Scholastic Book Fair Reverses Opt-In Diversity Decision

After a few months of intense criticism over a policy that allowed schools to remove diverse books, Scholastic has had a change of heart. The massive publishing company, well known for setting up book fairs in schools across the country, had recently put in a policy forcing schools to opt-into stocking books with “diverse voices”—namely books with queer content or written by people of color which address oppression and racism.

The statement from Scholastic reads, in part: “Even if the decision was made with good intention, we understand now that it was a mistake to separate diverse books in an elective case.” In an earlier statement published on October 13, Scholastic had said that this was done because of the rising number of legislative book bans across the country that “create an almost impossible dilemma: back away from these titles or risk making teachers, librarians, and volunteers vulnerable to being fired, sued, or prosecuted.” The separation was made to “continue offering” books that feature queerness or antiracist content. “We don’t pretend this solution is perfect—but the other option would be to not offer these books at all—which is not something we’d consider.”

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io9 reviewed the “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” program as issued by Scholastic. It included many stories that were about famed civil rights figures, like John Lewis and Ruby Bridges, but it also included a lot of science fiction and fantasy stories that tackle topics of racism and oppression through a genre lens. Books like The Girl in the Lake, by India Hill Brown, which is an intergenerational ghost story that addresses the historical racial inequalities around Black people and the ability to learn how to swim, are on the list. Thunderous, a graphic novel by M. L. Smoker, relates one girl’s struggle to get home as she’s sucked into a world where Lakota history and folklore becomes immediately present and threatening. Smoker is an established poet and prolific writer, and is a member of the Sioux and Assiniboine tribes.

Scholastic said in its most recent letter, signed by the president of Scholastic Trade Publishing, Ellie Berger, that it would be discontinuing this program, starting in January. It reaffirmed its “commitment” to distribute these titles, and stated that it was working on a “pivot plan” for schools who had already scheduled book fairs for the fall. “ Our commitment to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors and stories remains foundational to the company,” the memo read. “We are committed to providing access and choice” for young readers, who get to pick out the books they purchase from the fair, without much adult supervision. The letter ends with, “we pledge to stand with you as we redouble our efforts to combat the laws restricting children’s access to books.”

It’s a decent sentiment and a good apology, as far as these things go, but the damage has been done. Earlier this year, children’s author Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Squad, The Mermaid the Witch and the Sea) ran into problems with Scholastic when it asked her to adjust the author’s note of her children’s picture book, Love in the Library, to eliminate explicit mentions of racism and discrimination, reported NPR. Love in the Library is about how two Japanese Americans fell in love at the internment camp they were forcibly relocated to during World War II. It seems like the backdrop of racism is extremely important.

Scholastic apologized that time too. Maybe this—the retraction of the elective, separate-but-equal “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” case—will finally be the thing that forces Scholastic to stand up to book bans and actively affirm its commitment to stories by and about queer folks and people of color.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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