Mom wants 'graphic' book pulled from high school library

An Issaquah mother said her son brought home a graphic novel from school that is pornographic.

Shirley Lopez said her 14-year-old checked out the book from the Issaquah High School library. Lopez said the book "Mangaman" by Barry Lyga had sexual content she found inappropriate for her son who is a freshman.

"I don't want to send my child to school and have him come home with this," said Lopez looking through the book.

"These are sexual images, they are naked images, they are naked and sexual. I don't want my kid to be feeding his mind with that."

Lopez glanced through the book her son brought home. On page 86 she found a drawing of the character, Ryoko, with his pants down about to have sex with Marissa, a woman who is wearing only underwear.

The man's penis is digitized. The page ends with the pair choosing not to have sex.

Shirley Lopez contacted administrators at Issaquah High School and expressed her concern about the book being available in the school library.

She said she was told for her son to just stay away from the book. When she told school staff she didn't think that was possible, she said their solution was for him to stay out of the school library.

“I have to opt my child out of library to ensure that he isn’t exposed to this,“ said a frustrated Lopez.

She said later the librarian agreed to try to "shoo" her son away from the graphic novel. The book was put back on the shelf for other students to check out.

Follow this link to see the images in question.

The Issaquah School District is investigating the complaint and said there is a process for parents to ask for a "re-evaluation of materials."

"I certainly sympathize with this parent.

She is trying to do the best for her child. If she feels there is inappropriate material I certainly understand her desire to protect her child from that," said L. Michelle, Issaquah School District spokesperson.

"She can fill out the form and I'm confident in that process."

The decision goes through the superintendent and the final outcome rests with the school board.

Lopez plans to fill out the paperwork to challenge the book.

"I don't want to control anybody. I just want to send my kid to school and feel he is safe," said Lopez.

Cox Media Group