Daily Archives: January 18, 2025

Our View: Book’s removal sends a chill across library shelves

Kent Pekel became superintendent of Rochester Public Schools in June 2021. Since then, he’s effectively steered RPS through some perilous waters, and the Post Bulletin’s editorial board has lauded his leadership on several occasions. After two of his predecessors left the district in disgrace, he’s brought a calm, steady and capable hand to the helm.But now he has made an unforced error — and a somewhat puzzling one at that.

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Last February, the parent of a Franklin Elementary student complained about a book in the school library. “The Rainbow Parade” describes the experience of a young girl and her two mothers at a pride parade in San Francisco. It includes small illustrations of a nude woman (seen from behind) and a man wearing what we assume are supposed to be leather chaps and a dog collar attached to a leash that is held by his similarly-attired partner.On that page, the text states “Everyone is wearing whatever makes them feel most like themselves, even if that means wearing hardly anything at all.”On Dec. 10, the district removed the book from the library’s shelves. Pekel himself ordered this action, which he later justified in a memo that stated: “I believe that the depiction of public nudity makes the book inappropriate for the open shelves of a media center in an elementary school where students as young as kindergarten can access the book without adult supervision or guidance.”We are certain that Pekel came to his decision after much deliberation. It’s a complex situation, and when our editorial board members took up this issue for discussion, we went around and around (and down more than a few rabbit holes) as we sought consensus.Below are some of the key points that came up during our 90 minutes of spirited debate:The book’s presence in the school library was intentional. Franklin’s media department chair, Tammy Van Moer, said the book was purchased in 2023 “due to a need to represent authentic family structures and experiences of underrepresented people in our school, community and the world.” A 10-member review committee, which included community members, a secondary student, teachers, media specialists and equity specialists, has voted 9-1 in favor of keeping the book.The Rochester Public Library has strongly defended the prize-winning book and finds “intrinsic value in having this authentic representation of a pride parade on elementary media center shelves.”Last spring, Gov. Walz signed a law that prohibits K-12 schools, college and public libraries from removing/banning a book “based solely on the viewpoint, content, message, idea, or opinion conveyed.”Given all of the above, we concluded that the more appropriate course for Pekel would have been to reverse his decision last week when this topic came to a boil during a school board meeting — or, better still, he initially could have trusted the judgment of the media specialists to keep the book.So why did he dig in his heels? Why overrule the very professionals who are paid to make these tough calls? Why attempt to thread such a tiny legal needle, saying that it wasn’t the book’s subject matter that crossed the line, but rather its depiction of public nudity? Does that mean Pekel wouldn’t object to illustrations of nudity inside a home?

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We’ve read the 30-page book, and while we don’t think it would have been much the worse for omitting the unclad woman and the leather-wearing men, we’d point out that these are two tiny drawings that the average second-grader would scarcely notice nor understand — and if they did, their response would probably be a giggle, or maybe an assumption that the people are in bathing suits. Parents who watch any prime-time TV are likely exposing their kids to far more sexualized content via commercials for the latest crop of reality TV shows. And most parents today are quite familiar with the aptly-named children’s book series “Captain Underpants.”“The Rainbow Parade” doesn’t promote indecent exposure or sexual bondage. It doesn’t tell kids to be gay. Its message is one of acceptance, tolerance and being comfortable with oneself and one’s family — even if that family doesn’t have one mom and one dad.Should this book be required reading for every second-grader? Of course not, but neither should it be forbidden fruit, or available only to kids who are brave enough to ask the librarian to get it out of a locked case.Libraries (even elementary school libraries) are marketplaces of ideas. For a lot of kids, a library offers a first chance to stretch intellectual wings, to sample ideas, stories and experiences that haven’t been pre-approved and spoon-fed to them by their parents. It’s a big, interesting world, and a well-stocked library is a great way for kids to begin exploring it.Some parents, however, don’t want their kids to read about lifestyles and cultures that conflict with their family beliefs. These parents aren’t wrong, but their opinions on child-rearing, religion and/or sexuality shouldn’t dictate what other kids are allowed to read. Such parents can opt to home-school their children, or send them to private schools that match their beliefs – or those parents can go to their public school library, see what’s there and let the librarians and their kids know which books are off-limits.We think Pekel was wrong to ban “The Rainbow Parade.” Whether he meant to or not, he sent a chilling message to the gatekeepers who decide what is on library shelves — and in the eyes of some parents, he’s just declared open season on every book that contains a photo, illustration, painting or sculpture that reveals “taboo” parts of the human anatomy.

How to read Rebecca Yarros’ books in order — and what to know about the Empyrean series ahead of Onyx Storm

If you’re a reader who’s even slightly acquainted with the romance genre, you’ve likely heard of Rebecca Yarros. 
The novelist was catapulted to worldwide fame when her spicy fantasy novel Fourth Wing — the first of five in her Empyrean series — became a bestselling sensation and one of the hottest reads of 2023. 

But Yarros’ writing goes beyond tales of dragon riders falling in love and fighting wars; she has a large stable of series and novels in the contemporary romance genre to tide fans over while waiting for the next Empyrean installment. 

Here’s a guide to all of Yarros’ books in order, grouped by series, plus what’s next for her dragon riders when Onyx Storm arrives on Jan. 21, 2025.

The Flight & Glory series

Entangled: Amara

Yarros’ first book series, Flight & Glory, tells the stories of several couples who either serve in the military or are in military families. Full Measures follows army brat Ember as she finds solace in her hockey star neighbor Josh after her father dies in Afghanistan. Then there’s Beyond What Is Given, in which aspiring Apache helicopter pilot Grayson develops feelings for his roommate, Samantha. These romance novels explore the conflict between one’s duty to their country and their heart (and libido).

The Flight & Glory series in order
Full Measures (2014) Eyes Turned Skyward (2014) Beyond What Is Given (2015)Hallowed Ground (2016)The Reality of Everything (2020)

The Legacy series

The Legacy series’ main draw is the romance novel Reason to Believe, which follows the big-hearted Harper as she falls in love with her brother’s best friend Knox in a tiny Colorado town. The pair is rebuilding after losing Knox’s elite firefighter crew, including his and Harper’s fathers. 

If you’re looking for more small-town firefighting romance, the novellas Point of Origin and Ignite are also set in Legacy, Colo., and take place before Harper and Knox’s love story unfurled.

The Legacy series in order
Point of Origin (2016)Ignite (2016)Reason to Believe (2022)

The Renegades trilogy

While this romance series can be read in any order, each novel concerns a member of the Renegades — elite, extreme athletes — falling in love. They risk it all for their sport, will they risk it all for love, too? (I’m sorry, I’ll see myself out.) 

Anyway, expect a little opposites attract action at sea, ex-lovers fighting persistent feelings, and forbidden love on a college campus, all with some extreme steam. Bet you’ll never look at the X Games the same way again.

The Renegades trilogy in order
Wilder (2016) Nova (2017)  Rebel (2017)

The In Luv duet

Jay Crownover and Rebecca Yarros

Langley and Iker are an unlikely pairing — she’s a socialite witnessing her evil step-sister marry her first love, and he’s a soldier with secrets. 

The first In Luv novella, co-written with romance novelist Jay Crownover, sees Langley enlist Iker to be her plus-one at this nightmare of a wedding. They soon catch feelings, but Iker’s emotional baggage complicates things. 

The second installment is set nine months later when Iker returns from deployment and reconnects with Langley. You’ll have to read both books to see if the age-old fake dating trope scores another happily ever after.

The In Luv duology in order
Girl in Luv (2019)Boy in Luv (2019)

Rebecca Yarros’ stand-alone romance novels

In addition to various series, Yarros has written eight stand-alone romance novels. Her most recent is Variation, a story about injured ballerina Allie and Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hudson. The couple fell in love as teens but were pulled apart until years later when they’re forced to confront their past. 

And don’t sleep on The Last Letter, a fan-favorite tear-jerker and the Yarros novel most likely to be thrown across a room. It concerns a young infantryman named Beckett who fulfills his fallen war buddy’s last request to help his struggling sister. Tragedy and romance ensue, you’ve been warned.

Rebecca Yarros’ stand-alone romance novels in release order
1984: Against All Odds (2016)The Last Letter (2019) Great and Precious Things (2020) Muses & Melodies (2020) *Part of the Hush Note trilogy with Sarina Bowen and Devney PerryThe Things We Leave Unfinished (2021)A Little Too Close (2022) *Part of the Madigan Mountain trilogy with Sarina Bowen and Devney PerryIn the Likely Event (2023)Variation (2024)

The Empyrean series

Entangled: Red Tower Books

Okay, here’s the big one. Rebecca Yarros is well known for the Empyrean books, a bestselling romantasy series that will eventually consist of five novels. Its highly anticipated third installment, Onyx Storm, arrives on Jan. 21, 2025. The epic adventure follows Violet Sorrengail, a new cadet and wannabe dragon rider at the deadly Basgiath War College. 

The first novel, Fourth Wing, starts with Violet surviving her lessons — where other classmates can murder you — fighting to bond with dragons, and navigating feelings for a certain wingleader named Xaden Riorson (if you know you know). Soon, Violet’s problems get much bigger as world-altering secrets are exposed. But don’t worry, there’s still time for spice. Just mention “the throne scene” to anyone who’s read Iron Flame and they’ll know exactly what you mean.

The Empyrean series in order
Fourth Wing (2023)Iron Flame (2023)Onyx Storm (2025)

When does Onyx Storm come out?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram; Entangled: Red Tower Books

The third novel in the Empyrean series, Onyx Storm, comes out on Jan. 21, 2025. 

Though plot details are very hush-hush, the story will pick up after the bonkers cliffhanger at the end of Iron Flame (no spoilers!). Violet Sorrengail has already suffered great loss as an unfathomable war decimates her homeland, and regardless of her growing powers and her elite dragons, it looks like more tragedy may loom on the horizon. Sounds like fun, right?