Ban on Sophie's Choice Lifted Following Protest by ABFFE and Others

A California school district has ordered a high school principal to return William Styron's novel Sophie's Choice to the shelves of the school library. La Mirada High School Principal Andrew Huynh had removed the acclaimed novel after a parent complained that the book contained sexual material that was inappropriate for minors. Students protested the banning and were soon joined by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and several national groups.

On January 4, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE), the National Coalition Against Censorship, the Association of American Publishers, and PEN American Center criticized the decision in a letter to the superintendent of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. The letter noted that the principal had violated the district's policy on selecting material for use in the schools. The American Library Association also participated in the protest.