A coalition of Utah educators, parents, and librarians are rallying against a state order banning 13 books — most written by women — in all public classrooms.
Books by Sarah J. Maas, Margaret Atwood, Judy Blume, and Rupi Kaur are now prohibited under a new state law — H.B. 29 — that requires all schools across the state to remove a book if at least three districts, or two districts and five charter schools, deemed a book to have “pornographic or indecent material.” Twelve of the 13 books were written by women.
The Utah State Board of Education on Friday, Aug. 2, released the list of 13 books that have so far met that criteria under law. Free speech advocates say it’s the first statewide book ban. The law went into effect in July.
“It is a dark day for the freedom to read in Utah,” said PEN America program director Kasey Meehan in a statement.
“The state’s No-Read List will impose a dystopian censorship regime across public schools,” Meehan said, adding that “allowing just a handful of districts to make decisions for the whole state is antidemocratic.”
“We are concerned that implementation of the law will result in less diverse library shelves for all Utahns,” Meehan said.
The group Let Utah Read is urging the public to send emails to Gov. Spencer Cox and other legislators, urging them to pass a bill that stops requiring school districts to ban books.
Let Utah Read drafted an email template, noting that the “Sensitive Material” law has led to a purge of classic and award-winning titles, “regardless of the wishes of locally elected boards and community members.”
“We know that schools are still reporting what books they’ve previously banned, and that we will be seeing more books automatically banned in every school district regardless of whether these books have significant scientific, literary, or artistic value,” the template reads.
Peter Bromberg, co-chair of the advocacy committee of the Utah Library Association, on X said it’s jarring seeing legislators passing laws banning books “that help young people recognize threats and protect themselves” in a state where child sexual abuse is a problem. He cited research from the Utah Women & Leadership Project noting that “child sexual abuse is indeed a serious and troubling concern in Utah.”
“Many of these books were written by authors who experienced abuse and they are writing the books that they wished they had access to when they were being abused and didn’t know what to do or how to get help. Or to even know it wasn’t their fault,” Bromberg wrote.
Atwood, whose “Oryx and Crake” was among the books banned, reacted to the news this week.
“Wow, I’m the most dangerous little old lady of 84 you’ve ever heard of! Was it the blue XXXs? Too hot to read? Adult entertainment only? I wonder which satirists of ancient Rome would be banned there? And I’m banned from Russia, too! Oh alas, whatever will I do? Hit Utah with my cane?” Atwood wrote on X.
A member of the Utah Board of Education may appeal within 30 days of notification of a statewide book removal.
The 13 banned titles include the following:
- “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
- “A Court of Frost and Starlight” by Sarah J. Maas
- “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas
- “A Court of Silver Flames” by Sarah J. Maas
- “A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas
- “Empire of Storms” by Sarah J. Maas
- “What Girls are Made of” by Elana K. Arnold
- “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur
- “Forever” by Judy Blume
- “Tilt” by Ellen Hopkins
- “Fallout (Crank, Book 3)” by Ellen Hopkins
- “Oryx and Crake” by Margaret Atwood
- “Blankets” by Craig Thompson
