Roanoke Public Schools Restricts “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” to Juniors, Seniors
By Rocco Staino -- School Library Journal, 11/15/2009
Only juniors and seniors at Virginia’s Roanoke County Public Schools can check out Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower (MTV, 1999), but freshman and sophomores will need parental permission to take out the often-challenged book, ruled a review committee comprised of three librarians.
The committee, made up of one media specialist from each school level, reviewed the book after a father objected to some graphic material, and it ruled that the novel is intended for mature students and may not be appropriate for all ages.
“In an effort to be sensitive to the values of the Roanoke County community while preserving the objectives of the media collection of Roanoke County policy, it is the recommendation of the review committee that this book’s circulation be restricted to juniors and seniors, with parental permission required for freshmen and sophomores,” the committee said.
This book challenge began when an English teacher at William Byrd High School loaned a student a personal copy of Wallflower, which tells the tale of a high school freshman who handles issues of drugs, abuse, and teenage sexuality. That student loaned the book to her boyfriend, whose father objected to the nature of the material and filed a challenge.
“I would like to thank the review committee for their diligence and thoroughness,” said Lorraine Lange, superintendent of the Roanoke County Public Schools, in a press release. “The committee gave this concern careful consideration and we feel their recommendation is appropriate.”
Copies of the book will be put back on school library shelves at William Byrd and Hidden Valley High Schools.
Chbosky, who recently attended the American Association of School Librarians national conference in
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Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (MTV, 1999), speaking at AASL's national conference. |
During the session, Chbosky read a letter from a teenage boy who recently lost his father and was contemplating suicide, but he then read Perks of Being a Wallflower, which changed his life. Chbosky said letters like these make him realize that his work makes a difference and he’s proud that librarians fight to keep his work on library shelves.
Chbosky said that each book challenge increases his book sales. Meanwhile, Brannen says that despite good reviews, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding was never was a commercial success and she still hasn’t received a contract for another book.
