The books seen on our site have been read and reviewed by our team and other groups working together nationally. These books are available in school media centers and libraries in North Carolina. The PEP Team partnered with Rated Books to show a growing group of books that have questionable content and graphics. These books are also often available in classroom libraries or as digital media.

​

​

We believe:

• Parents have a right to know what is available to their children in the schools and through media. 

• Many books are age inappropriate, promote harmful ideologies, include explicit sexual and violent content, and should not be available to children for group or independent reading in public school without parental knowledge and consent. Most books are developmentally inappropriate for elementary, middle schools or high school students.

• Rubrics and rating scales should be used choosing books for children. Rated Books provides a method for evaluating books using a rubric or rating scale similar to the movie industry. Parents and guardians will find it helpful when determining if a book is suitable  for their child. 

• School staff must evaluate books with a  more detailed and rigorous rating tool when purchasing books and addressing book challenges. See below.

• Red flag systems and secluded books behind a librarian's desk will not be enough to keep inappropriate literature out of a child's hands. It will require media specialists or staff to become book police, wasting precious time and resources in management. 

• Parent must take action. The mental health of our young is at stake. We can no longer trust that the adults in charge hold or promote values similar to yours.​​