ROARING SPRING — A novel for Martinsburg Elementary’s Battle of the Books competition was approved by a 6 to 3 vote on Monday night after Spring Cove School Board member Alyssa McGregor said there are mentions of LGBTQ+ relationships in the book’s series.
McGregor voted against the measure, along with members Kevin Smith and Erika Smith.
According to McGregor, “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library,” which will be purchased with funds from the Dollar General grant, does not contain mentions of LGBTQ+ material. But she said subsequent books in the six-part series include background characters, such as the librarian, in same-sex relationships.
While the approved novel doesn’t directly discuss homosexuality, McGregor said the portrayal of same-sex relationships can be tracked.
She said she was voting no because the later entries contain “inappropriate material.”
“There’s no inappropriate material in this particular book, but later in the book series covers LGBTQ,” she said, “which is, I think, inappropriate for elementary school.”
Martinsburg Elementary School Principal Cheyenne Calderon confirmed that “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” is the only book of the series being used for the competition.
“Because it’s for Battle of the Books, we’re not going to be using the series,” she said. “It will just be for that competition to be read and then ask questions on.”
According to McGregor, the books that contain LGBTQ+ material include book two: “Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics”; book three: “Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race”; and book four: “Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game.”
Written by Chris Grabenstein, “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” is the first book of a six-book series following Kyle Keeley and friends who participate in challenges created by world-famous game maker Luigi Lemoncello. The series’ target audience is middle schoolers, ages 8 to 12.
Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.
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