‘Pornographic’ Book Pulled From Pinellas School Shelves: District

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The novel “Invisible Monsters” by Chuck Palahniuk will be removed from all Pinellas County schools following a committee review.

An Instructional Materials Review Committee determined the book to be “pornographic” and voted unanimously, 7-0, Tuesday to remove it from all schools, Isabel Mascareñas, public information officer for Pinellas County Schools, told Patch.

“Invisible Monsters,” published in 1999, is about a former model who is disfigured after being shot in the face.

An Objection to Instructional and Media Materials form was submitted to the district about the book, prompting the review and meeting.

• Jennifer Dull, non-voting committee chair, and chief strategy and impact officer at the district office
• Rita Vazquez, executive director of high school education at the district office
• Britt Moseley, grades 9-12 English language arts specialist at the district office
• Rodney Benton, St. Petersburg High School English teacher
• Marquita Yates, Gibbs High School English teacher
• Scott Decatur, parent at East Lake High School
• Courtney Howard, parent at East Lake High School
• Dani Rossi, parent at East Lake High School

The committee's findings will be made public and posted on the district’s Library Media Technology web page by the end of the week. Patch has requested a copy of the meeting’s audio recording. This story will be updated when these materials are available.