More books challenged in Beaufort County School District. Board mulls options
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South Carolina Book Bans
The state now has 22 books banned from all public school classrooms and libraries, becoming the nation’s leader in book bans.
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7:30 p.m. update
No action related to the book removals or letter came out of executive session due to the school board needing more time to craft a unified response back to the State Board of Education, board chair Richard Geier said. No additional information could be revealed since the matter remains protected under attorney-client privilege. Updates can be expected in future reporting.
5:00 p.m. initial reporting
Fifteen more books — including the No. 1 New York Times bestseller “Thirteen Reasons Why” — have been formally requested for removal from shelves across the Beaufort County School District by a parent behind half of South Carolina’s book bans this year.
The latest round of challenges comes ahead of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. school board meeting, where members of the board will respond to a letter from the South Carolina Department of Education regarding Regulation 43-170’s local review process — potentially forcing the board to revisit how it handles book challenges. That letter, board chair Richard Geier confirmed, will be discussed in executive session. The board is expected to return to public session with a motion outlining how it will respond.
Although no votes on the newly challenged books are expected Tuesday, the meeting could determine whether Beaufort County will continue fast-tracking books to the state level — or begin re-reviewing them locally.
Under Regulation 43-170, school districts must publicly review and vote on any instructional material complaints — including classroom and library books — that contain descriptions or images of sexual conduct. Parents or legal guardians may file up to five complaints per month, provided they have made a good-faith effort to resolve their concerns with school or district staff.
Beaufort County School District currently maintains that books already reviewed — even those reviewed before the regulation took effect — do not require another vote. Instead, the district forwards those titles directly to the South Carolina Department of Education when challenged again.
What happens Tuesday could mark a turning point not just for Beaufort County, but for the state. If the board reaffirms its position, it will likely continue bypassing public votes on previously reviewed titles — a decision that has contributed heavily to South Carolina’s lead in book removals nationwide. If the board agrees to change course, it could reintroduce public oversight and slow the pace of removals.
That decision carries added weight because at least 14 of the 22 books banned or restricted statewide this year were challenged by one Beaufort County parent, Elizabeth “Ivie” Szalai. Her influence has sparked growing debate about whether one individual should have the power to limit access to books for students across the state.
Book challenges from March, April & May
The following books were challenged in recent months by Szalai. Several are award-winning or widely taught in schools nationwide:
March
“Shine” by Lauren Myracle — a young adult novel exploring hate crimes and LGBTQ+ identity
“Skin” by Donna Jo Napoli — a teen novel about vitiligo and body image
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison — a classic literary novel about race, trauma, and identity
“The Carnival at Bray” by Jessie Ann Foley — a young adult coming-of-age story set in 1990s Ireland
“The Duff” by Kody Keplinger — a teen romance about self-esteem and labels
“Like a Love Story” by Abdi Nazemian — a historical young adult novel set during the AIDS crisis
April
“The Freedom Writers Diary” by The Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell — a nonfiction collection of student essays about overcoming adversity
“The Infinite Moment of Us” by Lauren Myracle — a teen romance exploring sexuality and independence
“The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini — a bestselling novel about friendship and betrayl in Afghanistan
“Tilt” by Ellen Hopkins — a novel in verse dealing with teen struggles around sexuality and relationships
“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen — a historical novel with romantic and adult themes
May
“Sold” by Patricia McCormick — a novel about human trafficking based on real accounts
“Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher — a young adult novel that sparked national debate over mental health and suicide
“The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold — a novel about the aftermath of sexual violence and grief
“The Black Flamingo” by Dean Atta — a coming-of-age story about a biracial, gay British teen
“The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein — a literary novel told through the eyes of a dog, touching on themes of family, loss, and love
Beaufort County at the center of national controversy
The rise in challenges traces back to Szalai, who helped spearhead the wave of complaints under and before Regulation 43-170. Szalai submitted over half of the 22 complaints that resulted in statewide bans or restrictions this year. Before the new law, she had asked the Beaufort County School District to remove 97 titles, five of which were removed at the time.
While supporters of the book removals argue Regulation 43-170 protects students from inappropriate content, critics have called the law vague and overreaching. Groups like Families Against Book Bans and the Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization have pushed back locally, demanding more transparency and a path to restore previously banned books — a process that currently does not exist.
Following South Carolina’s May State Board of Education meeting, the state leads the nation in school book removals. As of now, no books are under review at the state level, and the next board meeting is scheduled for August 5.
How the book removal process works
Under Regulation 43-170:
Parents or guardians may submit up to five formal complaints per month using a standardized form.
The school board must publicly review and vote on each complaint within 90 days.
A complaint must be based on depictions or descriptions of sexual conduct — not political or social viewpoint.
Books may be removed, restricted by grade level, or made available only with parental consent.
Complainants unhappy with the district’s decision may appeal to the State Board of Education, which must issue a decision within two meetings.
This story was originally published July 8, 2025 at 5:01 PM.
