The Alachua County School Board voted to keep nine books on shelves at a meeting Tuesday. Each challenged book went through a review process through the District Library Advisory Council.
Alachua County residents may only object to a maximum of one material per month. There is no limit to the number of objections parents or guardians may make, due to their access to school district materials.
Books can be challenged if the material includes pornography or sexual content, or is age-inappropriate for grade level, not suited for student needs or hard for students to comprehend.
A list of all challenged books in Alachua County is available through the Alachua County School Board.
Three out of the nine books were challenged under the reasoning the material was inappropriate for the age and grade level for which it is made available.
The book "You Don't Know Everything Jilly P!" by Alex Gino was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote Tuesday.
It was challenged in December 2023 and was also one of six books still left to receive hearings from 2023. DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves.
The petitioner of the challenge failed to offer any documents relating to their request and they did not appear for the DLAC book challenge hearing, Staff Attorney Susan Seigle said.
“It’s a shame to waste your money paying me to read them [books] … and prepare for hearings if the objectors are not going to show up and meet their obligations when they requested the hearing,” she said.
The book "Water for Elephants" by Sara Guren was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves with circulation limited to grades 11 and 12, as it was appealing and relevant to the age groups, according to the case document.
The book "The Ship We Built" by Lexi Bean was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
Although the book contains depictions of sexual abuse, the case document reports it meets the needs of students who understand the topics of substance abuse by parents and parents who are incarcerated. DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves with circulation from fifth grade and above.
Two of the nine books were challenged under the reasoning the material pushed the concept of gender ideology.
The book "Ana on the Edge" by A.J. Sass was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
The book addressed the needs of middle school students struggling with gender identity, according to the case document. DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves with circulation fifth grade and up.
The book "Marvin Redpost - Is He a Girl?" by Lois Sachar was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
DLAC found the book addressed gender stereotypes and not gender ideology and recommended it remain on shelves.
Two of the nine books were challenged under the reasoning they contained sexual conduct.
The book “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Piccoult was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
In a District Library Advisory Council hearing on Aug. 15 for the challenged book, DLAC recommended keeping it on shelves after the council found no pornographic intent, according to the case document.
The book "Jesus Land: A Memoir" by Julia Scheeres was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
Although the case document reported it depicts child sexual abuse, the material addresses several topics that are required instruction. DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves for grades 9 through 12.
Two of the nine books were challenged under the reasoning that the material was not suited for the students’ needs or their ability to comprehend the material.
The book "Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
DLAC recommended it remain on shelves with circulation limited to students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses. The material is suited to a small group of students enrolled in higher level courses, according to the case document.
District Media Specialist Patty Duval said advanced placement courses also include International Baccalaureate and Cambridge courses during the ACSB meeting.
The book "Ho'onani: Hulu Warrior" by Heather Gale was kept on shelves by a unanimous vote.
The book addressed required curriculum regarding the history and culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. DLAC recommended the book remain on shelves.
The next ACSB meeting will be Oct. 15.
Contact Sara-James Ranta at sranta@alligator.org. Follow her on X @sarajamesranta.
Sara-James Ranta is a third-year journalism major, minoring in sociology of social justice and policy. Previously, she served as a general assignment reporter for The Alligator's university desk.
