In a recent survey conducted by The Des Moines Register, shocking revelations have emerged about the removal of books from school libraries across Iowa, including important memoirs related to the Holocaust. At the start of the school year, at least 450 books, spanning a wide range of genres, were pulled from the shelves, igniting a statewide debate over censorship and education.
The start of a controversial school year
The study, which aimed to uncover the impact of a new state law, sent open records requests to all 326 school districts in Iowa. Unfortunately, only two dozen districts responded in time for the newspaper’s October 17th report, revealing a database of 450 banned books. Some districts cited the need for further guidance from the state, leaving the extent of the book removals still unclear.
Notably, the list does not include books removed in Urbandale, Iowa, where nearly 400 titles were initially ordered to be taken off school shelves in August. However, after public pressure, including an open letter from PEN America, the district reconsidered its stance, releasing a new list of 65 books, according to documents obtained by the Iowa anti-censorship group Annie’s Foundation.
Notable books pulled from Iowa’s shelves
Among the banned books listed in The Des Moines Register’s survey in Iowa are revered classics such as “Maus” by Art Spiegelman, “Night” by Elie Wiesel about experiences in the Holocaust, and numerous titles intended for young readers. This alarming trend reflects the removal of many of the most frequently banned books identified in PEN America’s “Banned in the USA” research, which includes works by acclaimed authors like Toni Morrison, Ellen Hopkins, and Sarah J. Maas.
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Notably, two books, “Sold” by Patricia McCormick and “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult, emerged as the most frequently banned books in Iowa thus far. However, considering the substantial number of districts yet to respond, The Des Moines Register speculates that the total number of banned books in Iowa may reach into the thousands by the start of the new calendar year.
Understanding the roots
The burning question on many minds is, why are these books being banned in Iowa? The answer lies in Senate File 496, signed into law by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in May 2023. This law imposes a series of provisions, with a particular emphasis on what it terms an “age-appropriate, multicultural, and gender-fair approach” in schools and school districts. One of its most controversial aspects is a provision reminiscent of Florida’s 2022 law, often referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which has been met with considerable opposition and debate.
Read: School book bans: alarming rise as Florida takes lead
As the debate over book removals in Iowa intensifies, the state’s educators, parents, and advocates for free speech and diverse literature remain deeply divided over the implications of these actions on the future of education in the Hawkeye State. The battle between censorship and academic freedom rages on, with the world closely watching how this unfolding drama will impact the students of Iowa and the nation at large.
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