Novel under review by Henrico Schools committee after complaint of 'indoctrination,' 'Marxist' ideology

Editor's note: This story has been updated after its original publication to reflect the correct number of copies of the novel pulled for review. A school system official originally provided incorrect information.

For the third time this school year, a book available in Henrico County Public Schools libraries is under review by a committee in order to determine if it is appropriate for schools.

An elementary school parent submitted a formal complaint about the book A Good Kind of Trouble, and the school division began its book review process this month. The parent wrote in the complaint that he or she believes the purpose of the novel is to indoctrinate students.

The novel, written by Lisa Moore Ramée and published in 2019, follows the journey of a 12-year-old Black girl as she navigates middle school and learns about the way race impacts her relationships.

In the story, the character gets in trouble at school for wearing a Black Lives Matter armband, but sticks up for herself against school authority.

In the complaint, which was obtained by the Citizen through a records request, the parent noted that he or she objects to the “support of a political/Marxist group.”

The parent also wrote that “HCPS should focus on educating our children, not teaching or offering material supporting any ideology or militant group.”

The book has been checked out 164 times since it was added to HCPS libraries in July 2019, according to HCPS spokeswoman Eileen Cox. There were 33 copies available at 16 elementary schools and six middle schools. The book was not part of any assigned curriculum.

There are now 18 books available for checkout by students. The other 15 have been pulled for members of the book review committee to read.

This is the third time this academic year that a book available in HCPS libraries has been reviewed by the division’s Instructional Materials Review Committee. Before this year, the last time the process had taken place was in 2011, according to Cox.

Amidst the Virginia gubernatorial campaign last year, during which book banning became a central issue, eight copies of the novel Out of Darkness were removed from HCPS libraries as the IMRC reviewed the young adult novel. The book’s author, Ashley Hope Perez, told the Citizen in October that the removal was representative of recent nationwide efforts to purge school libraries of books that discuss race or center LGBTQ characters.

Then in November, a parent challenged the book I’m a Gay Wizard. The complainant objected to the “very graphic detail” of a boy in the book performing oral sex on another boy character, according to a form submitted to the school division. The single copy was removed as the committee reviewed the book.

The IMRC, which includes Henrico School Board member Alicia Atkins, reviewed both books and recommended they remain in school libraries.

The Henrico School Board voted March 24 to return the single copy of I’m a Gay Wizard to Godwin High School, though nobody at the meeting said the name of the book out loud.

The board did not have to vote on Out of Darkness because the review was made by instructional leadership and there was “no formal challenge,” according to Cox. The eight copies of that book were also returned to school libraries following the review.

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Anna Bryson is the Henrico Citizen’s education reporter and a Report for America corps member. Make a tax-deductible donation to support her work, and RFA will match it dollar for dollar. Sign up here for her free weekly education newsletter.