Despite affordability, immigration, and healthcare being the top issues on Texans’ minds heading into the midterm election, Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has announced a new initiative to fight “dirty” books in Texas public schools.
He claims there are 2,000 inappropriate titles in Texas public school libraries, and during a press conference on Wednesday, threatened to create a new law next legislative session that would knock a public school district’s accountability rating down one letter grade if they’re not removed from library shelves.
During the press conference, and on his podcast last week, he used several titles as examples, claiming he wouldn’t even show his wife or female staffer pages from the books and called their content “demonic” and “pornographic.” Courier Texas delved into these titles, which are either banned in several Texas school districts or restricted to the adult section in school libraries, and analyzed them for ourselves. Here’s what we found:
“Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships and Being Human” by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
“Let’s Talk About It” is a graphic novel and sex-education guide published in March 2021 by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan. It covers relationships, anatomy, gender, sex and sexuality, and consent for teen readers.
While it also depicts mature topics such as masturbation and pornography consumption, it’s been praised for its comprehensive, thoughtful, and well-researched content. It also won a spot on the Young Adult Library Services Association Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten list for 2022 and was named a top recommended title by the American Library Association.
“Boy Toy” by Barry Lyga
“Boy Toy” is a young adult novel published in 2007 focuses on the complex aftermath of sexual abuse and grooming.
During his press conference, Patrick was joined by Bonnie Wallace, a woman who went viral last year at a Houston Independent School District meeting after being removed for reading out-of-context passages she deemed explicit aloud, and later sued the district over it. The two claimed the book “glamorizes and trivializes sex with your teachers.” However, the book clearly states the 12-year-old boy in the story is a victim, and the teacher in the story serves time in prison for her offense. It’s been praised for its depiction of post-traumatic stress disorder and the social stigma faced by male survivors of abuse by female educators.
It won the 2007 Cybils Award for Young Adult Fiction and was named one of the American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults in 2008.
“Crank” by Ellen Hopkins
“Crank” is a story loosely based on the real-life crystal methamphetamine addiction of Ellen Hopkin’s oldest daughter.
The novel has been praised by teachers and critics for destroying the illusion that addiction only happens to a certain type of person by showing that an intelligent, high-achieving student can quickly lose control to a destructive substance.
The novel doesn’t glamorize drugs, but instead shows how substance abuse ruins relationships, academic goals, and physical health.
“Push” by Sapphire
“Push” by Sapphire was published in 1996 and follows Claireece “Precious” Jones, an illiterate 16-year-old living in Harlem who is pregnant with her second child by her abusive father. The book is written as a diary and tracks her journey toward literacy and self-worth after enrolling in an alternative school. It was later turned into the 2009 film “Precious.”
The book has been praised for not only showcasing the importance of literacy and learning to read and write, which allows Precious to break her silence and document her own life, but also confronts topics such as the brutal reality of incest, physical abuse, and child neglect. It won several literary honors, including the Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction, the First Novelist Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, and the UK’s Mind Book of the Year Award.
“Do Animals Fall in Love?” by Katharina von der Gathen
“Do Animals Fall in Love?” is an illustrated children’s non-fiction book by sex-education expert Katharina von der Gathen that depicts animals’ reproductive organs. According to reviewers, it answers real questions asked by children in sexuality education classes about animal courtship, mating, anatomy, and family life using frank, humorous, and scientific explanations.
One excerpt reads: “Beavers stay loyal for life. Scorpions attract their partners with a romantic dance. Male humpback whales sing together for days at a time to bring females from many miles away.”
It won one of the Best Middle-Grade Nature Books of 2021 by Kirkus Reviews and received a Best Children’s Books of 2022 selection by Bank Street College of Education.
“Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe
“Gender Queer” is a critically acclaimed memoir by Maia Kobabe. The autobiographical graphic novel explores nonbinary and asexual identity, has been praised by reviewers for capturing the confusion of adolescent crushes, and tackles the challenges of coming out to family members as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. It also covers themes of body dysphoria, healthcare visits, and finding safe spaces and community.
It’s been called “a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.”
It also received a 2020 Stonewall Book Award Honor.
“Trans+: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You” by Karen Rayne and Kathryn Gonzales
“Trans+” is considered to be an all-inclusive, uncensored guide for teens who are transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, or gender-fluid. The book answers questions about gender and covers mental health, physical health and reproduction, transitioning, relationships, sex, and life as a trans or nonbinary individual.
One review reads: “This is an INDISPENSABLE and incredibly approachable resource for kids, teens, parents, teachers, nurses, admin, counselors, and others. The authors cover everything from the theoretical to the medical to the social and emotional, and lots more, with sensitivity, clarity, and unwavering support for their readers. After over 20 years working with LGBTQ+ students, I feel so grateful for a resource that gathers so much of what trans and nonbinary kids have needed to know and sometimes sought out from less reliable sources.
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Patrick’s fight comes a few months after the Republican-dominated State Board of Education passed a new policy that makes Texas the first state in the nation to require the Bible be read in public schools—a decision Patrick praised. In comparison, numerous stories in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, describe sexual acts and reproduction. In the book Song of Solomon, some passages explicitly celebrate erotic and romantic passion within marriage.
Patrick is seeking reelection this year against Democratic nominee Vikki Goodwin. Early voting begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3. Those not yet registered to vote can do so below. The deadline for registration is Oct. 5.
