Explicit 'Banned Book' Infuriates Virginia Father, Leads to School Review

A Virginia man says he became "infuriated" when he discovered that his 16-year-old son brought home a book he'd been given in school that contained references to homosexuality, drug use and explicit sexual behavior.

The father's complaint has led to a school review of the novel, "Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky, which has been a source of controversy in other schools across the country.

John Davis, of Vinton, Va., said his son, Matthew, brought the book home after it was given to him by a friend who had gotten it from Kathleen Renard, an English teacher at William Byrd High School.

"My first reaction when I saw the contents of the book was anger," Davis told FOXNews.com. "I was infuriated. Teachers are supposed to be teaching our kids what they need to know educationally. These kinds of things are the parent's responsibility."

"Perks of Being a Wallflower" chronicles a young man's freshman year of high school, during which he struggles to find his place in an ever-changing setting. According to the American Library Association, the 224-page novel, published in 1999 by MTV Books, was among the top 10 frequently challenged books of 2008 due to its references to drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, suicide and other material considered unsuitable to certain age groups.

Davis said the book's "very descriptive" language on topics like homosexuality, masturbation and drug use is inappropriate for his son, who is in 11th grade.

"I don't think it's age-appropriate for anyone," he said. "I don't think adults should be reading that junk. It's pornography. They're corrupting his mind with this garbage."

Davis said he confiscated the book and contacted William Byrd High School principal Richard Turner to arrange a meeting with him and Renard. During the Oct. 2 meeting, Davis said, Turner refused to make Renard available and emphatically stated he would not fire her.

"I just wanted her to be in the meeting to know why she supplied the book," Davis said. "[Turner] even admitted that it was trash and that it shouldn't be in school."

Messages seeking comment from Turner and Renard were not returned. A call to MTV Books seeking comment on Wednesday was not immediately returned.

Chuck Lionberger, community relations specialist for Roanoke County Public Schools, said the principal removed two copies of the book from the school's library following Davis' complaint.

"The book is being reviewed under the school system's established policy relating to challenged material," Lionberger said in a statement to FOXNews.com. "The book had been placed in the school library using established procedures relating to library material. The principal also took appropriate personnel action."

He said school district policy prevented him from specifying what action was taken against Renard.

Davis said he wants other parents to know "that these kinds of things are going on" in public schools nationwide, although he didn't cite any evidence to that effect. The book was removed from classrooms last year in Portage, Ind., according to the American Library Association.

"The main reason for my complaint is to get the information out," Davis said. "I hope to wake some people up so they can say, 'I don't want my kids to be a part of something like this.' At this point in his maturity level, I don't think he was in a place to be subjected to that book or to handle it properly."

Carrie Gardner, assistant professor of library science at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, defended the coming-of-age novel, saying it may be helpful in providing "coping strategies" to teenagers.

"Our young people are living in a world full of both fiction and nonfiction situations that deal with drug use and sexuality," Gardner told FOXNews.com. "Fiction books that contain that type of information can provide young people with coping strategies."

She also said that reading disturbing material does not necessarily lead to unsocial behavior.

"People often overestimate the power of a fiction book," she continued. "People can read fiction stories and not have those stories impact us, just like many of us watch horrific stories on television news and not have a reaction."