Two local high schools have removed the book “Lawn Boy” from their shelves after committees at both schools determined the book violated the school board’s Obscene Materials policy.
The controversial coming-of-age novel written by Jonathan Evison was placed under review at Hendersonville and Gallatin High schools after District 5 School Board member Steven King read several passages from the book and demanded its removal at a Sumner County Board of Education meeting on Oct. 18.
The book details the struggles of its main character, a Mexican-American male in his early twenties, and includes passages in which the protagonist reflects on a sexual encounter he had with another male student while in the fourth grade.
Named one of the best adult books that appeal to a teen audience by the American Library Association in 2019, it was also one of the most challenged books of 2021, according to the same organization.
King argued the book violated both the school board’s Obscene Materials policy as well as an identical state statute that states it is unlawful to loan or make available to a minor any book that contains explicit and detailed narrative accounts of sexual excitement or sexual conduct.
According to school board policy, a principal at a school where a book is challenged is charged with appointing a committee to review the book at issue and make a determination on its removal.
In its “Checklist for Reconsideration of Materials,” both committees said the book accomplished its overall purpose.
When asked what the overall purpose of the material is, the HHS committee said, “2018-2019 process of building a diverse collection.”
The Gallatin High committee responded, “to provide perspective of the American Dream from the perspective of a marginalized young man.”
Both checked that the book had been favorably reviewed by various publications including Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus Review, Library Journal, Booklist and the School Library Journal.
Both committees recommended removal of the book.
“Although Lawn Boy is well-written and well-reviewed, it goes against Board Policy obscene materials 4.40012,” wrote the Hendersonville High committee.
The Gallatin High committee referenced the same school board policy in its recommendation and included the following additional comments:
“While this is a reputable book reflective of a part of society that is served by our public school system, the language present in complaint unfairly represents the context in which they appear; however, we as educators recognize the need to maintain faith and trust from the community, along with upholding a layman’s understanding of the law.”
The book is one of three books to be challenged in Sumner County Schools this school year, according to the school district’s Communications Director, Jeremy Johnson.
School board members also discussed the book, “A Place Inside of Me,” a poem and picture book geared toward elementary school-aged children, at the Oct. 18 meeting after a parent appealed a committee’s decision to keep the book at Jack Anderson Elementary.
Since a majority of the board didn’t vote to uphold the committee’s decision, the board will vote again on the book at its meeting on Nov. 15.
In an email sent last week to school board members and Director of Schools Dr. Del Phillips, King says the school board should still vote to remove “Lawn Boy.”
King cites a new state law known as the Age-appropriate Materials Act of 2022.
“According to state law TCA § 49-6-3803, the board will need to vote on this,” writes King. “Review committees only have the ability to provide recommendation to the board and no longer have authority to render a decision to keep or remove a book. Therefore, any decision to keep or remove “Lawn Boy,” rests solely with the board of education according to state law.”
“Ways To Make Sunshine” by Renee Watson, a book about a precocious 11-year-old African-American girl, was challenged at Liberty Creek Elementary, according to Johnson. The school committee voted to not remove the book and the parent has not appealed, Johnson added.
