COBB COUNTY, Georgia. – The Cobb County School District has removed 13 more books from its school libraries that it deems sexually explicit.

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale updated the Cobb County School Board on the ongoing book review process at a work session Thursday.

“Today I’m providing an update on our ongoing book review process, which we began when we learned that sexually explicit and children’s explicit content was available in our elementary, middle and high school media centers,” Ragsdale said. “Recognizing our legal and moral obligation to protect students in school, we reviewed the content and, where it was inappropriate, stopped providing full access to children.”

What books have been removed from Cobb County schools?

The principal sees the removal of the books as more of a rating system than a ban on the books. The decision to remove these books was not made lightly, the principal said. “We deny access to sexually explicit materials in the same way we deny access to R-rated movies, and – in accordance with federal law – we use Internet filters to prevent students from accessing adult content websites on school district computers,” he explained.

“We did not make this decision lightly, but only after examining the content in question,” he added.

READ MORE: “It’s a battle between good and evil”: Cobb school inspector defends book removal

The newly removed books are:

• “Laid” by James Dawson: Designed to serve as a guide to sexual relationships for teenagers, this book offers advice on consent, safe sex, and emotional well-being in a humorous and accessible way.
• Crank by Ellen Hopkins: A powerful verse novel about Kristina, a young girl whose life spirals out of control after she becomes addicted to crystal meth, with devastating consequences for herself and those around her. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins: This novel explores the lives of five teenagers, each struggling with their own problems and eventually turning to prostitution as a means of survival, illuminating the harsh realities of exploitation and desperation.
• “Push” by Sapphire: This raw and intense novel tells the story of Precious, an illiterate Harlem woman who suffers horrific abuse but finds hope and strength through education and the support of those who believe in her.”Press” won several awards, including the Book-of-the-Month Club Stephen Crane Award for first novels and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. The film adaptation “Valuable” won several Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film was rated R.
• “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur: A collection of poems and prose divided into four parts, each dealing with a different aspect of life, love, loss and healing, with an emphasis on the female experience and resilience.
• “It Starts with Us” by Colleen Hoover: A sequel to “It Ends with Us,” this novel continues the story of Lily and Atlas, delving into their past and dealing with themes of love, forgiveness, and second chances.
• “The Infinite Moment of Us” by Lauren Myracle: A contemporary love story about two teenagers, Wren and Charlie, during the summer after high school as they grapple with love, identity, and the challenges of transitioning to adulthood.
• “A Sudden Death” by JK Rowling: A dark, comic novel that explores the complexities of a small English town after the unexpected death of a local councillor, revealing the deep-seated tensions and secrets of its residents.
• “Identical” by Ellen Hopkins: This novel in verse tells the harrowing story of identical twin sisters Kaeleigh and Raeanne, who struggle with the trauma of their abusive father, which leads them on a path of self-destruction and mental anguish.
• Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson: A memoir-manifesto detailing the author’s experiences as a black queer man, exploring themes of identity, family, and societal expectations through a series of personal essays. This book received critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards, including the ALA Stonewall Book Award, and was listed as a finalist for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award.
• Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera: This coming-of-age novel follows Juliet, a young Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx who comes out as a lesbian and spends a formative summer in Portland, Oregon, exploring her identity and activism. This book received critical acclaim and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in the LGBTQ Children’s/Young Adult category.
• Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson: A gripping mystery about Claudia, a young girl determined to find her missing best friend Monday and uncover the dark truths surrounding her disappearance and the community’s indifference. This book won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for Emerging Talent and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Book.
• City of Thieves by David Benioff: Set during the siege of Leningrad in World War II, this novel follows Lev and Kolya, two unlikely companions on a dangerous mission to find a dozen eggs for a Soviet colonel, mixing black humor with the horrors of war.

These works were found to contain sexually explicit or explicit language, illustrations or situations that the district deemed inappropriate for students, without judging the literary merit of the books. “There are many films that are rated R that are award-winning films; however, it would be inappropriate to give children in a public school unrestricted access to them,” he said.

Ragsdale also addressed the concerns of those who oppose the district’s decision, particularly the notion that award-winning books should automatically be available to students. “Frankly, some of the books we’ve removed because of sexually explicit or graphic content have won awards — and usually from organizations that explicitly represent a certain agenda,” he said. “I don’t think that’s appropriate. And more importantly, our parents don’t think that’s appropriate.”

READ MORE: Civil rights complaint filed against Cobb County Schools over book removal

20 books removed from Cobb County schools

The removal of these 13 books brings the total number of books removed due to sexually explicit content to 20. Ragsdale assured the board that the district will continue to offer a diverse range of works by and about different authors, characters and experiences, but without sexually explicit content.

Previously removed books include:

• “Me, Earl and the Girl” by Jesse Andrews: This dark, humorous novel is about Greg, a high school student who, along with his friend Earl, befriends a girl suffering from leukemia. The book was adapted into an award-winning film in 2015 and received much praise from critics. The film was rated PG-13.
• “Flamer” by Mike Curato: A graphic novel set during the summer before high school that follows a boy named Aiden as he struggles with his identity, bullying, and self-acceptance. The book has won several awards, including the Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ young adult literature.
• “Blankets” by Craig Thompson: An autobiographical graphic novel that explores themes of family, faith, and first love. It is a highly acclaimed work that has won several prestigious awards, including two Eisner Awards and two Harvey Awards.
• “It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover: This novel tells the story of Lily, a woman trapped in a complex and abusive relationship.
• “Perhaps Tomorrow” by Stephen Chbosky: A coming-of-age story about a high school freshman named Charlie who struggles with trauma, friendship, and self-discovery. The book was successfully adapted into a film in 2012 and has won numerous awards, including the ALA Award for Best Young Adult Books. The film is rated PG-13.
• “Lucky” by Alice Sebold: An autobiography in which the author describes her experience of being raped in college and the impact it had on her life. The book received critical acclaim and was a New York Times Notable Book.
• 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher: A novel about a teenager who leaves behind tapes explaining her reasons for committing suicide. The book was adapted into a highly controversial Netflix series and has won awards such as the California Book Award for Young Adult Literature. The television series was rated TV-MA.

Ragsdale concluded his update by reaffirming the district’s commitment to keeping the board and parents informed of decisions regarding specific work. “As you have requested, we will continue to keep the board and our parents informed of decisions regarding specific work,” he said.