banned books

Florida students are heading back to school in the upcoming days and while they may be excited, their teachers, principals and other administrators…not as much. That’s because this year, much more than in years past, the people charged with taking care of those kids are under a microscope—and it’s taking a personal, and professional toll on public education.

The Leon County School Board is set to decide whether to keep the book “I am Billie Jean King,” on school library shelves. The book is the first in the district to face a parental challenge.

The books include the novels “Push” which inspired the Oscar-winning movie “Precious.” Also taken out of the libraries of SAIL and Lincoln High: “Me, Earl and the Dying Girl,” which was also made into a film. The novels "Dead End,” "Doomed” and “Lucky” are also out.

One rule requires online training for school librarians and other employees involved in selecting books for students. The other requires elementary schools to post online lists of reading materials.

This school year brought more book bans in Florida than almost any other state, according to an analysis by the free expression advocacy group PEN America.

Training for the law says school media specialists should "err on the side of caution" if reading material aloud in a public meeting would make them uncomfortable.

Among the titles that prison staff deemed were too inflammatory for incarcerated Floridians to read include cook books, French and Arabic language dictionaries, and a guide on how to survive solitary confinement.

For Banned Books Week, we show you how teens can access a giant, free library.