The book "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen has been banned primarily due to its sexual content , foul language, and some depiction of violence related to circus life. Specific incidents in the book include graphic sexual descriptions and a teen couple's first sexual experience, which some parents and school districts deemed inappropriate or "sensitive material." In Utah, this book was banned from public schools after being removed by at least three school districts, fulfilling the state's criteria for statewide removal under a law targeting "pornographic, indecent, or harmful" content for children. The law prioritizes protecting children from such content even if the book has literary value. The banning has been controversial, with debates about parental control versus educational decisions and students' rights to read widely.
In summary, "Water for Elephants" was banned mainly because of its explicit sexual content and language, under laws focused on restricting sensitive or potentially harmful material in schools.
