BEAUFORT, S.C. — An organization advocating for intellectual freedom is encouraging families to attend a school district meeting to address challenged books.

The Beaufort County School District (BCSD) board will hold a public meeting to address nine book complaints filed earlier this year. The meeting will take place Friday, Aug. 22 at 9 a.m. in the BCSD Media Center located at 2900 Mink Point Blvd in Beaufort.

According to Families Against Book Bans, a single parent has re-submitted complaints about several books that were reviewed in 2023 and were later returned to library shelves.

The challenged books are:

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison: Set in Ohio, Morrison tells the story of 11-year-old Pecola Breedlove. A Black girl who, after being regarded as “ugly” for her skin color, prays for her eyes to turn blue so that she can be as pretty as the blonde, blue-eyed children. The book is an exploration of racism, self-esteem, stigma and sexual violence—a narrative that has been criticized for its graphic nature.

Sold by Patricia McCormick: Lakshmi is a girl from Nepal whose family is desperately poor. In an attempt to make some cash, she is introduced to someone who will take her to India to work as a maid. Lakshmi later realizes she has been sold to a pleasure house. Described as “haunting,” the story touches on sexual exploitation and child labor meant to make your blood boil, painting a picture of an all-too-real issue that persists today.

The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell: A book written by students and turned into a movie is based on true events of survival. Here, Gruwell’s students share their compelling stories of how they survived killings, robberies, racial struggles and gang wars. This how-to manual shows students and teachers how to create community in the classroom despite adversity.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini: This coming-of-age story follows the life of wealthy Amir and his friendship with Hassan, the son of his servant. When Amir fails to defend Hassan from being sexually assaulted, a narrative of betrayal, regret and redemption is triggered, resulting in a gut-wrenching story that touches on topics of loyalty, assault and power.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold: This novel-to-screen narrative follows the story of Susie Salmon, a beloved 14-year-old who is raped and killed by her neighbor. In heaven, she watches how life continues on Earth for her family, friends and killer. The story touches topics of grief and death—acclaimed for its sorrowful storytelling and criticized for Sebolds’s execution.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher: Clay Jensen discovers several cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah Baker who has committed suicide. In these recordings, Clay follows Hannah’s 13 reasons why she ended her life. Asher’s book-to-screen narrative touches on topics of abuse, self-harm and suicide—a reminder of how a thousand paper cuts can bring someone down to the deepest hole.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein: Enzo tells the story of Denny, a race car driver. He follows Denny’s life, including challenges, love, loss and custody battle. Enzo has gained insight into human life complexities through observation. At the end of his life, Enzo recalls the adversities he and his family have been through—At least, from a dog’s perspective.

Tilt by Ellen Hopkins: The story follows the lives of Mikayla, Shane and Harley. Teenagers who experience identity challenges, sexual interactions, teen pregnancy and drug use. This coming-of-age free prose novel follows complex issues that serve as a scoop of the reality of many teens, acclaimed for its profound layers and beautifully written poetry.

The Duff by Jody Keplinger: A novel-to-screen story with the purpose of dismantling labels. Bianca is a 17-year-old teen who sees herself as the designated, ugly, fat friend—or DUFF, for short. The narrative challenges readers to question what beauty looks like, touching on topics of self-esteem and beauty standards.