Dearborn Schools Remove Some Books, Keep Others After Book Challenge

DEARBORN, MI — Dearborn Public School officials said Monday they will remove two books from the district's library after completing an internal review of books that were challenged by a parent in the summer.

The six books that were challenged are 'Push" by Sapphire, "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, "Eleanor and Park" by Rainbow Rowell, "Red, White and Royal Blue" by Casey McQuiston, "All Boys Aren’t Blue" by George M. Johnson and "This Book is Gay" by Juno Dawson.

The seven challenged titles represent 0.002 percent of the district’s collection of titles, which includes more than 300,000 titles and almost 500,000 books, officials said.

Most of those books are related to LGBTQ+ themes, and some parents are concerned the books may be too sexual or inappropriate. Others say these books will help the marginalized LGBTQ+ community in schools.

The battle over the book titles came to a head during a school board meeting in October when a rowdy crowd packed the auditorium with large signs and chants, forcing officials to postpone the meeting.

Monday's decision to remove two books from the district's library was the first review done under the district's new criteria for how books in school libraries will be evaluated and how parents can address concerns they have about specific titles.

"We are pleased with the results of the book challenge as we want to ensure that our libraries have content that is appropriate for our students and that they do not provide material with gratuitous or unnecessarily graphic content," said Adam Martin, Dearborn Public Schools executive director of student achievement for the Fordson feeder track.

Here are the books the district said were appropriate and inappropriate:

Appropriate

• "The Lovely Bones"
• "Flamer"

Inappropriate (Removed)

• "Push"
• "Red, White and Royal Blue"
• "Elleanor and Park" (Removed for middle school but remain for high school)

No decision

• All Boys Aren't Blue"
• "This Book Is Gay"

Parents have brought about a dozen other books to the attention of the media specialists at their child’s school, and those titles are also moving through the district’s book challenge process, officials said.

"Building a safe, welcoming environment in our district means accepting a very diverse group of students, helping all students learn to be good citizens and teaching them to understand and accept those who are different," Board President Roxanne McDonald said. "As a district, we remain committed to working with all of our parents and students to help them find a balance that is right for their family without imposing on the freedom of others."