Challenged Book: Monster
Artist: Walter Dean Myers
Year: 2013
Date of Action: 5/14/13
Region: North America
Location: Oak Park, Illinois school
Subject: Sexual/Gender Orientation, Youth
Medium: Literature
Confronting Bodies: Oak Park, Illinois
Description of Artwork: Written by Walter Dean Myers, Monster (1999) is a fictional, courtroom drama about an African American teen on trial for murder.
The Incident: Seven D97 families filed a request with the district last month to have Monster removed because it contained explicit language and mature themes. A "request for reconsidering" can be made under board policy, which deals with educational materials deemed "offensive or controversial."
Results of Incident: In response, District 97 will offer those parents an alternative book for their students to read. The district will not remove the novel Monster from its reading curriculum, based on a decision made last week by school administration following a review of the book.
Source:
• http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/5-14-2013/District-97-will-not-remove-'controversial'-novel/
