Sexually Explicit Book Alert:
My second round of CCF-400 forms have been submitted to 26 high schools. The book is Identical by Ellen Hopkins. 18 schools did not have this book on their shelf according to Destiny
But
It is amazing to me that I submitted the form and only 2 schools responded that it is no longer part of their collection. The rest are actually having a committee that includes the librarian to review the book to decide to remove or keep it on the public school library shelf.
Just so I am clear about what I mean by this book should be removed:
Identical involves sexual abuse and incest. The plotline is that one twin is chosen to be molested by her father and the other twin is watching her sister and father wishing her father would molest her too.
Here is just one excerpt:
Someone had closed the curtain. Kaeleigh was scared. I tried to tell her not to worry, but just then, Daddy burst through the door. I closed my eyes tight, made myself no more than a shadow. Something about him was different. I didn’t want that something to find me. I cracked my eyes just a slit as he sat on Kaeleigh’s bed, pulled her into his lap. He smelled of Brut and Wild Turkey.
His peculiar potpourri. I love you so much, my little flower. Daddy needs something from my girl, my sweet rose. Will you give it to me? I wanted to be his little flower, would have given my Daddy anything. What did he want from Kaeleigh? She laid her head on his chest.
“What?” I want you to see something, something that proves how much I love you. This is only for you, Kaeleigh girl. He lifted her gently, sat her down on the bed beside him. Then he opened the snaps on the fly of his flannel pajamas. It stood up, stiff as a stalagmite.
See how much Daddy loves you? Show me you love me, too.
Touch it. He closed her hand around it. I know it sounds bad, but I wanted to touch it too. I didn’t know what it meant, only that it made Daddy happy. I wanted to make him happy too. That’s right. That’s right. His voice rocked in rhythm with his body. Oh, yes, my Kaeleigh loves me. My little flower… …when Daddy finished, he burrowed his face into Kaeleigh's hair and wept. Confused at his tears, and at the sticky stuff icing her hands, still Kaeleigh pleaded,
"Don't cry, Daddy. What's the matter? Didn't I love you good enough?"
…Yes, you loved me good enough. So very good! But it's our secret, okay?
Because if anyone knew how much you love me, they'd be jealous. NowKaeleigh was really confused.
"Can I tell Mama our secret?" No! Especially not Mama. She'd
get mad because she doesn’t love me like you. She might even go away. You don't want that, do you? She thought it over. Again and again. But she finally agreed,
"I won't tell.
" Daddy pulled her against him. Good. That's very good. It's
okay to have secrets between Daddy and his girl. Just remember. No one likes a tattletale. Especially not Daddy.
"it is imperative that we consider the effect this material could have on students who have personally experienced sexual assault or abuse. Exposing a student with a history of sexual trauma to graphic depictions of similar experiences is not a substitute for counseling, professional support, or trauma-informed care. A school library is not a therapeutic setting, and providing graphic sexual material should not be treated as a method of helping traumatized students process their experiences" (TBTC).
Being a child who experienced sexual assault by a stepfather when I was 8-years old, I can attest that reading this book made me nauseous and left me feeling disgusted and angry. I hope it does you too. This school district makes every excuse why they can't honestly address Policy 6150. This kind of book doesn't belong on the shelf of any public school library.