It used to be mainly parents and other adults (esp. on the religious right) who challenged books. For years conservative church groups have challenged books about witches at Halloween, which they see as satanic, and Harry Potter books.

They still do, but what's changed is that it's increasingly the students who are saying: "This book makes me feel uncomfortable, and I don't want to read it." They don't accept that, as my story says, books are *supposed* to cause discomfort.

I feel for their teachers, because school board meetings in the U.S. are public and often televised. Parents stand up at the meetings, wave books, and force educators to defend their choices. It's sad.