A Las Vegas high school pulled Alison Bechdel’s critically acclaimed graphic memoir Fun Home from a reading list following complaints from the parents of some students, FOX5 Las Vegas reports.
The book was on a reading list for an honors English class for juniors. Some parents were upset because the book features sex scenes and harsh language.
1“Somehow teachers thought it was appropriate to give pornography to my child,” said parent Kim Bennett. The term “pornography” refers to material that is designed to sexually excite readers; that is not the case with Fun Home, a memoir about Bechdel’s relationship with her closeted gay father.
The 2006 memoir was a hit with critics, winning an Eisner Award and becoming a finalist for a National Book Critics Circle Award. It was also turned into a Tony Award–winning Broadway musical. A reviewer for Kirkus called it “a graphic narrative of uncommon richness, depth, literary resonance and psychological complexity.” The book has been challenged or banned many times before.
The Clark County School District released a statement confirming the book had been banned from Palo Verde High School, saying, “As soon as the school administration received information about the inappropriate material being included in a reading list of one of CCSD’s high schools, the school immediately removed the inappropriate content from the reading list, addressed the concerns with parents and staff, and is investigating the matter at the school level.”
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
