Florida Broward Schools Remove 55 Books Under State Education Order

Broward County Public Schools is removing 55 books from its libraries following a directive from the Florida Board of Education, as part of a statewide effort to ban books deemed inappropriate for minors. The list includes frequently challenged titles such as "Forever" by Judy Blume, "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire, "This Book Is Gay" by Juno Dawson, and "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson. The directive warns that failure to comply may result in disciplinary action, and the removals are part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ broader campaign to limit student access to certain literature, which critics argue circumvents local authority over library collections. Supporters claim the books contain pornographic or sexually explicit content unsuitable for children, while opponents see the bans as censorship undermining diverse perspectives and legal processes. Florida led the nation in book bans during the 2023–24 school year, with nearly half of all bans nationwide occurring in the state. Similarly, in Davidson County, a school board member has called for removing several sexually explicit books from local school libraries, emphasizing the need for age-appropriate content and educational suitability.