A committee of the South Carolina State Board of Education has recommended that four books be removed from public school libraries, citing concerns over sexual content. The decision adds to a growing list of books removed under state regulations banning access to materials that depict sexual conduct.
The books targeted for removal include All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson, Flamer by Mike Curato, PUSH by Sapphire, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. These titles were reviewed during a committee meeting held on Thursday, January 9, and are now pending final approval from the full 15-member Board of Education.
If the Board votes to remove them at its February 4 meeting, these books will join seven others already banned under the regulation.
Books That Remain
While the committee opted to remove the four books, it decided to allow The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes to remain accessible in schools.
Background and Controversy
The books in question were part of a broader challenge initiated in 2022 by Ivie Szalai, a Beaufort County parent who submitted a list of 97 books she believed were inappropriate for students. Her concerns led to a year-long review by a district-wide committee, during which only five of the challenged books were removed. The four books now recommended for removal were initially permitted to remain in schools, prompting Szalai to escalate her challenge to the state level.
Next Steps
The final decision on the fate of the four books will be made during the South Carolina Board of Education’s regular meeting on February 4. A majority vote is required to enact the removals.
This development has reignited debates over censorship and the balance between protecting students and ensuring access to diverse literary perspectives in public education.
