Asheville: Buncombe County Schools Board bans NYT bestselling book; which one?

Asheville: Buncombe County Schools Board bans NYT bestselling book; which one?

A trend sweeping school districts around the United States has found its way to the Buncombe County Board of Education: Book banning. During its Feb. 8 meeting, the Buncombe County School Board unanimously voted to ban “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins from schools in the district. The 2009 New York Times bestselling novel about five teenagers who fell into prostitution will no longer be available to students at county schools.

Challenged Books

The decision was the final piece of a multi-step process that started when a community member and three parents challenged 10 books at Enka High School in October 2023, according to a Jan. 5 memo to Superintendent Rob Jackson. Most of the books are award-winning or bestselling.

• “Impulse” by Ellen Hopkins, published 2007
• “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, published 1987
• “Burned” by Ellen Hopkins, published 2006
• “Doing It! Let’s Talk About Sex” by Hannah Witton, published 2017
• “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult, published 2007
• “Perfect” by Ellen Hopkins, published 2011
• “Sold” by Patricia McCormick, published 2006
• “Tricks” Ellen Hopkins
• “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen, published 2006
• “Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory McGuire, published 1995

Book Review Process

Enka High’s Media Technology Advisory Committee reviewed the books subject to the complaint, per school policy. “Doing It! Let’s Talk About Sex,” “Nineteen Minutes,” and “Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” were removed as a result of the review. However, “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins was recommended for removal pending board review, while “Perfect,” “Sold,” and “Water for Elephants” were allowed to remain.

Reasons for Removal

The committee expressed concerns about the content of “Tricks,” noting that it depicted teenagers’ experiences with sex and sex trafficking in a manner that they believed normalized unhealthy behaviors among teens. The overall tone was described as dark and disturbing, with an excessive amount of explicit content that raised questions about its appropriateness for high school readers.

Public Comment

During public comment, an Enka High parent, Kim Poteat, criticized “Tricks” as “filth in poetic form” and advocated for better materials for children. Despite some reservations, the Board of Education extended the ban to all Buncombe schools.

Concerns about Book Bans

School board member Amy Churchill expressed concerns about the implications of banning books, highlighting the importance of preserving freedoms and cautioning against decisions influenced by cultural wars or political motivations. The rise in book bans across the country has sparked debates about censorship in schools.

According to Pen America, there were 3,362 instances of book bans in the U.S. during the 2022-2023 school year, marking a 33% increase from the previous year. Asheville City Schools, in contrast, stated that they do not maintain a banned book list.

Implications and Moving Forward

The decision to ban “Tricks” from Buncombe County schools reflects a broader trend of book challenges and censorship in educational settings. While some argue for the protection of students from potentially harmful content, others caution against overreach and the stifling of intellectual freedom.

As the debate continues, the implications of book bans on curriculum development and academic discourse remain at the forefront of discussions within the education community.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.