Removed Library Materials (as per Policy 4.403)
Reconsideration of Instructional & Library Materials
The Rutherford County Board of Education supports principles of intellectual freedom inherent in the First Amendment of the United States. In accordance with Board Policy 4.403, the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction or his/her designee shall be responsible for library collection development. Library materials shall be reviewed to ensure the content aligns with state law and the materials have not been removed previously. Below are the formal reviews that have taken place for the 2023-2024 school year.
| Material | Decision | Date |
| The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake | Retained at the middle school level | February 8th, 2024 |
| Pumpkin by Julie Murphy | Retained at the high school level only | February 26th, 2024 |
| The Selection by Kiera Cass | Retained | May 6th, 2024 |
| Melissa by Alex Gino | High School Only | August 18th, 2024 |
As defined in TCA §39-17-901, any book, pamphlet, magazine, printed matter, however reproduced, or sound recording, which, in whole or in part, contains nudity, sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence, or sado-masochistic abuse, is patently offensive, or appeals to the prurient interest, or which contains explicit and detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence, or sado-masochistic abuse, is patently offensive, or appeals to the prurient interest, shall be immediately removed from all libraries within the school district and then reviewed for final decision by the Board. The materials listed below have been removed under this provision, listed in Policy 4.403, page one, lines 24-30.
|
Material |
Decision |
Date |
|
Flamer by Mike Curato |
Removed due to Murfreesboro City Ordinance |
August 29th, 2023 |
|
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas |
Removed per Board Policy |
February 21st, 2024 |
|
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas |
Removed per Board Policy |
February 21st, 2024 |
|
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas |
Removed per Board Policy |
February 21st, 2024 |
|
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas |
Removed per Board Policy |
February 21st, 2024 |
|
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas |
Removed per Board Policy |
February 21st, 2024 |
|
Traffick by Ellen Hopkins |
Removed per Board Policy
|
February 21st, 2024 |
|
Impulse by Ellen Hopkins |
Removed per Board Policy
|
February 21st, 2024 |
|
Tilt by Ellen Hopkins |
Removed per Board Policy
|
February 21st, 2024 |
|
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston |
Removed per Board Policy
|
February 21st, 2024 |
|
Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston |
Removed per Board Policy |
February 21st, 2024 |
|
We Are the Ants by Shaun Hutchinson |
Removed per Board Policy |
March 1st, 2024 |
|
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas |
Removed per Board Policy
|
March 1st, 2024 |
|
People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins |
Removed per Board Policy
|
March 1st, 2024 |
|
Fallout by Ellen Hopkins |
Removed per Board Policy
|
March 1st, 2024 |
|
Identical by Ellen Hopkins |
Removed per Board Policy
|
March 1st, 2024 |
|
Crank by Ellen Hopkins |
Removed per Board Policy
|
March 1st, 2024 |
|
Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian |
Removed per Board Policy
|
March 1st, 2024 |
|
Life is Funny by ER Frank |
Removed per Board Policy
|
March 1st, 2024 |
|
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas |
Removed per Board Policy
|
March 19th, 2024 |
|
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas |
Removed per Board Policy |
March 19th, 2024 |
|
Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold |
Removed per Board Policy
|
March 19th, 2024 |
|
What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold |
Removed per Board Policy |
March 19th, 2024 |
|
Beautiful by Amy Reed |
Removed per Board Policy
|
March 19th, 2024 |
|
You by Caroline Kepnes |
Removed per Board Policy
|
March 19th, 2024 |
| Infandous by Elana K. Arnold |
Removed per Board Policy |
April 15th, 2024 |
| Breathless by Jennifer Niven |
Removed per Board Policy |
April 24th, 2024 |
| The Haters by Jesse Andrews |
Removed per Board Policy |
April 24th, 2024 |
| The Nerdy and the Dirty by BT Gottfred |
Removed per Board Policy |
April 24th, 2024 |
| Damsel by Elana K. Arnold |
Removed per Board Policy |
April 24th, 2024 |
| Beloved by Toni Morrison |
Removed per Board Policy |
September 19th, 2024 |
| Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas |
Removed per Board Policy |
September 19th, 2024 |
| Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas |
Removed per Board Policy |
September 19th, 2024 |
| Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi |
Removed per Board Policy |
September 19th, 2024 |
| Wicked (The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West) by Gregory Macguire |
Removed per Board Policy |
September 19th, 2024 |
| The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky |
Removed per Board Policy |
September 19th, 2024 |
In accordance with Board Policy and Tennessee State law (TCA 49-6-3803), the following books are being reviewed for content concerning potential violations related to sexually explicit materials in school libraries. These titles will appear before the board for final decision, as stated in Policy 4.403. This list includes titles that had holdings in school library collections:
| Title | Decision/Date |
| A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess | Under review |
| A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| A Love Story Starring my Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner | Under review |
| A Stolen Life by Jaycee Lee Dugard | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Adjustment Day by Chuck Palahniuk | Under review |
| All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson | Under review |
| Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| America by E.R. Frank | Under review |
| Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz | Removed by school board (01/09/25) |
| Assassination Classroom Volume 1 by Yusei Matsui | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Assassination Classroom Volume 11 by Yusei Matsui | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Assassination Classroom Volume 2 by Yusei Matsui | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Assassination Classroom Volume 3 by Yusei Matsui | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Assassination Classroom Volume 4 by Yusei Matsui | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Assassination Classroom Volume 5 by Yusei Matsui | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Assassination Classroom Volume 6 by Yusei Matsui | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Assassination Classroom Volume 7 by Yusei Matsui | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Assassination Classroom Volume 8 by Yusei Matsui | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Ask the Passengers by A.S. King | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Beartown by Fredrick Bachman | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Bumped by Megan McCafferty | Under review |
| Burned by Ellen Hopkins | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Catch 22 Joseph Heller | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Chosen by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Clockwork Princess: The Infernal Devices 3 - Cassandra Claire | Retained for 11/12th grade with parental permission |
| Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas | Removed by school board (01/09/25) |
| Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics | Under review |
| Dumplin' by Julie Murphy | Retained 11th/12th grade with parental consent. |
| Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell | Removed by school board (01/09/25) |
| Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi | Under review |
| Fade by Lisa McMann | Under review |
| Fire Force 01 By Atsushi Ohkubo | Under review |
| Fly on the Wall -How One Girl Saw by Everything E. Lockhart | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Forever… By Judy Blume | Removed by school board (01/23/25) |
| Gabi a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow | Retained for 11th/12th grade with parental consent. |
| Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok | Retained for 11th/12th grade with parental consent. |
| Glass by Ellen Hopkins | Removed by school board (01/23/25) |
| Go Ask Alice "Anonymous" | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson | Removed by school board (01/23/25) |
| Guyaholic by Carolyn Mackler | Under review |
| Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins | Retained for 11th/12th grade with parental permission |
| Heroine by Mindy McGuinness | Retained in high schools with parent consent (01/09/25) |
| Home Body - A Collection of Poems by Rupi Kaur | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| I Am Margaret Moore by Hannah Capin | Retained for 11th/12th grade with parental consent. |
| I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez | Removed by school board (01/09/25) |
| Lady Midnight (1) (The Dark Artifices) by Cassandra Clare | Under review |
| Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Lexicon by Max Barry | Under review |
| Living Dead Girl by E. Scott | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Man O' War by by Cory McCarthy | Under review |
| Maybe Now by Colleen Hoover | Under review |
| Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson | Retained for 11th & 12th grade with parent consent. (01/09/25) |
| Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe by Preston Norton | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Nick and Charlie (A Heartstopper Novella) by Alice Oseman | Retained for 11th & 12th grade with parental consent. |
| Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Piccolt | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Our Own Private Universe by Robin Talley | Under review |
| Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Perfect By Ellen Hopkins | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Perfect Chemistry by By Simone Elkeles | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Plan A By Deb Caletti | Under review |
| Ready Player One by Ernest Cline | Removed by school board (01/23/25) |
| Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart | Under review |
| Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Relish: My Life in the Kitchen | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Rumble by Ellen Hopkins | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Shine By Lauren Myracle | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Shiver By Maggie Stiefvater | Retained in high schools (01/09/25) |
| Shout: A Memoir by Laurie Halse Anderson | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Smoke By Ellen Hopkins | Retained for 11th and 12th grades only with parental consent (01/23/25) |
| Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson | Retained for 11th and 12th grades only with parental consent (01/23/25) |
| Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Storm & Fury by Jennifer Armentrout | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| The Best Laid Plans by Cameron Lund | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson | Retained by school board (2/6/25) |
| The Detour by S.A. Bodeen | Under review |
| The DUFF Designated Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis | Removed by school board (01/23/25) |
| The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow | Under review |
| The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Victoria Schwab | Retained for 11th/12th grade with parental consent. |
| The Testaments (Sequel to Handmaid's Tale) by Margaret Atwood | Under review |
| The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher | Removed by school board (01/23/25) |
| This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han | Retained at high schools with parent consent (01/09/25) |
| TTYL by Lauren Myracle | Under review |
| Vampire Academy: Book 1 by Richelle Mead | Removed by Board (01/09/25) |
| Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson | Retained for 11th/12th grade with parental permission. |
| Without Merit by Colleen Hoover | Retained for 11th & 12th grade with parental consent. |
| Yolk By Mary H.K. Choi | Removed by school board (03/07/25) |
| You Know, Sex: Bodies, Gender, Puberty, and Other Things | Under review |
| You Too? 25 voices share their #MeToo stories edited by Janet Gurtler. | Under review |
| Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera | Under review |
| Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| Looking for Alaska by John Green | Removed by school board (01/09/25) |
| Me and Early and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews | Under review |
| The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| The Kite Runner (Graphic Novel) by Khaled Hosseini | Removed by school board (01/23/25) |
| The Sun and her Flowers by Rupi Kaur | Removed by school board (2/6/25) |
| This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kacen Callender | Under review |