The state of Utah has made it easy for anyone to ban a book in public schools across the state.
A law passed in 2024 allowed the statewide ban of a book if at least three public school districts (or two public districts and five charter schools) deem it sensitive material.
Today, the list stands at 22 books — the most of any state. Another three — “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire, “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult, and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky — were added at the start of the year.
Here’s the interesting part:
Of the 42 public school districts in Utah, just two districts account for 80 percent of the books banned statewide.
Less than 5 percent of the school districts in Utah are determiningnthe availability of books for the other 95%.
How annoying.
Just two school districts, and probably just one ultra-religious wingnut in each, are responsible for such widespread stupidity. This is similar to gerrymandering and the composition of the US Senate — a system by which the minority has power over the majority.
The results of minority rule often suck, as is the case here.
But I have to wonder:
What do these book-banning monsters think they are accomplishing?
Unless the students for whom these books are being denied lack access to the internet via a phone or computer, and they lack access to almost any video game system, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” should be the least of these wingnuts’ concerns when it comes to what impressionable young minds might have access to.
Also, aren’t there public libraries in Utah, where these books are available to anyone with a library card?
And bookstores, where these books are available to anyone with $20 in their pocket?
Perhaps these prudish book banners have their sad children on serious lockdown, but do they really think Utah is populated by teenagers who don’t have access to the internet or alternative sources for reading material?
And by banning these books, aren’t these dummies drawing more attention to them?
I read last week that “The Paper Bag Princess” is banned in some schools because of:
- Perceived “Anti-Family” Themes:
Some critics have labeled the book “anti-family” because Princess Elizabeth rejects Prince Ronald at the end, which deviates from the traditional fairy-tale “happy ever after” and was seen by some as undermining conventional relationship expectations, even though Ronald is a dick. - Gender Role Concerns:
The story subverts traditional gender roles (the princess rescues the prince), and some parents or educators have objected to this portrayal, saying it’s inappropriate for young children or contrary to their views on gender, because in their teeny, tiny minds, women are always the ones in need of rescuing.
I had never read the book before, so I purchased it immediately and read it to my students.
They loved it. The prince is a complete jackass and deserves to be left behind by the princess. The princess is brave, clever, and caring.
When I told my students that the book is banned in some places because of “anti-family themes” and “gender role concerns,” they were outraged. One student said:
“So girls are supposed to marry someone even if he’s a loser?”
Apparently, yes, at least in some school districts.
None of this would’ve happened had ultra-religious wingnuts not banned the book in their schools, so the attention triggered the purchase and reading of the book to kids, which is exactly what they don’t want happening.
So dumb.
I understand what Utah legislators are doing, of course.
When you can’t win in the arena of ideas and your belief system is in the minority, you create laws and alter structures to shift the balance of power toward the minority. You foment outrage over nothing. You use propaganda and outright lies to pull the lesser intellects and cognitively overwhelmed over to your side.
In this case, I can’t imagine it working.
If a Utah teen wants to read “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” they will find a way. When I was in fourth grade, my friends and I read “Helter Skelter” by tearing off the cover, ripping the book into four parts, then passing those parts around.
The teachers never knew what we were reading.
Kids will find a way.
And if the kids of Utah hear that “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” has been banned from their school, the chances of them reading that book increase exponentially.
