Booksology April 24, 2025 — Cobb’s commitment to keeping inappropriate material out of school libraries is a process that began last year and will continue to be implemented as necessary. Overall, the District has removed 36 titles from library shelves.
It is sometimes claimed that the District is “banning” books. This is not at all what is happening. We do not serve candy and soda in our school cafeterias because we believe that healthy foods and balanced meals are what young bodies need to grow. Likewise, healthy and age-appropriate reading materials are necessary for young minds to learn.
“The Cobb County School District is not engaging in book-banning or book-burning,” Superintendent Ragsdale has said. “We are following well-established federal and state law and policies and practices of this District that have been with us for years, if not decades. Instruction in this District is built around Georgia state standards, not any individual or group’s political agenda.”
“Not only is protecting children from sexually explicit content the best and only appropriate decision, but I also believe it protects decisions that should be made at home by parents,” Superintendent Ragsdale continued about the removals. “Our process is not a reflection on the author, the subject, or the literary merit of the book. It is analogous to not giving children unrestricted access to rated-R movies while they are at school.”
The current list of books removed from Cobb Schools is below. This list will be updated as titles are removed:
Removed in 2025:
AprilAmerican Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
MarchDead End by Jason Myers
JanuaryTriangles by Ellen HopkinsA Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
Removed in 2024:
OctoberSummer of Owen ToddMore Happy Than NotThis Book Is GayWe Know It Was YouThe Sun and Her FlowersCity of Saints and Thieves
SeptemberA Court of Wings and RuinA Court of Thorns and RosesA Court of Mist and FuryA Court of Frost and StarlightA Court of Silver FlamesIronfire
AugustLaidCrankTricksPushMilk and HoneyIt Starts with UsThe Infinite Moment of UsCasual VacancyIdenticalBoys Aren’t BlueJuliet Takes a BreathMonday’s Not ComingCity of Thieves
Removed in 2023:
SeptemberMe, Earl, and the Dying GirlFlamerBlanketsIt Ends with UsThe Perks of Being a WallflowerLuckyThirteen Reasons Why
