'Better Nate Than Ever,' by Tim Federle Simon and SchusterĪ parent in Leander, an Austin suburb, asked for this book, which features a subplot about a teenager who’s starting to notice his attraction to other boys, to be removed because the parent didn't believe 'books should discuss sensitive/controversial topics such as gender, sexuality.' 5. 'Lawn Boy,' by Jonathan Evison Algonquin BooksĪ parent in Plano said this coming-of-age novel about a Mexican American character's journey to understanding his own sexuality and ethnic identity should be banned because it contains 'profanity, pornography, gambling, homosexuality.' The parent claimed the book encourages 'admiring people with low morals and values, and hate of other people.' 4. 'When Wilma Rudolph Played Basketball,' by Mark Weakland CapstoneĪ parent in Prosper, a Dallas suburb, said this illustrated children's book, which touches on the racism that Olympian Wilma Rudolph experienced growing up in Tennessee in the 1940s, should be removed from school libraries because 'it opines prejudice based on race.' 3.

'Drama,' by Raina Telgemeier ScholasticĪ parent asked administrators at the Spring Branch Independent School District in Houston to pull this graphic novel, which features gay and bisexual characters, because she claimed it might lead young students 'to question their sexual orientation when they don't even comprehend what that means.' 2. Several titles were targeted in multiple districts.ĭrawing from those records, below is a list of 50 books that Texas parents tried to ban in 2021. NBC News sent public records requests to nearly 100 school districts in the Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin regions - a small sampling of the state’s 1,250 public school systems - and found 86 formal requests to remove books from libraries last year, the vast majority coming during the final four months of the year.

Salvage to the bones