Published: Fri, Dec. 14, 2007 12:00AM

Modified Sat, Dec. 15, 2007 08:16AM

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Works by black authors such as Toni Morrison or Latinas such as Alvarez are assigned more often as teachers try to diversify their classroom fare, Bell said, and such books rate high on national lists of banned and challenged books.

"Once you get away from the familiar, people have a tendency to challenge it," Bell said.

Mar'a DeGuzmán, director of Latino studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, said she suspects discomfort with these modern works stems from their frank treatment of sex and other sensitive issues.

"These books aren't designed to make people feel comfortable," DeGuzmán said. "Literature functions to make us question, to make us think, to make us explore."

Alvarez said she is dismayed to see students lose access to her book, which is partially autobiographical. She said the Garcia girls' struggles reflect reality in a way that helps students shape their own moral choices.

"Many of the things that I've written about are based on experiences and stories that I wish I had read about when I was younger," said Alvarez, who teaches writing at Middlebury College in Vermont. "The kids are facing this stuff. It's happening."

For all the controversy, the book had little impact on Ben Schoeneman, a West Johnston sophomore who read it for class this fall. He said the book didn't stand out among the many he's required to read, though he did remember a few choice words.

"It had some of that stuff," he said, then offered this review: "It was OK."

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- Members of the Johnston County school board may be contacted by e-mail from their Web site, www.johnston.k12.nc.us, or by phone.

Kay Carroll, chairman: 934-5882

Dorothy Johnson, vice chairwoman: 553-5527

Fred Bartholomew: 936-2301

Butler Hall: 963-1025

Jack O'Hale: 934-6021

Larry Strickland: 965-9366

Donna White: 889-1239