The number of books banned from all Utah public schools jumped to 27 on Monday, after four titles were added to state’s removal list.
They are: “Breathless” by Jennifer Niven; “The Carnival at Bray” by Jessie Ann Foley; “The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel” by Margaret Atwood; and “Red Hood” by Elana K. Arnold.
The four new titles were officially banned Monday after the Davis, Granite and Washington County school districts removed the titles, triggering a statewide ban with the Utah State Board of Education’s approval.
What is ‘Breathless’ about?
Niven’s “Breathless” follows soon-to-be high school graduate Claudine Henry, who is navigating teenage challenges including college decisions, relationships and family drama.
But her entire world comes crashing down when her dad decides to leave, and her mom moves the family to Georgia.
(Knopf Books for Young Readers) "Breathless," by Jennifer Niven.
Niven has called her 2020 young adult novel “the book I needed when I was 16, 17, 18.”
“A frank take on sex and love, parental divorce, finding yourself and the importance of writing your story,” she states on her author website.
What is ‘The Carnival at Bray’ about?
Foley’s 2014 “The Carnival at Bray” follows 16-year-old Maggie Lynch, whose life revolves around grunge alternative rock music.
But when her mother decides to uproot the family from Chicago to Ireland, Maggie finds it difficult to fit in. After tragedy strikes, Maggie resolves to live life to the fullest. Defying her mother’s orders, she travels to Rome for a concert — but the journey becomes harder than she could have ever imagined.
(Elephant Rock Books) "The Carnival at Bray," by Jessie Ann Foley.
The novel received a Michael L. Printz Honor in 2015, an award given to books that exemplify “literary excellence in young adult literature.” It was also a 2015 finalist for a William C. Morris Award, which honors books published by first-time authors writing for teens.
The novel has been removed from several schools and districts across the country, which Foley addressed in a TikTok post last year.
While some have told her to wear the bans as a “badge of honor,” she said she doesn’t see it that way.
“It’s never nice to hear yourself called ‘satanic’ or to be called a ‘pervert,’ which I’ve heard myself described in school board meetings,” she said.
What is ‘The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel’ about?
“The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel” is an illustrated adaptation of Atwood’s 1985 New York Times Bestseller, “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
The dystopian novel takes place in what was once the U.S. and now is the Republic of Gilead — a monotheocracy that has forced women into reproductive slavery to address declining birth rates. The graphic novel debuted in 2019.
(Nan A. Talese) "The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel," written by Margaret Atwood and illustrated by Renée Nault.
“Book banning happens when people are feeling angry, and they feel somebody has to be blamed for something,” Atwood said at the Poughkeepsie Bardavon Opera House last October.
Her remarks came after she was awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Bravery in Literature.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” was also turned into a hit TV series starring Elisabeth Moss in 2017. The series wrapped in 2025 after six seasons.
What is ‘Red Hood’ about?
“Red Hood” marks Arnold’s third title to land on Utah’s statewide banned list.
The novel is a dark feminist retelling of the classic children’s tale “Little Red Riding Hood.” It follows Bisou Martel, a teenage girl living in modern Seattle. After Bisou is attacked by a wolf, she discovers a newfound ability to fight off werewolves that prey on other girls.
(Clarion Books) "Red Hood," by Elana K. Arnold.
Arnold is among a group of bestselling authors who are suing Utah over the sensitive materials law that led to their books being banned, arguing that it’s unconstitutional.
The law requires that a book be removed from all Utah public schools if at least three school districts (or at least two districts and five charter schools) determine it amounts to “objective sensitive material” — pornographic or otherwise indecent content, as defined by Utah code.
State officials typically do not detail a book’s content when placing it on the banned list.
However, they do state what grade level(s) had access to a book before it was removed. All four titles removed Monday had been limited to students in grades nine through 12.