Officials unanimously vote to keep book on shelves

Novel 'Gil's All Fright Diner' reviewed after parent questioned its content

By J.R. Williams - jrwilliams@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Frederick County school officials voted unanimously Tuesday to keep a library book with an occult theme at James Wood High School after a concerned parent sparked a formal review.

Following the recommendation of two subcommittees, the School Board voted to keep "Gil's All Fright Diner," a novel by A. Lee Martinez geared toward teen readers, on library shelves. The decision was made without discussion.

In a recent letter to Superintendent Patricia Taylor, Clear Brook resident Tammy Villa said she requested the book's removal after her ninth-grade son became "very upset and concerned" after checking it out.

"The material in this book is so disgusting that a teacher wouldn't be able to use this book as a class book report/project," the letter says.

Like many classic and contemporary novels stocked in school libraries, "Gil's All Fright Diner" contains expletives and references to sex. Readers follow main characters Earl, a vampire, and Duke, a werewolf, as they learn to raise the dead after defending the diner against a zombie attack.

"Tammy pushed away the power of the old gods. It wouldn't do to kill him just yet," says one passage on page 210. "Her eyes filled their sockets, but he was still scared. Just not scared enough to give up a chance to get laid.

"After she'd finished with him, she realized just how mad she must have been to have actually enjoyed sex with Chad."

But several committees who studied the book concluded that it did not represent a threat to "the psychological well-being of students" or "standards of civility and decency" as outlined in school code.

School policy gives any parent or guardian the opportunity to challenge materials "used with or presented to their children." After receiving Villa's request, three teachers and two parents at James Wood reviewed the book, according to school documents. When they voted to retain it, Villa appealed to the superintendent.

A second committee was formed. One teacher and one parent from both Millbrook and Sherando High schools served along with a Millbrook librarian. Two school officials also served as non-voting members.

That review committee recommended unanimously June 15 to retain the book.

"Behaviors and language were not as severe as one continued to read the book," officials wrote in a letter to Peter Vernimb, assistant superintendent for instruction. "The committee felt that the language was used as a 'hook' to draw in a reluctant reader."

"Gil's All Fright Diner" is stocked by several local school divisions, the letter says.

Although Villa was invited to participate in the reviews, she did not, School Board documents state.

Promotional text for the book calls it "Gory, sexy, and flat-out hilarious."

"Gil's All Fright Diner will tickle your funny bone -- before ripping it out of its socket!"

The School Board's decision Tuesday concludes the matter.

In other business at Tuesday's meeting:

• Officials approved a new assistant principal for Frederick County Middle School.

Scott Lewis, who previously served as eighth-grade dean for Belmont Ridge Middle School in Loudoun County, will begin his duties at FCMS this academic year.

Lewis replaces David L. Rudy II, who left the post to lead Robert E. Aylor Middle School as principal following the retirement of Don Williams.

Lewis was hired at Belmont Ridge in 2008. He began his career as an educator in 2002 as a teacher in New Jersey, according to Frederick County Public Schools Executive Director of Human Resources Larry E. Shobe.

• Taylor announced that copies of the school system's annual year in review booklet are available free of charge.

The document summarizes board actions and accomplishments for the 2009-10 school year, provides contact information for School Board members and outlines priorities for the future.

The booklet is available at any county school or online at www.frederick.k12.va.us.