Disclosure: Writer is a member of RenewED: Advocates for Student Excellence.
Warning: This article contains content readers may find disturbing.
Methow Valley News’ article this week about books at LBHS library is exactly why we need a second news source in this valley.
One of the first principles of reporting is- what is the story? Sometimes, it can change or upend the supposed assumptions. The question is, does MVN have the courage to scratch beneath the surface?
This week’s banner headline reads, “School libraries cater to all student needs, interests.” That sounds cordial.
What MVN doesn’t report is that LBHS library has books on its shelves that are highly controversial. A review by a member of RenewED, an educational group in the valley, revealed over a dozen books with content that deserves the community’s informed consent.
The list includes books like All Boys Aren’t Blue, a “memoir manifesto” by George M. Johnson, who identifies as non-binary queer and goes by the pronoun “they.” The following excerpt takes place before the author enters high school, meaning age 13 or 14.
“Yeah.” But I laughed and said, “Get your hand off my butt.”
You giggled. “That’s not my hand.”
“You’re lying,” I said. You then placed both hands on my hips, as we lay side by
side. There was still something poking me.
You were fully erect at this point. I was nervous. “We gonna get in trouble.”
“You can’t tell anybody, okay?” you said. “You promise that you not gonna tell
anyone?”
I promised. You then grabbed my hand and made me touch it. It was the first time
I had ever touched a penis that wasn’t my own. I knew what was happening
wasn’t supposed to happen. Cousins weren’t supposed to do these things with
cousins. But my body didn’t react that way. My body on the inside was doing
something, too.
In addition to incest and possibly rape, the excerpt goes on to describe oral sex involving a 13 to 14-year-old boy with another male figure.
Where the content of books includes children engaging in sex, I would argue that is child pornography.
This excerpt was taken from a review of books called BookLooks.org, which lists controversial subject matter without commenting on it. I am choosing not to read this subject matter.
How savvy are the children picking up this book at LBHS library, which is a resource for students as young as fifth grade?
At this point, I can hear the angry voice of the ultra-liberal wing shouting, Book ban! You’re for book bans!
Book bans evoke everything antithetical to America: threats to freedom of speech, censorship, attack on the First Amendment.
This argument, however, is disingenuous.
There is no way I or anyone else on this planet can ban this book or any other book. Not in 2024. There is something called the internet, which allows people to download and order books online. This book can also be found in our public library system, including the Winthrop library.
So, go ahead. Knock yourself out. Check out and read this book. It’s not evaporating into the ether.
The question is- should this type of content be accessible to our youngest patrons? Is there anything off limits, or is everything acceptable to young minds under the banner of free speech?
Another book, called Felix Ever After, is about a 17-year-old girl who has transitioned into a boy. This child has had her breasts surgically removed and takes testosterone shots. If you look closely, the drawing on the book cover includes scars where the breasts were removed.
The plot revolves around Felix trying to find who put his “deadname” and a picture of him before his transition in the school lobby. There is also a “quasi-love” triangle between Felix and two boys, or at least I think they’re boys. The book has been compared to The Outsiders and Catcher in the Rye.
I read both of these books when I was younger. Maybe things have changed. If they have, they have changed a lot.
Here’s an excerpt from Felix Ever After:
Marisol passes the weed to Ezra, releases a cloud of smoke. “Been there, done
that.”
Leah groans and rolls over onto her stomach, playing with the sand. “Have you
had sex with everyone here?”
Marisol glances around, “Not everyone,” she says. “I haven’t had sex with Austin
or Felix.”
And then there are scenes like this:
I remember what Ezra had said- soft, gentle, not so hard- and I barely breathe
against Declan’s lips. He grins at me as I kiss him again, and again, until we’re
leaning back onto the bed. Declan ends up on top of me, pulling our shirts off,
mouth on my neck, my collarbone, my scars. I didn’t even go this far with Ezra,
and my nerves start to pump.
“Slowly,” I tell him, embarrassed when it comes out like a gasp. “We should go
more slowly.”
He nods, kissing my scars and neck and mouth again. “Is this your first time?”
“My first time?”
“Having sex.”
…”I mean, yea, I’ve never…” He nods again like it isn’t a big deal, but I start to
worry. “Have you? Had sex, I mean?”
He pulls up, surprised. “Well, yeah. Me and Ezra…” I look away. “Right.”
…”I just don’t think I’m ready,” I tell him. It’s only been a few days since my first
kiss.
…He sits up, crosses his legs. “Are you nervous because- I mean, I looked up how
to have sex with trans guys-
When this type of literature was purchased for the school library, was there any discussion in the community about its possible impact? Have we given up on children being children? Is everything up for grabs?
These are not the only concerning books in the library. Here are a few others:
- Assassination Classroom
- Beyond Magenta
- The Black Flamingo
- Darious the Great is Not Okay
- Darious the Great Deserves Better
- Flamer
- Graceling
- Here’s to Us
- The Passing Playbook
- Sissy
- The Prince and the Dressmaker
- We are Totally Normal
- Act Cool
- Girl Mans Up
- Juliet Takes a Breath
I spent many hours in a library growing up and I never encountered books like these.
MVN’s article applauding freedom of speech is accurate.
Unfortunately, the article doesn’t take into account what our youngest community members are being exposed to or the effects these books have on individuals and society at large.