H.B. 29, a recent bill signed by Gov. Cox, now allows for an easier book-banning process starting July 1. The government can remove a book from all schools in the state if at least three school districts determine it contains “objective sensitive material.”
However, the bill endangers students’ access to books with literary and artistic value. These bans limit students’ opportunities to understand different sides and perspectives of our reality.
Gov. Cox needs to stop regulating students’ freedom to read and justifying bills intended to ban books for dubious reasons.
Book Banning in Utah
The number of public book bans in the U.S. increased by 33% in the 2022-23 school year compared to the previous year. This is concerning, as over 75% of the banned books were specifically written for young adults and students.
A study shows that Utah ranked fourth in the nation for banning the most books. In 2023, Utah removed a total of 262 books across 17 school districts.
H.B. 29, building on Utah’s 2022 “Sensitive Materials” law, introduces a new book removal process in Utah, setting standards for objective and subjective sensitive materials. The bill defines objective sensitive materials as “pornographic or indecent.” Under this measure, a book can be removed from all public schools in the state if at least three school districts ban it for being objective sensitive material.
Peter Bromberg, co-founder of Let Utah Read and an associate director of EveryLibrary, outlined three reasons why the bill is problematic.
“First, it attempts to create a new legal definition of objectively sensitive material and justify removing books from library shelves,” he said. “Second, it tries to revoke local control. Third, it seeks to criminalize librarianship and the work of educators and board members.”
Kase Johnstun, a program manager at the Utah Center for the Book and the 2021 Ogden Mayor’s Award for the Literary Arts recipient, also shared his concerns about the bill.
“The three school districts represent only 10% of the districts throughout the state,” Johnston said. “What I find most problematic is that such a small group of schools can make a decision on a book for the entire state.”
Banned Books Reveal Utah’s Reality
Banned books in Utah highlight what the state is trying to avoid. We cannot expect only good things from the books we read, just as we cannot expect only good things from life.
Ellen Hopkins is one of the top removed authors in Utah for her stories that include content such as rape, drug addiction and sex trafficking. For example, “Tricks“ by Hopkins, which includes content about sex trafficking, has been removed despite being a No. 1 New York Times best-selling novel.
What Hopkins writes in her stories actually happens to kids these days. Not every child grows up in a healthy environment, which is why we need more literature that some children can relate to, even if the content may feel uncomfortable.
“I was a high school teacher for multiple years, and students are hungry for those books,” Johnston said. “They’re hungry for experiences that make them feel less alone in the world. If we take books away from them, they will feel more alone, and that is a very scary thing for a young person.”
Two Utah school districts banned “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings“ by Maya Angelou, an autobiography of the African American author exploring her experiences with racial prejudice. The book was banned because of its sexually explicit descriptions, including the sexual assault and rape of a young girl. However, these descriptions are not indecent but reflect reality. Sexual assault and rape are major problems in Utah, with rates above the national average.
“Scenes of sexual assault are not pornography,” Bromberg said. “They do not appeal to one’s prurient interest and are not designed for masturbatory purposes. These scenes describe parts of our human experience that help us empathize with those who have gone through it.”
He added that he finds legislators attempts to categorize these books as obscene or pornographic “deeply unsettling.”
What is Literary Value, and How Should It Be Determined?
Literary value refers to ways that texts help us understand something about ourselves. Literary value can change depending on the culture groups or societies that consume it. Therefore, the standards of narrow-minded minorities shouldn’t define the literary value of certain books.
“Writers are the drivers, and the books are the vehicles to open up the conversation,” Johnstun said. “These literatures open up conversations about real life and humanity. We all have loss. We’ve all been hurt. If a book doesn’t contain basic human experiences, how does that book have value?”
Some books are globally well-recognized but are underrated by certain groups due to their standards. While it is important to protect kids and students from forming unhealthy self-concepts, it is equally important to remember that there are children who experience different realities and need diverse forms of help and empathy.
The ugly sides we find in books don’t mean they are worthless; instead, they reflect the realities our society needs to confront. Books aren’t supposed to deliver only pretty stories. Utah needs to open its eyes to a bigger world. Banning these books shows that they are trying to avoid Utah’s reality.
Let students have access to books they want. The Utah government should stop banning books with its ridiculous standards and acknowledge what they don’t see.
