Relish: My Life In The Kitchen by Lucy Knisley Sneaks Pornographic Themes Into Its Pages

Every Day in the Month of June, I am Celebrating the Passage of TX HB900, The READER Act

Look at the cover of Relish: My Life In the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley. Would you ever imagine that it would have content related to pornography? Afterall, it is a graphic novel that is marketed to children.

School Library Journal recommends it for grades 6 and up, saying “Knisley shares coming-of-age experiences in tandem with recipes for some memorable dishes.” Remember, “coming-of-age” is often a theme that alludes to sexually explicit, pornographic, and/ or educationally unsuitable content.

Relish: My Life In The Kitchen normalizes children looking at pornography and has pornographic images, and, yet, School Library Journal gives it a starred review, recommending it for 11 year-olds.

With the passage of TX HB 900, The READER Act, books like Relish: My Life In The Kitchen will have to be labeled. If it meets the definition of “Sexually Explicit” it will be prohibited from Texas public schools.

In my opinion, it does meet the definition of sexually explicit materials.

This book is found in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools across the state. Go to the following link to see if it is in your local ISD:

https://www.gofollett.com/aasp/ui/pick/picked

The Republican Party of Texas Subcommittee: Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids is working on a packet to help Texas residents audit school libraries and get sexually explicit books out of Texas schools prior to legal timelines.

There is no reason for school districts to wait. Sexually explicit, pervasively vulgar, and educationally unsuitable books can and should be removed NOW.

The initial packet will be ready on July 1st.

In liberty and God’s grace,

Christin Bentley M.S.

SD-1 SREC

Chair, Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids