To the Editor:

Thank you to the small but vocal group in town who raise concerns about books in our school libraries. We have been expecting you and you do not disappoint in your copycat efforts to wreak havoc in town. You work off nationally-curated book lists with the aim to remove books, and infringe upon our First Amendment rights.

I want to address the current book challenge at the NHS library on the semi-autobiographical graphic novel Flamer by Mike Curato, which has made the book more sought after than ever before. Well done for unintentionally benefiting the author and bookstores financially. I wonder what other books will gain readership as you work to ban them?

After reading Flamer from cover to cover, unlike some who challenged it, I understand the context of the objectionable statements. The title is a reference to the Boy Scout troop, The Flaming Arrows, of which Aiden is a member. The communities of scouts and the church buoy him through teen angst, loneliness, questioning his sexuality and more. The Boy Scout camp chapel is a sanctuary where he finds solace and hope for his future.

Despite a few vulgar teen boy homophobic comments, this is a beautiful story.

Teens need representation in books that reflect their realities and help them navigate negative influences on social media. While some parents object to books like Flamer, teens need to be trusted as critical thinkers who can learn from stories that validate their experiences. The sexual references in Flamer are crass, especially out of context, but they reflect the bullying and cruelty that Aiden, the protagonist, experiences.

Reading books like Flamer allows teens to see themselves in different roles, from the victim of bullying to the friend who reaches out to a gay peer. Teens need opportunities to explore complex issues and engage with different perspectives, rather than sheltering them from difficult topics.

When a book is challenged, the goal is to get it banned from the district. If a conversation at the school level is unsatisfactory, a form can be submitted indicating the objection and whether the book was read. However, in the case of Flamer, I do not believe all steps were completed, some challenge forms were incomplete, the book not fully read, and questions unanswered or crossed out.

Some forms were photocopied and submitted by different people, resembling plagiarism. Additionally, the months-long online smear campaign to discredit librarians’ expertise in curating library collections is unacceptable.

Book banning is a slippery slope and a serious infringement on our American values. Last week the book review committee voted unanimously to keep the book in the library. If this recommendation is overruled by the BOE on May 2, it would be an outrageous act, ignoring the collective opinion of a highly experienced group of educators and administrators. I anticipate many more book challenges coming down the pike, people. Get ready.

This letter reflects my own opinion and not that of my employer.

Sarah Beier

Newtown