Banned Books discussion

Just thought I'd share that there has been a censorship fight in a Texas high school involving several books that most folks would consider relatively benign. Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain was one of the books suspended from the curriculum. For anyone who's read it, I bet it's hard to believe that anyone would want to ban adorable Enzo (the book's canine narrator). Anyway, I just wanted to see what others thought about this censorship battle.

I loved that book! I live in Nevada so I don't know the reading curriculum in TN but I doubt it has anything to do with some language in the book. It may be because of the nature of the subject matter that Enzo' s owner found himself in. Regardless, teens can handle that because not only is it a book about empathy, loyalty and how actions have their consequences but, in Nevada books like A Child Called It was a book high schoolers were reading. I remember asking a student how he felt about it because I did read that one and was surprised to see it in a senior' s hands. TAORITR really made me feel good and hopeful and I loved some of the philosophical thoughts and quotes behind it. I read it four years ago and I find that I still think about it. Although, I always tell my students, "what's more fun than reading a book they tell you that you can't".Just.my opinion

Why is it that it seems like Texas is the land of banning books? I swear like 50% of the stuff I see banned currently is happening in Texas.