Katy ISD has Banned 34 Books Since August 2024
Removals include at least 6 titles featured on past AP English exams.
Katy ISD added 14 titles to their list of "removed" (ie: banned) books last week- bringing the total books banned since August 2024 to thirty four. This month's additions include widely read, and lauded, works like Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
The majority of affected titles continue to correspond with a list of 676 titles provided to public school districts throughout Texas, by extremist, pro-censorship group- Citizens Defending Freedom- following a visit from CDF affiliated Remnant Alliance "pastors" to Katy ISD's April 2024 board meeting.
This means, that a group that has been labeled "anti-government" by the SPLC- that has been embraced by sitting Katy ISD school board trustees- is driving the demands to censor and ban books in Katy ISD, not Katy ISD parents, residents or students.
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AP Titles Become Casualties of Katy ISD Book Bans
Katy ISD's list of removed (ie banned) books continues to grow. At least six of the titles removed from Katy ISD schools since August 2024 have been featured on past AP exams.
- Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
- The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Books Banned in Katy ISD since August 2024
Source: https://www.katyisd.org/Page/10182
** Title featured on past AP English exam
Note: [ ] = listed under 23-24 school year, but removed August 2024
August 2024
- **Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
- Wicked by Gregory Maguire
- [Do Animals Fall in Love? by Katharina von der Gathen
- ** The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
- A Stolen Life: a Memoir by Jaycee Dugard
- Infandous by Elana K. Arnold
- Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian
- The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley
- Breathless by (unknown)
- Forever by Judy Blume
- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
- Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah. J Maas
- YOLO by I.J. Hidee]
October 2024
- I Never by Laura Hopper
- Mammal by Steve Parker
- A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
- I: New and Selected Poems by Toi Derricotte
- Bum Rush the Page: A Def poetry jam - anthology edited by Tony Medina and Louis Rivera
November 2024 (as of 11/15/24)
- ** The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- ** Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
- ** The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
- Jesus Land: A Memoir by Julia Scheeres
- The Freedom Writer's Diary by Erin Gruwell and Freedom Writers
- Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
- Lighter than my Shadow by Katie Green
- Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
- Skin and Bones by Unknown/unspecified
- Sold by Patricia McCormick
- ** Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
- Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
- Skin by Donna Jo Napoli
- Perfect by Ellen Hopkins
Take Action
Speak at a Katy ISD Board Meeting
If the removal of student access to these titles concerns you, let the Katy ISD School Board know. Ask them to work with Katy ISD administration to reverse these bans, and allow students to keep access to these books. Individuals may address the school board about any topic at "Regular Board Meetings." The next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for December 9.
Detailed instructions for how to sign up to speak and what to expect can be found here.
Email the Katy ISD Board of Trustees
You can also email the board of trustees your concerns and questions.
Read more about book bans and censorship affecting Katy ISD students and families
- Katy ISD Board Proposes "Gender Fluidity" Book Ban
- Houston Public MediaKaty ISD board votes to ban books about gender identity from many school librariesThe Katy ISD board of trustees, with a 5-0 vote and two abstentions, implemented a library policy that bans books adopting, supporting, or promoting gender....Aug 27, 2024
- How to Break the Library
- KHOU Katy ISD amends library policy for the fourth time to ban more contentThe Katy ISD school board has amended its library policy three times since it went into effect about a year ago. Now, a fourth change adds books on gender....Aug 27, 2024
- What happens when serial challengers hijack the internal book review process
- Katy ISD Comment Period
- LoneStarLive.com In Katy ISD, students now need parental permission to attend book fairsThe Katy Independent School District now requires parental permission for students to participate in book fairs, a move some parents see as further....Feb 14, 2024
Katy ISD Book Bans are Personal
Anne Russey, co-founder of Texas Freedom to Read Project, is a Katy ISD mom- and alumni. Anne has been fighting book bans and censorship in her children's school district since the issue first came to her attention in 2021. If you're a Katy ISD parent, student or resident please make your voices heard by contacting the school board and/or signing up to speak at upcoming board meetings.