Across the United States, battles over books in school libraries have become one of the most visible fronts in the culture wars.
While states like Florida and Texas have made national headlines for sweeping book bans, the situation in New Jersey often appears very different on the surface.
The state has adopted laws intended to protect access to books in schools and public libraries. But educators, librarians, and civil liberties advocates say that books are still being challenged — and sometimes quietly removed — through local school review processes.
For many librarians, the result is a growing tension between community pressure and the mission of school libraries to provide students with access to diverse ideas and perspectives.
How Book Challenges Work in New Jersey
Unlike some states where officials have ordered broad removals of books, New Jersey school districts typically rely on a formal challenge and review process.
Parents or community members can file a complaint about a book. That complaint triggers a review by school administrators or a district committee, which determines whether the book will remain available, be restricted, or be removed entirely.
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Supporters of this process say it allows communities to raise concerns about age-appropriate materials.
Critics argue that the system can still lead to de facto book bans, especially when coordinated campaigns target specific titles.
Books Challenged in New Jersey Communities
Several New Jersey towns have already experienced high-profile disputes over books in school libraries and curricula.
Glen Ridge
“All Boys Aren’t Blue” — George M. Johnson
“This Book Is Gay” — Juno Dawson
Challenged at Glen Ridge Public Library (2023). The library board ultimately rejected the removal request and kept both books available.
The challenge sparked a major public debate and large community turnout at library board meetings.
Watchung Hills Regional High School
“Fun Home” — Alison Bechdel
Challenged as part of school curriculum at Watchung Hills Regional High School. The challenge was rejected and the book remained in the curriculum.
The graphic memoir became a focal point in debates about LGBTQ themes in educational materials.
North Hunterdon High School
“Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human” — Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
Formally challenged in the North Hunterdon High School library. The school board voted to retain the book.
The dispute drew national attention and led to harassment directed at school librarian Martha Hickson, who defended the library’s collection.
Sparta Township Schools
“Ghost Boys” — Jewell Parker Rhodes
Removed from classroom reading lists following review in Sparta Township schools.
“The Upside of Unrequited” — Becky Albertalli
Removed from classroom use in Sparta Township after review.
Both titles address themes involving identity and social justice that have increasingly become targets of book challenges nationwide.
Holmdel Township School District
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” — Sherman Alexie
Removed from the district’s curriculum after complaints about sexual content.
The novel has been one of the most frequently challenged books in the United States.
Westfield Public Schools
“Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race” — Jessica Ralli
Removed from school libraries during the 2021–2022 school year following community complaints.
The book is designed to introduce younger readers to conversations about race.
Washington Township High School
“The Bluest Eye” — Toni Morrison
Removed from classroom instruction during the 2022–2023 school year after parent complaints.
Morrison’s novel is widely considered a modern American literary classic and has been repeatedly challenged across the country.
Freehold Township School District
“Flor Fights Back: A Stonewall Riots Survival Story” — Joy Michael Ellison
Removed from classroom instruction during the 2023–2024 school year.
The graphic novel tells a fictional story set during the historic Stonewall uprising.
A National Debate Reaches New Jersey
Across the country, books involving themes of race, gender identity, sexuality, and LGBTQ experiences have increasingly become the focus of censorship campaigns.
Advocacy groups tracking censorship trends report that hundreds of titles have been targeted in schools and libraries nationwide.
Even in states like New Jersey, where legal protections for library access exist, educators say national debates are influencing local school board meetings.
Why LGBTQ Books Are Often Targeted
Many of the books challenged in schools nationwide feature LGBTQ characters or themes.
Advocates say removing those books can make LGBTQ students feel invisible in school environments.
Supporters of restrictions often argue that topics involving sexuality or gender identity should primarily be addressed by families rather than schools.
The result is an ongoing debate over how school libraries should balance representation, parental concerns, and educational freedom.
New Jersey’s Freedom to Read Law
New Jersey lawmakers have attempted to address the growing debate through legislation often referred to as the Freedom to Read Act.
The law requires schools and libraries to follow formal procedures before removing books and protects librarians from retaliation for carrying materials that some community members oppose.
Supporters say the law helps ensure decisions about educational materials are made through transparent review processes.
Critics argue local communities should retain stronger authority over school library collections.
Why the Debate Is Likely to Continue
The conflict over school library books touches on larger questions about education, parental rights, and freedom of expression.
For supporters of access to diverse materials, school libraries provide students with opportunities to encounter new ideas and perspectives.
For others, they represent spaces where communities should exercise stronger control over what children are exposed to.
As those perspectives continue to clash, book challenges are likely to remain a recurring issue in New Jersey school districts.
What’s Really at Stake
Debates about school library books are rarely just about a single title on a shelf.
For many educators and librarians, they reflect a larger question about what role schools should play in exposing students to new ideas, experiences, and perspectives.
Supporters of removing certain books say they are protecting children from material they believe is inappropriate.
Opponents argue that restricting access to books — especially those dealing with race, sexuality, or LGBTQ identity — can erase important stories from the classroom.
As these debates continue to unfold in communities across New Jersey, the outcome may shape not only what students can read in school libraries, but how future generations learn about the world around them.
Or as former President Dwight D. Eisenhower once warned during an earlier era of censorship debates:
“Don’t join the book burners… Don’t be afraid to go in your library and read every book.”
For librarians, teachers, parents, and students alike, the question may ultimately be whether school libraries should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve — or the limits of what some people believe students should be allowed to see.
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Kirstyn Piper Plummer is a Mom, Wife, Photographer, Reporter, IT Administrator and many other things.
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