In 2016, when a parent requested that we remove the popular Young Adult Novel from the collection, I read and reviewed Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell for the Collection Development Committee at the McCracken County Public Library (MCPL) . Although this title was controversial at the time, I recommended to the Collection Development Committee that the library retain this title in the collection, and the committee voted unanimously to retain the title. I also continued to recommend this book to teen-aged patrons. This book made the ALA "Top 10" challenged book list for 2016, and has been challenged consistently since it was published in 2013.
A parent filed a formal challenge to this book at MCPL .The library has a process for allowing patrons to address such concerns, which starts with an official challenge. When a patron approaches a library staff member with a concern about library materials appropriateness, they are informed of our selection criteria and non-censorship policy, and offered the chance to put their concerns in writing if they choose to pursue an official challenge. The patron who filed a challenge against the book stated that her daughter had checked out the book, and that she felt it was contained language inappropriate for children, and did not belong in the “kids” section of the library.
The Young Adult collection at MCPL currently contains a wide variety of materials that are appropriate for middle school through high school age youth. The youth floor of MCPL houses several collections for various age ranges and reading levels. The Early collection contains picture books appropriate for children ages 0-2nd grade, The Juvenile Fiction collection contains books appropriate for readers in grades 3-6, and the Young Adult collection contains materials appropriate for grades 7 and up. The library considers these age/grade level delineations to be guidelines for patron convenience while recognizing that not all children read at the same grade level at particular ages.
According to the process in place for addressing a formal challenge, a letter was sent to the complainant stating that the concerns would be considered, and the challenge was placed on the agenda for the next collection development meeting. In preparation for the meeting, the selector in charge of the collection from which the item was challenged, and one other volunteer from the committee (myself, in this case) read the book and prepared arguments for the retention or withdrawal of the item in question.
My statement to the committee acknowledged the presence of “the F word” in the opening scene of the book. This does not mean the book should not be in the Youth collection. The swearing in this instance is not glorified or superfluous. The main characters are experiencing harassment and bullying, and the crass language used by the school bus bully helps to paint a picture of the ignorant and volatile person.
Publisher’s Weekly reviewed this book and recommended it for ages 13 and up. “Rowell keeps things surprising, and the solution—imperfect but believable—maintains the novel’s delicate balance of light and dark.” –Publisher’s Weekly 2012
Eleanor & Park received a starred review from School Library Journal, and they recommend it for grades 9 and up. “Although the narrative points of view alternate between Eleanor and Park, the transitions are smooth. Crude language is realistic. Purchase for readers who are drawn to quirky love stories or 1980s pop culture.” –School Library Journal 2013
John Green reviewed the book for the New York Times Sunday Book Review and said “There’s bullying, sibling rivalry, salvation through music and comics, a monstrous stepparent — and I know, we’ve seen all this stuff. But you’ve never seen “Eleanor & Park.” Its observational precision and richness make for very special reading.” –New York Times 2013
Objections and Challenges started appearing as soon as this book hit the shelves in 2013. It was challenged right away in Minnesota’s Anoka High School Library. School Library Journal reported that the book was retained. “The book—a sensitive love story that deals with difficult themes like bullying, poverty, racism, and abuse—was reviewed by Anoka High School’s librarian, parents, faculty, the principal, and one student, the Tribune reported. The novel has garnered numerous positive reviews and awards; it has been named an SLJ Best Book, a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book, and the winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Best Fiction.” -School Library Journal 2013
MCPL embraces and adheres to the American Library Association (ALA)’s commitment to intellectual freedom, as outlined by the ALA Library Bill of Rights (MCPL, 2015). The Library Bill of Rights states that:
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
and
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
(ALA: Library Bill of Rights, 2015)
Challenges such as this one have happened at about a rate of 3 per year since I joined the Collection Development Committee at MCPL in 2009. Most of the challenges we receive are from parents concerned about their children’s exposure to materials they find offensive. Eleanor & Park fits thematically with many YA titles that are popular, and is critically acclaimed. I will continue to recommend this book to teens looking for a good book in the realistic fiction genre as long as it is in the library collection. I recently featured this book on a display of Young Adult books with “all the feels” at the library just this week.