thedaughter@protonmail.com (email for a list of books from Tyler ISD)
Keyword Searches
You should also do keyword searches that include the following terms:
· LBGTQ
· Sexuality
· Sex
· Gay
· Lesbian
· Transgender
· Gender
· Realistic Fiction
· Romance
· Young Adult
· Social Justice
A Word of caution on Booklists:
Booklists are a great tool to start an audit, but understand that lists are forever changing and growing, and a list may not suffice for a complete audit. If you are working from a list, make sure you follow up with keyword searches.
Online Library Catalogs:
Many schools in Texas have their library catalogs online through Destiny Discover, which is part of the Follet School Solutions, Inc. Go to the following link, where you can see if your ISD uses the online program. If so, you can easily audit the library on the internet, from any location. https://www.gofollett.com/aasp/ui/pick/pick
If Your School ISD’s Library Is Not Online:
This makes the audit a little harder. Some schools have an online catalog, but make it only available to students and parents. If that’s the case, you may have to connect with someone who has a student in the ISD who is willing to help in the effort and use their password to access the catalog.
If you don’t have a parent or student in the ISD, we recommend connecting with the Superintendent of the ISD and your School Board Trustee, letting them know that you would like access to the library catalog in order to audit it for harmful books. They should be able to provide you access to their library catalogs.
If your district is not cooperative, then you will need to audit their library by making an Open Records Request, commonly referred to as a Freedom of Information Act Request (FOIA). For information on how to do that in the state of Texas, follow these links: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government/members-public/how-request-public-information
https://www.tsl.texas.gov/publicinformationrequest
Helpful Tools:
In order to investigate what is in the books, you will need to get copies of them. The most efficient is to get digital copies so you can do keyword searches to find inappropriate content. You can find online, digital copies through the following resources:
Apps:
· Kindle
· Libby (this app allows you to check out digital copies, using your library card)
Websites: www.archive.com (The world’s largest online library.) www.texanswakeup.com (Screenshots of content can be found on this website.) www.amazon.com (Good information can be found in the reviews.)
Additional Resources: https://www.whatsinsidechildrensbooks.com/ https://www.concernedparentsoftexas.com/
Book List
DISCLAIMER - This is a preliminary list of books at the Legacy High School Library (TylerISD) that we found mostly under the guise of “inclusivity” and “LGBTQIA+” themes. The list will be updated to include any literature that explicitly depicts sexual content, trauma, graphic violence, sexuality, abortion, pedophilia, abuse, and graphic depictions of mental illness that might contain obscenity or be inappropriate for young readers.
This list may include books that are not obscene and may be appropriate for certain age groups--it is a list to help audit and demands further inquiry. However, most of the books on this list are obscene in nature. The list contains titles, book descriptions, and some reviews from Amazon, GoodBooks, and Google that may shed light on the content or mind set of individuals promoting this literature to our children. Keep in mind that most of the reviews were written by adults. The list will be updated to include publisher, recommended reading age group/ grade, and organizations, businesses, lobbies, and unelected governing boards who are promoting it.
For more information contact: kidsfirsteducation@protonmail.com
1. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison (Contains graphic description of sex between men and children. Has previously been banned in public schools.)
1. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
2. Loose Women: Poems by Sandra Cisneros “A collection of love poems which celebrates the female aspects of love—from the reflective to the erotic.” Interest Level: Adult
3. The Little Black book for Girlz: A Book On Healthy Sexuality by St. Stephen's Community House and Michael Martchenko
4. Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (gay romance/ sexually explicit) Adult Novel
5. Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy (gay themes)
6. Triangles by Ellen Hopkins (Sexually Explicit, Adult, Gay Relationships) Adult Novel
7. Out Of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez (Sexually Explicit, Lesbian, Banned in some public schools)
8. Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters
9. Infinity Son by Adam Silvera (minor characters are gay, but gay themes and adult content does not appear to be present)
10. Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee (trans romance)
11. Naomi & Ely’s No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn (gay themes/ romance/ attraction)
12. The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson (gay and trans characters in a toxic relationship)
13. A Queer History of the United States for Young People by Richie Chevat--Depictions of Pedophilia/ Normalizing Pedophilia
14. The Questions Within by Teresa Schaeffer (lesbian character/ themes)
15. The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding
16. Twelve Long Months by Brian Malloy
17. Who’s That Girl by Blair Thornburgh
18. Wide Awake by David Levithan (gay themes, Adult Sex Scenes)
19. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green (No explicit sex, but gay themes and characters, issues of sex, bad language, drug abuse)
20. Yesterday is History by Kosuko Jackson (gay love triangle and themes)
21. You Don’t Know About Me by Brian Meehl
22. The Best Man by Richard Peck (gay characters)
23. The Bridge by Bill Konigsburgv (gay character)
24. Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley (gay characters)
25. History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera (gay romance novel)
26. Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story: A Musical in Novel Form by David Levithan
27. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jardy Nelson (sexually explicit, gay/ trans themes, under age drinking, drug use)
28. Resistance by Jenna Black (gay characters)
29. Whatever: or how junior year became totally f$@cked by SJ Goslee
30. Who I was with Her by Nita Tundall (lesbian, bisexual characters and love story, grief)--This has a graphic lesbian sex scene in it.
31. Cheer Up: Love and Pom Poms by Crystal Frasier (lesbian and transgender love story with kissing)
32. Noelle: The Mean Girl by Ashley Woodfolk (lesbian romance)
33. The Scapegracers by Hannah Abigail Clarke (Witchcraft, Occult, Lesbian themes)
34. Ask the Passengers by AS King (lesbian romance, kissing, dismissive of parental authority)
35. Bright Purple: Color Me Confused by Melody Carlson (trans) (gay themes, lesbian, Christian character)
36. Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (lesbian romance)
37. The Circus Rose by Betsy Cornwell (Anti-Christian Themes, Lesbian, Sexual fluidity, Explicit) *possible pedo symbolism)
38. Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisner (lesbian, liberal political bias, undermining parental authority)
39. It’s Our Prom (so deal with it) by Julie Anne Peters (lesbian romance/ themes)
40. A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow by Makoto Hagino (lesbian romance)
41. 10 Things I can See from Here by Carrie Mac (lesbian character, neglectful parents)
42. All Things We do In the Dark by Saundra Mitchell (sexual assault, sexual and physical violence)
43. Blue is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh (Lesbian, Sexually Explicit) **Possible Pornography
44. Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour (lesbian themes/ romance)
45. #Murderfunding by Gretchen McNeil (gay characters, violence, dark themes)
46. These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling (lesbian romance/ witchcraft)
47. The You I’ve Never Known by Ellen Hopkins (Bisexual themes/ lesbian)
48. Afterworlds by Scott Westerfield (adult themes)
49. Ash by Malinda Lo (Lesbian Romance, Cinderella theme)
50. The Dear One by Jacqueline Woodson (lesbian theme/ teen pregnancy)
51. From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson (lesbian themes, racial themes)
52. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamiki (lesbian romance, Pedophilia, underage drinking, abortion) ***Teen Character sleeps with a married man, gets pregnant, and has an abortion Graphic Novel
53. Shine by Lauren Myrache Sexually Explicit (Sex, language, violence, gay issues, drugs, mature content)
54. Stick by Andrew Smith (gay character/ themes)
55. The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock (gay character/ themes)
56. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach (gay themes)
57. Exit, Pursued by a Bear by EK Johnston (rape, lead character has an abortion, gay characters)
58. Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling (sexually explicit, gay characters/ themes)
59. The Hookup Artist by Shaw Tucker (gay themes/ characters, foul language, sexually explicit)
60. The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle (gay romance, This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.)
61. Brave Face by Shaun David Hutchinson (gay themes, depression, suicide, ADULT THEMES)
62. Burn by Heath Gibson
63. City Boy: My life in New York during the 1960s & 70s by Edmund White (Adult themes, Gay Themes, Sexually Explicit)
64. Combat Zone by Patrick Jones (Gay theme/ Gay Parent, Military theme)
65. Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quinter
66. Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
67. My Fairy Godmother is a Drag Queen by David Clawson
68. Queer, There and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager
69. Thanks A Lot, Universe: Chad Lucas (middle school gay romance)
70. We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen-Fernlund (Sexually Explicit, Mature)
71. Check Please by Ukazi Ngozi
72. Feminism Is by Alexandra Black (Adult themes, feminism includes bi, trans and lesbian women)
73. Friendship, Dating, and Relationships (Teens: Being Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender) by Simone Payment
74. It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating by Dan Savage
75. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera Themes involving sex and suicide.
76. Six Impossible Things: Fiona Wood (gay character, but no graphic details of sex).
77. The Deep & Dark Blue by Nikki Smith (transgender theme)
79. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez (Explicit Sex, Abortion, Foul Language)
80. Girl Mans Up by M.E. Gerard (hemes/ characters: lesbian, sex, gender, conservative parental authority, abortion is empowering)
81. No Way They Were Gay: Hidden Lives and Secret Loves by Lee Wind
82. Breath of Flowers by Caly Kamatani (transgender themes, attraction to trans as a straight person)
83. Our Dreams at Dusk by Caly Kamatani (themes of homo-sexuality; no graphic sex)
84. GLBTQ: The Survival Guide For Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender by Kelly Huegel
85. Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community by Ruben Stevenson
86. Stonewall: A Building, An Uprising, A Revolution (History) by Rob Sanders
87. All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson (trans/ gay themes, explicit sexual experiences, violence)
88. Anything Could Happen by Will Walton
89. At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun Hutchinson
90. The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta (sex, trans, drag queen, drugs)
91. They Both Die At the End by Adam Silvera/ Quill Tree Books
- Teen Vogue
92. Bloom by Kevin Panetta (gay romance/ gaphic novel with pictures of kissing and love scenes)
93. Echo After Echo by Amy Rose Capetta/ Candlewick (lesbian romance)
94. Being Jazz My Life as a Transgender Teen by Jazz Jennings/ Ember
95. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speaks Out by Susan
96. Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garmin/ Balzer + Bray (transgender, bullying)
97. M+O 4Evr by Tonya Hegamin (lesbian content)
98. My Best Friend, Maybe by Caila Caiter
99. Scars by C.A. Rainfield/ Westside Books
100. Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan/ G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
101. Some Assembly Required: The Not So Secret Life of A Transgender Teen by Arin Andrews/Simon & Schuster Books for Young
102. When Aiden Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff/
103. Almost Perfect by Brian Kather/ Delacorte Press
104. Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark/ Square Fish
105. Sink or Swim by Tash McAdam/Orca Book Publishers
106. Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family by Amy Ellis Nutt/ Random House
107. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
108. The Moon Within by Aida Salazar/ Arthur A. Levine Books
109. I Was Your Girl by Merideth Russo/ Flatiron Books
110. Lily & Dunkin by Donna Gepart
111. Pet by Akwaske Emizi (Trans Character)
112. Beautiful by Amy Reed
113. I know It’s Over by Kelly Martin
114. XVI byJulia Karr (Sexually Explicit, Adult Novel/ Adult Content)
115. Caught by Harlan Coben-Adult Literature/ Adult Themes
116. Awaken by Meg Cabot
117. Underworld by Meg Cabot (Adult Themes)
118. Abandon by Meg Cabot (Adult Themes)