Junot Díaz’s 'Oscar Wao' removed from English class at NJ school : NPR
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- The South Orange & Maplewood School District in New Jersey removed Junot Díaz's novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao from a Columbia High School Advanced Placement English class due to concerns over a suicide scene amid a local youth mental health crisis involving multiple suicide attempts.
- The district's removal decision, initiated by administrators rather than parents, sparked backlash from students, families, and free expression advocates like PEN America, who classify the restriction as a form of book banning despite the book remaining in the school library.
- PEN America highlights a national trend where books addressing mental health topics such as grief, suicide, and depression are increasingly targeted for removal, often justified by a desire to protect students but potentially limiting important conversations and support around these issues.
