The Banned List

Of the nine books and one magazine currently “removed” from Duval County Public Schools, Angels and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins are the only ones you’re likely to recognize. Cowgirls, the most recent removal, pulled during the ’97-’98 school year, includes lesbian sex acts. Curiously, for the last 16 years, nothing has been found offensive or inappropriate enough to warrant removal.

DCPS’s forbidden literary works:

Angels in America by Tony Kushner

Don’t Call Me Little Bunny by Gregoire Solotareff: An illustrated book about a rabbit that goes on a crime spree, is jailed, escapes and is protected from consequences by his grandfather.

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins: The comedic tale of a young model with abnormally large thumbs who becomes a hitchhiker and experiences various adventures. It includes drug use and various sex acts, both heterosexual and otherwise.

The Hand Book: All Kinds of Jokes, Tricks and Games to do with Your Hands by Lassor Blumenthal: The title sums it up pretty well.

Jogging: a Love Story by Sandra Hochman: A Manhattan art dealer engages in a series of disappointing romantic relationships. This book includes a number of sex acts.

Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl: This book has parodies of traditional folk tales, some with less-than-moral endings.

Schmucks: A Novel by Seymour Blicker: This book tells the story of a late-night alleyway standoff between two men driving trucks, neither of whom realizes he is a schmuck.
Skindeep by Toeckey Jones: Set in South Africa during apartheid, this book explores discrimination through a teenager who learns a shocking secret about her boyfriend.
There’s A Pig in Every Crowd by illustrator Kimble Mead and Steve Henry: No synopsis available.

Thrasher, a skateboarding magazine

Tia Ford, Duval County Public School’s supervisor of external communications and media relations, says that anyone who would like to challenge a removal may fill out a form to ask the district to reconsider.