Did Beaufort County schools ban the book that started it all? Review committees decided

Mary Dimitrov
·2 min read
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Book review committees voted Thursday night to return seven more books to the Beaufort County school library shelves, some with additional grade restrictions. The committees recommended limiting access to three and taking no action on four others.

New York Times bestselling novel titled “Tricks” tells the story of five teenagers who fall into prostitution and is an example of a book some parents want reviewed and banned. During an October public comment period, a parent read excerpts of the book in an effort to get it banned. Superintendent Frank Rodriguez pulled nearly 100 books from Beaufort County school libraries for committee review. “Tricks” was included on the review list.

In this recent committee action, the book “Tricks,” was reviewed but not recommended to be placed on the banned list. The committee did narrow the book’s availability by restricting it to grades 9 -12. The final decision on all seven books will be made by the board after any appeals are filed by the original complainants.

“Identical” had a tie vote and will be re-entered in the book review process, according to spokesperson Candace Bruder.

Review committees decided if Beaufort County schools would allow these titles on library shelves Thursday.
Review committees decided if Beaufort County schools would allow these titles on library shelves Thursday.

The decisions were:

  • “Almost Perfect” by Brian Katcher — returned to grades 9-12, previously in grades 6-12

  • “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins — returned to grades 9-12, previously in grades 6-12

  • “Push” by Sapphire — returned to grades 9-12, previously in grades 9-12

  • “Gabi, A Girl in Pieces” by Isabel Quintero — returned to grades 9-12, previously in grades 9-12

  • “Foul is Fair” by Hannah Capin — returned to 9-12, previously in grades 9-12

  • “Fallout” by Ellen Hopkins — return to grades 6-12, previously in grades 6-12

  • “Fade” by Lisa McMann — returned to 9-12, previously in grades 6-12

  • “Identical” by Ellen Hopkins — returned to review process, previously in grades 9-12

Out of the 53 books reviewed so far, committees banned “The Haters” by Jesse Andrews, “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult and “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover. The process has taken eight months and 44 books still need to be reviewed.

The review process will continue after school ends into the summer, according to Bruder. She didn’t say when the process is expected to be completed.