Brevard County Schools Book-Banning Timeline
May 1, 2022 It Begins
Moms For Liberty challenges 41 books in Brevard County school libraries.
Before now, there had only been 4 challenges in the history of the district.
The School Board decides to form a book review committee
The committee will consist of five community representatives, each chosen by a school board member, plus media specialists and other subject-matter experts from the district.
Next on Moms for Liberty library challenge list: The Kite Runner, Slaughterhouse-Five
Moms for Liberty his time called out instances of “racially divisive” rhetoric, LGBTQ themes and criticism of Christianity in its challenges
Kurt Vonnegut Museum slams Moms for Liberty's move to ban books from Brevard school libraries
The Indiana-based Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library criticized Moms for Liberty in a letter and will be providing free copies of Slaughterhouse-Five.
Jul 22, 2022 The first 9 book-challenge reviews are scheduled
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah Maas
Empire of Storms by Sarah Maas
Sold by Patricia McCormick
Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah Maas
Tilt by Ellen Hopkins
What Girls are Made of by Elana Arnold
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany Jackson
All of these were from the same challenger (Michelle Beavers). This becomes interesting later.
Oct 20, 2022 The committee votes to keep House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
The vote is 8-0 to keep the book, restricted to 18-and-over students or those with parent permission.
Challenge Form for House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
This is the challenge form for the book House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny...
Nov 17, 2022 Second book review - Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
5 vote to keep, high-school only; 3 vote to keep without restriction. The book is already only in high schools.
Challenge Form for Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
This is the challenge form for the book Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL)...
Nov 22, 2022 New Board members (Gene Trent and Megan Wright) and new Chair (Matt Susin)
Board votes to suspend book review committee pending replacement of old board members' appointees.
For some reason this takes over six months.
School Board Meeting 11/22/2022 (YouTube)
Organization of the Board
Dec 13, 2022 Gene Trent first suggests removing the votes of the professionals.
Trent suggests this over "conflicts of interest" (this becomes interesting later). The board also changes policy to immediately remove any challenged book until it survives the review process.
Challenged books could come down from BPS shelves and School Board mulls Mullins' replacement
The top interim superintendent candidate Tuesday was Mark Rendell, principal at Cocoa Beach High and former superintendent for Indian River County .
Feb 16, 2023 Michelle Beavers joins Brevard County Public Libraries Advisory Board
Jun 1, 2023 Michelle Beavers gets all non-fiction moved to Adult section of Brevard Public Libraries
Jun 2, 2023 Book committee resumes with three books by Rupi Kaur
The vote is 4-1 to remove all three books.
The committee now includes Michelle Beavers and Ashley Hall (both former county Moms For Liberty chairs). Gene Trent does not seem to consider this a conflict of interest, despite Beavers being the original challenger of all books currently under consideration. The professionals have all been removed.
During the hiatus, Beavers's challenges have been "dropped", and all resubmitted by others. The scheduled-books list is unchanged.
Brevard County (FL) Public Schools Book Review Committee reviews Rupi Kaur books : Brevard County Schools
Reviewed: Milk and Honey, The Sun and Her Flowers, Home Body. All removed from the school libraries by a majority vote, over public opposition and...
Challenge Form for Home Body by Rupi Kaur
This is the challenge form for the book Home Body by Rupi Kaur. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL) Public Schools...
Challenge Form for Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
This is the challenge form for the book Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL) Public...
Challenge Form for The Sun and her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
This is the challenge form for the book The Sun and her Flowers by Rupi Kaur. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL)...
Nov 14, 2023 Gene Trent brings a list of every book removed from any school library in the state, and suggests removing all of them.
Brevard school board shoots down Trent's motion to use state list as guide to ban books
Gene Trent proposed using a list of books banned around the state as a way to ban books in Brevard. The board rejected his motion.
Dec 1, 2023 Book committee resumes with "Sold" by Patricia McCormick
Two new members - Michelle Dale nominated by Matt Susin, and Katie Delaney (another Brevard Moms For Liberty stalwart) by Gene Trent.
The committee is now strictly advisory, so that public comment is no longer required.
Challenge Form for Sold by Patricia McCormick
This is the challenge form for the book Sold by Patricia McCormick. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL) Public...
Dec 12, 2023 Board votes to accept the committee's recommendation
Dec 15, 2023 Book committee meets re: The Kite Runner
The committee votes unanimously to keep the books.
After the meeting, Katie Delaney wishes there were a way to just ban the book anyway.
Challenge Form for The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
This is the challenge form for the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL)...
Jan 12, 2024 Committee votes 4-1 to keep Slaughterhouse Five
Challenge Form for Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
This is the challenge form for the book Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL)...
Jan 23, 2024 Board votes to uphold committee's (keep) recommendations on Slaughterhouse Five and The Kite Runner
Jan 26, 2024 Committee votes 3-1 to remove A Court of Thorns and Roses
Challenge Form for A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
This is the challenge form for the book A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny...
Feb 16, 2024 Committee votes unanimously to keep The Nowhere Girls
Challenge Form for Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed
This is the challenge form for the book Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL) Public...
Feb 27, 2024 The board disregards the committee and votes 4-1 to remove "The Nowhere Girls"
'It's a book about teenage sex': Brevard Schools defies committee recommendation, bans book
Despite the committee unanimously recommending that the book be kept on library shelves, the board voted to remove it.
Mar 3, 2024 Book committee meets, but doesn't vote due to the absence of a quorum
Katie Delaney, Ashley Hall and Michelle Dale are absent.
Mar 14, 2024 Brevard Public Schools Watch estimates the annual cost of book banning in the county at $2.1 million.
The Cost of Book Banning to Brevard County taxpayers (YouTube)
What are the Book banning policies of the Brevard School Board costing the taxpayers of Brevard County?The mandates from the Brevard School Board to review E...
Apr 5, 2024 Book committee meets re: Tilt, Tricks, Action Bible, Bible Stories for Young Angels
The committee votes 4-1 to remove Tilt and Trick, 5-0 to keep the bible story books.
Challenge Form for Tilt by Ellen Hopkins
This is the challenge form for the book Tilt by Ellen Hopkins. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL) Public Schools...
Challenge Form for Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
This is the challenge form for the book Tricks by Ellen Hopkins. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL) Public Schools...
Apr 9, 2024 Board upholds Tilt, Tricks, Action Bible, Bible Stories for Young Angels votes
School Board Meeting 4-9-24 (YouTube)
This is the entire School Board Meeting that was held on 4-9-24. The original live stream experienced technical issues which caused the beginning to not be s...
Apr 26, 2024 Committee meets on "This One Summer" and "Living Dead Girl"
The committee votes to keep "This One Summer" (3-1) and remove "Living Dead Girl" (3-1)
Challenge Form for Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
This is the challenge form for the book Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL)...
May 14, 2024 Board upholds committee recommendations, keeping "This One Summer" and removing "Living Dead Girl"
May 17, 2024 Committee meets on "Infandous" and "Not My Problem"
Votes to keep "Not My Problem" (3-1) and remove "Infandous" (3-1)
May 28, 2024 Board upholds committee recommendations, removing "Infandous" and keeping "Not My Problem"
Challenge Form for Infandous by Elana K. Arnold
This is the challenge form for the book Infandous by Elana K. Arnold. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL) Public...
Challenge Form for Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
This is the challenge form for the book Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL) Public...
Aug 16, 2024 The Book Review committee meets on "Sasaki and Miyano, Vol 1", "People Kill People" and "Damsel"
The "Sasaki and Miyano" challenge is notable for its explictly homophobic reasoning. The challenger hasn't read the book, but this is sadly common.
The committee votes to keep "Sasaki and Miyano, Vol 1" (2-1) and "People Kill People" (3-0). Votes to remove "Damsel" (2-1)
Challenge Form for Sasaki and Miyano by Sho Harusono
This is the challenge form for the book Sasaki and Miyano by Sho Harusono. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL)...
Aug 27, 2024 The board disregards the committee's recommendation, removing "Sasaki and Miyano, Vol 1", "People Kill People", and "Damsel"
Brevard school board voted to remove these 3 books from libraries
The board voted to remove three more books from school libraries despite a committee's recommendation to keep two of the titles.
Brevard school board bans LGBTQ book despite saying text not in violation of state statute
The board banned the manga, or Japanese graphic novel, about two high school boys though it did not violate state statute, members said.
Torres: Trying to get why school board removed book that doesn't violate the law.
Torres: This is the book that was supposed to lead to "compulsive masturbation?" All it did was bore me.
Florida School Board Bans Popular BL Manga Sasaki and Miyano
A school board in Florida has banned Sasaki and Miyano after a person complained, calling the popular BL manga series "offensive."
School Board in Florida removes Ban This Book despite the recommendation of a review committee
The National Coalition Against Censorship has written to the Board of the School District of Indian River County after they removed Alan Gratz’s Ban This Book from school libraries despite a review committee's recommendation to retain the book. NCAC expressed concern that the Board may have removed this book due to disagreement with the views expressed within the material. Therefore, any decision that suggests viewpoint discrimination raises serious First Amendment concerns.
Ban on LGBTQ book prompts letter from national anti-censorship group to Brevard school board
The letter, issued by the National Coalition Against Censorship, warned the board that they could be sued for a First Amendment violation.
Florida's Brevard School District Bans Sasaki and Miyano Manga for 'Inappropriate' Content
District's Book Review Committee had previously determined manga did not violate state's statute
Florida's latest book ban shows what it's really all about after banning this wholesome BL manga
The agenda is homophobia.
Florida School Board Bans Popular BL Manga
Florida School Board bans wholesome BL manga for “inappropriate content” and writing format. You won’t believe what they suggested as a replacement.
Florida School Bans Popular BL Manga for Right-to-Left Reading Format (& 'Inappropriate' Relationship)
A public school board in Brevard County, Florida votes to remove Vol. 1 of Sasaki and Miyano for "offering the subject of homosexuality" to students.
LGBTQ+ manga banned in Florida county schools for being “inappropriate” - Dexerto
Popular LGBTQ+ manga and anime Sasaki and Miyano has been banned from Brevard County, Florida by the local school board.
Florida District Bans Popular LGBT Manga, Recommends Chainsaw Man Instead
Brevard County, Florida is in the headlines over its latest manga ban.
Florida School District Bans BL Manga Sasaki and Miyano for Depictions of "Inappropriate" Relationship - Anime Corner
Brevard County School District added Sasaki and Miyano Volume 1 to the list of…
Florida School Board Bans Sasaki & Miyano Manga Citing Inappropriate Content Among Other Reasons - Animehunch
In a controversial decision, the Brevard County School Board has banned the popular Japanese manga Sasaki & Miyano, Vol. 1 from its district libraries,
School Board Bans Sasaki and Miyano for Gay Couple, Reading Right to Left
Sasaki and Miyano volume 1 has been banned by the Brevard County Public Schools Board for having a gay couple and reading right to left.
Manga is Not “Backward”, and the Format is Not a Reason to Restrict Access to a Book
After seeing a selection from a Brevard County School Board meeting in which the manga Sasaki and Miyano was removed from schools in that district, it seems imperative that I provide some assistanc…
Florida Book Ban Comes for Manga (YouTube)
Lynzee and James look at the latest book ban case to come out of Florida: Sasaki and Miyano volume 1, and share their favorite queer manga. Plus, Yatagarasu ...
INTERVIEW: How the Sasaki and Miyano Ban Happened
Brevard School Board member Jennifer Jenkins and review committee member Paul Roub are both against the Sasaki and Miyano ban.
Sep 20, 2024 Book Review committee meets on "Breathless" and "The Last Night at the Telegraph Club" (scheduled)
Cancelled due to lack of a quorum.
Challenge Form for Breathless by Jennifer Niven
This is the challenge form for the book Breathless by Jennifer Niven. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL) Public...
Challenge Form for Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
This is the challenge form for the book Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard...
Sep 20, 2024 The review committee is put on hold (again)
Matt Susin's and Gene Trent's appointees resigned, the committee is on hold until replacements can be found. Historically this has taken months.
Brevard Public Schools book committee halted for a third time — on eve of Banned Books Week
The book review committee was halted because it no longer has enough members to continue.
Oct 18, 2024 Book Review committee meets on "Out of Darkness" and "The Kingdom of Little Wounds" (scheduled)
Likely cancelled, as the committee is on hold until replacements can be found for Matt Susin's and Gene Trent's appointees.
Challenge Form for Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
This is the challenge form for the book Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny (FL)...
Challenge Form for Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal
This is the challenge form for the book Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal. This challenge is an attempt to have this book removed from Brevard Couny...