In September of 2023 a middle school Texas teacher was fired due to the novel that she had assigned her middle school students. The novel that the female teacher had assigned was an illustrated adaptation of Anne Frank’s diary. Even though it was not an original reprint of the book the novel is still on the book ban list due to its inappropriate nature and had been subject to the book ban list before. In the original version of Frank’s diary there were some discussions of sexuality that were edited out in reprints. Though the name of the teacher and school have not been released yet several of the teachers 8th grade students have reported being shown a graphic section of the novel where Anne Frank reflected on her reproductive parts and wanted to see a female friend’s upper private area. Shortly after the district had found out about the incident the teacher was removed from the class room and replaced with a substitute teacher and the district sent out an email to parents and guardians that the reading of the book would cease immediately. 

On June 12th of 2023 Texas governor Greg Abbott signed a law requiring book vendors to rate and review books for sexual content. Under the new Texas law books that are rated “sexually explicit” would be banned while books that are rated sexually relevant would be allowed but would require each student in the class to have written permission from their parent or guardian.

Unfortunately this will continue to happen with the growing list of books banned in the educational system. Every year a number of books is added to the ban list. In the last year alone the school ban list has increased 33 percent. A high percentage of the books on the school ban list are aimer towards chapter books, middle grade books or picture books especially revolving around sexuality. More than 40 percent of the book bans have occurred in Florida alone.

Sources:

https://www.meadvilletribune.com/news/school-book-bans-have-increased-33-percent-since-last-year/article_eca873aa-58c2-11ee-82f6-d7e2957b520c.html

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/20/texas-teacher-fired-anne-frank-book-ban

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/93089-judge-blocks-texas-book-ban-law.html#:~:text=Signed%20by%20Texas%20governor%20Greg,business%20with%20Texas%20public%20schools.