Texas Librarians Pull Back After Lt. Gov.'s Push to Remove Nearly 2,200 School Books

Seven years ago, English teacher Frank Strong stocked 20 copies of Erika Sánchez's coming-of-age novel I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter in his classroom library. Over time the books began to vanish until just two remained — a disappearance Strong says is proof students love the story so much they keep it.

Now Strong, in his 12th year teaching at an Austin charter school, worries the book and many others his students value could soon be removed from school shelves. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick publicly called on Texas public schools to pull nearly 2,200 titles he described as "vulgar," citing a compilation from Recover America, a Christian conservative activist group.

What Happened

In August, Patrick urged school administrators to remove materials from campuses and described some titles as "filthy" and "so pornographic." Recover America's list ranges from young adult novels and modern memoirs to literary classics and Holocaust accounts. Librarians point out the list also includes books that most schools would never carry, such as Lolita and Fifty Shades of Grey, raising questions about the list's intent and accuracy.

Strong says "I am not your perfect Mexican daughter" is one of his students' favorite books. The coming-of-age story is included among titles Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urged Texas public schools to remove from campuses.

New Rules and Rising Pressure

The push comes amid broader conservative efforts to reshape Texas public education. This year the State Board of Education revised required reading lists to add some Bible stories. Last year lawmakers passed laws requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms and created formal processes for challenging library books.

Senate Bill 13, enacted last year, gives local school boards authority to review and remove books after complaints. Librarians say the law has increased paperwork and scrutiny, slowed purchases and made building collections a fraught public process. Some districts have paused book orders to avoid controversy: Lubbock Independent School District reported no orders from August 2025 through February 2026 and cited SB 13 implementation as the reason.

Librarians Respond

Retired Central Texas librarian Carolyn Foote, cofounder of Texas FReadom Fighters, said librarians are being targeted by mass challenges from advocacy groups. "It's like librarians have become the whipping boy to stir up votes and elections and become the scapegoat for everything," she said.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's call for tighter restrictions on what books are available in Texas public schools comes as conservative activists and lawmakers work to reshape students' education experience in the state.

Shirley Robinson, executive director of the Texas Library Association, said appeals have flooded district offices and consumed administrative time. Mary Woodward, a retired Mesquite ISD librarian and former president of the Texas Library Association, added that librarians want to guide conversations among students and families — not have elected officials decide what is appropriate.

"When you put your finger on every single book in order to type it into a spreadsheet, you really do think, 'Am I willing to lose my job over this particular book?'" — Frank Strong, English teacher

The Stakes for Students and Teachers

Librarians say many titles flagged on the list are not sexually explicit but instead explore race, identity, illness and family struggles — topics teenagers face in real life. Books like Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Elizabeth Acevedo's The Poet X help students feel seen and provide models for resilience, advocates say.

Texas school librarians must hold a master's degree and two years of teaching experience. Yet many report spending hours on compliance and cataloging instead of matching students with books or teaching reading skills. Foote warned that the combined legal scrutiny and public attacks could discourage librarians from purchasing difficult but important titles and even drive some from the profession.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at the Red River Roll Call, a Republican rally, in Sherman on July 27, 2026. In an episode of his podcast "Lt. Dan", Patrick said the books are "the undermining of family values that's going on in the left."

Local Flashpoints

Lubbock ISD became a flashpoint when a local Turning Point USA chapter criticized the district for carrying books such as Ellen Hopkins' Crank and Jesse Andrews' Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. The district held a special meeting, removed some books from elementary and middle schools, and retained others for high school, citing local review committees and current law.

Lt. Gov. Patrick said on his podcast and at a press conference that the titles undermine family values. Recover America's legislative liaison Bonnie Wallace joined Patrick at the Capitol, describing the books as "horrific" and "extremely sexually explicit," while also making broader cultural critiques in audio recordings of their discussion.

Why It Matters

Educators say the controversy threatens the core work of school libraries: connecting students to books that reflect their experiences and expand their understanding of the world. Strong described the classroom moments he values when a book ignites conversation, deepens student writing and helps students see themselves. "You can just see their eyes opening," he said. "That's one of my favorite things that happens in the classroom. And a lot of developments in Texas right now are making that harder."

Disclosure: The Texas Library Association has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune within the past five years. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization funded in part by donations; financial supporters play no role in its journalism.