West Hernando Middle School in Brooksville, Florida, removed a book from general circulation September 27 after a student submitted a written request to have it reviewed. Different Seasons, a 1982 compilation of four short stories by Stephen King, is now accessible to students only if they have a signed and verified permission slip from their parents, according to the October 2 St. Petersburg Times.
The student, who has not been identified, was offended by references to oral sex and prison rape scenes in the short story “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption,” the basis for the 1994 movie The Shawshank Redemption.
This is the second time access to a King title has been limited at this school. In October 1998, access to Cujo, a novel about a rabid dog terrorizing two families, was restricted for its vivid descriptions of sex and profanity. School Media Specialist Susan Vaughn told the Times this was the first time in her 21 years as a school librarian that a child has challenged a title.
Vaughn added that the copy of Cujo was well worn three years ago but has seen little use since access to it was limited. She considers such limitations de facto censorship.
Posted October 8, 2001.