This year, individuals in Bucks County have challenged the presence of these titles in local public and school libraries. Because Bucks County Free Library is a public library tasked with serving the whole community, these titles are available on our shelves and through cloudLibrary and hoopla.
Bucks County Free Library considers it the right and responsibility of families to decide what constitutes appropriate reading material for themselves. The library offers a broad range of offerings and supports the rights of library users to choose materials they feel are appropriate for their needs.
Note: A challenge is a formal request to remove a book from a library or classroom. A banned book is a book no longer available in a library or classroom as the result of a challenge.
American Street by Ibi Zoboi
On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, 16-year-old Fabiola Toussaint thought she’d find une belle vie—a good life. But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, the grittiness of Detroit’s west side, a new school, and a surprising romance, all on her own.
Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin
Author and photographer Susan Kuklin interviewed six transgender or gender-neutral young adults, using her photography skills to represent them before, during, and after their personal acknowledgment of gender preference. Portraits, family photographs, and candid images grace the pages, augmenting the emotional and physical journey each youth has taken.
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
This autobiographical graphic memoir recounts Kobabe’s journey from adolescence to adulthood and the author’s exploration of gender identity and sexuality before ultimately identifying as non-binary and asexual.
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
This children’s book introduces a little girl named Heather who is raised by lesbian women: her biological mother, Jane, and her biological mother’s same-sex partner, Kate. At Heather’s playgroup, her family situation and those of other children are discussed.
If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It by Lil Miss Hot Mess
This children’s book is a sing-a-long book with a drag twist, inviting readers to strike a pose, blow a kiss, and mouth along with the words in the book.
Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Lawn Boy is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age novel. It tells the story of Mike Muñoz, a 22-year-old Mexican American man who has faced hardship since childhood and begins a phase of self-discovery.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Seventeen-year-old Greg and his friend Earl spend their time making movies, until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel. Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Early decide to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.
This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
This non-fiction book for teenagers addresses many topics specific to LGBT readers, including stereotypes, coming out, meeting people, sex, and more.
