Fairhope, Alabama Divided Over Controversial Books in Library's Teen Section

Fairhope, Alabama is having a full-on civic showdown over what books belong in the hands of teenagers. The latest drama? Residents are pushing for two controversial books—"Sold," which deals with sexual slavery in India, and "Grown," about sexual exploitation—to be moved out of the teen section of the Fairhope Public Library and into the adult shelves. The library board, however, voted on April 21, 2025, to keep them right where they are, sparking a heated debate that’s anything but quiet.

Some locals are calling the library board "rogue" and the city council "woke," accusing them of ignoring concerns about sexually explicit material. At a recent council meeting, attorney Brian Dasinger didn’t hold back, labeling the council "worthless" for not aligning with President Trump’s recent executive order banning federal funds to agencies promoting "gender ideology." Yes, you read that right—library shelving decisions are now a front in America’s culture wars.

The city officials, for their part, defended the library board as a group of unpaid volunteers, insisting there’s no political agenda at play. Mayor Sherry Sullivan acknowledged the controversy, noting the board reviewed the books and didn't agree they were sexually explicit. She also revealed that the library is currently reviewing up to 14 more books and has already moved six titles from teen to adult sections.

Emyle Mann, a local resident, stood up for the council and mayor, pointing out that calling them "worthless" is, well, pretty unprofessional. Councilman Kevin Boone chimed in with a classic plea for civil discourse, urging folks to at least stick around to listen to all sides before storming off—a fair ask, though in Fairhope these days, patience is apparently in short supply.

Supporters of the library’s approach say it’s not about banning or burning books; it’s about putting them on the "right" shelf. As resident Wendy Pickering put it, "We are not asking books to be burned or banned. We are asking them to be properly shelved." Honestly, it’s a relief to see someone draw the line somewhere. Meanwhile, William Henry warned against letting "political agendas" bully the library board into submission.

City council member Corey Martin explained that a process is in place for parents to raise concerns about books, and now there’s even a tiered identification card for adolescents, which requires parental sign-off. Six books have already been moved, and two others remain after review. Martin says the city may push the state to create a committee to navigate these literary minefields—because nothing says "progress" like another committee.

Despite the fiery rhetoric, there’s one thing everyone seems to agree on: protecting kids from content beyond their maturity level. The only question is, who gets to decide what that is?