Florida School District Bans Book By Holocaust Survivor

Following Gov. Ron DeSantis's incessant attacks on education, books and schools, Florida’s Martin County has followed his lead and banned dozens and dozens of books, including authors James Patterson, Toni Morrison, and Jodi Picoult.

WPTV reports, "This comes as the state puts in new requirements for school librarians to review reading material. And districts must have a process allowing community members to challenge books."

The Washington Post writes:

"The removal list includes Picoult’s novel “The Storyteller” about the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor who meets an elderly former SS officer. It contains some violent scenes told in flashbacks from World War II and assisted suicide.

“Banning ‘The Storyteller’ is shocking, as it is about the Holocaust and has never been banned before,” Picoult told us in an email.

Greg Sargent notes, "books by Picoult and others that are getting removed, the county’s removal directive cites guidance from Florida’s Department of Education. It directs educators to “err on the side of caution,” urging them to nix material that they wouldn’t be “comfortable reading aloud.”

Right-wing activists are now the de-facto Education Department of Florida.

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