Summary

Florida schools have removed hundreds of books, including “The Bluest Eye,” “Slaughterhouse-Five,” and titles with LGBTQ+ themes and racial history, under new laws allowing parents to challenge library content.

The removals are driven by conservative advocates who object to LGBTQ+ content and discussions of gender and sexuality.

Critics, like PEN America, argue that these restrictions limit students’ freedom to read and access diverse perspectives.

Legal challenges are emerging, with recent settlements requiring some books to be returned to shelves, fueling debates over censorship and parental rights.