Hanover school board bans 19 books

Zoom in: The list includes an array of commonly challenged titles, including "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison and "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen, per a list provided to Axios by the school district.

• Many of the books also deal with LGBTQ+ themes, like "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson and "This Book is Gay" by Juno Dawson.

What they're saying: "This is truly vulgar language, vulgar pictures, vulgar depictions," said school board chair John Axselle III, per the Times-Dispatch. "We did not and do not take this decision lightly. It is very tough."

The other side: Opponents of the new policy argued children shouldn't be shielded from books that cover difficult topics.

• "The most important thing is not to hide reality from our children but rather to ensure the students of the school system understand the complexity of life experiences and provide support for the students that need it most," said Rebecca Hooper, who spoke during the public comment period, per the TD.