The Rising Trend of Book Bans in Utah Schools
The state of Utah has been making headlines for its growing list of banned books in public schools, and the latest addition is Ellen Hopkins’ controversial young-adult novel, Tricks. This New York Times bestseller has joined 16 other titles, bringing the total number of banned books to 17 in the state. Here’s a deep dive into this trend and its potential future implications for book banning, literary freedom, and the young generation.
Understanding the Ban on "Tricks"
Tricks tells the story of five troubled teenagers who fall into prostitution. Written in verse, the book explores themes of survival, identity, and the harsh realities of life, highlighting the struggles of, among others, a gay teen from rural Indiana, a girl from a religious family, and a youth from a dysfunctional home.
Ellen Hopkins explained in a 2009 interview, "These are five young people whose lives fracture, and they are brought to this place through, not choice, but through things that happen in their lives that create a place where they need to survive — and so they are forced into prostitution as a means of survival.”
Despite the content, which clearly is meant to educate, Utah’s law on broader interpretation has omitted it from the shelves.
Utah’s Law on Banned Books
The state of Utah implemented a law in 2023 that bans books deemed as "objective sensitive material." This code requires a book to be removed from all public schools if at least three school districts (or at least two school districts and five charter schools) determine that it contains pornographic or otherwise indecent content, as defined by Utah code.
These books must also be kept off school property and not used as tools for classroom activities or assignments.
Semantic Impact Trends
The data, especially from opponents, highlights the controversial censorship approach. Books banned by Utah school districts:
| Book Titles | Authors |
|---|---|
| Tilt | Ellen Hopkins |
| Fallout | Ellen Hopkins |
| Blankets | Craig Thompson |
| A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas |
| A Court of Mist and Fury | Sarah J. Maas |
| A Court of Wings and Ruin | Sarah J. Maas |
| *A Court of Frost and Starlight | Sarah J. Maas |
| A Court of Silver Flames | Sarah J. Maas |
| Damsel | Elena K. Arnold |
| *Empire of Storms** | Sarah J. Maas |
| *Forever** | Judy Blume |
| Like a Love Story | Abdi Nazemian |
| Living Dead Girl | Elizabeth Scott |
| Milk and Honey | Rupi Kaur |
| Oryx & Crake | Margaret Atwood |
| *What Girls Are Made Of** | Elena K. Arnold |
The selection of banned books reveals a disproportionate impact on literature by female authors, sparking debate on who disseminates the message and how openness fits into it.
Pro tip: Understanding this approach can provide insights into divergences from safe harbor zones when sharing opinions at leisure.
Future Trends in Book Banning
With debatable approaches impacting literature, teachers and students must reconcile their way into the change. Educators understand change management and how to apply literature controls and even align them to cultural and academic needs.
*Interstate educational controls will continue to grow as long as conversation around identities and other sensitive learning layers continue.
*My bold forecast—national trends towards informational bans, enacting a similar filter on broader data needs.
Potential Impacts
The ban on such books raises critical questions about
Literary freedom
*Right to learning
By eliminating controversial content, Utah is inadvertently limiting access to diverse perspectives, real-life issues, and essential dialogue sensors.
These trends set precedents that go beyond US shores, countries likewise (inspired by digital heritage and local decision-making) are forming learned advancements freely.
The Intersection of Moral Education and Youth Influences
They proceed to coagulate between ages six and twelve and primary education—growth meals addressed by the school affairs won’t only be books alone, videos, tools from platforms and more.
The projections settle as teachers are leveraging materials and delivering knowledge
Perspectives on Book Banning
Did you know?
The ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom reported 1,597 challenges to books in 2023.
The standard outlines doubt sets, book censorship, parental engagement in educational importance-to-do-lists, and public opinion determinants laid before policy-makers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What criteria are used to determine a book as "objective sensitive material" in Utah?
In Utah, a book is deemed "objective sensitive material" if it contains pornographic or indecent content as defined by the state code. This determination is made if at least three school districts (or at least two school districts and five charter schools) identify it as such.
Why are women-authored books disproportionately represented in Utah’s banned list?
Out of the 17 books banned in Utah, women wrote all but two. This disproportionate representation can be tied to broader notable themes in their literature addressed from distinct perspectives not considered safe and aligned.
Which authors are most impacted by book censorship in Utah?
Ellen Hopkins with three banned titles: Tricks, Tilt, and Fallout. Sarah J. Maas’s all Court of Thorns series have also received five banned occurrences
Will this book ban trend continue in the future?
It’s a possibility as digital trends and other materials encourage means of information education beyond book precursors within education.
When considering resources and the ongoing development of censored material progression, educators will need to make more calculated additions about what materials are age-appropriate, informative and inclusive.
Engage! What are your thoughts on Utah’s recent ban on books? Will more states follow this trend, or do you think the trend will die out. Engage with our community by commenting questions, sharing your opinions and staying in the conversation!