The state branch of the American Civil Liberties Union has questioned a districtwide review of high school reading materials that is under way in Johnston County.

The district began reviewing the books found in its libraries and used in its classes against lists of books that are commonly challenged by parents. The review came after one parent had the book "How The Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents" removed from Johnston schools.

The book, written by Julia Alvarez, contains several sexual scenes and profanity. It is a coming-of-age tale involving four sisters from the Dominican Republic growing up in New York.

In a letter to school board attorney James Lawrence dated Friday, ACLU legal director Katherine Parker told the district that such a review violates students' First Amendment rights. She cites cases in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against districts that pulled books from school libraries.

"We are greatly concerned by what appears to be an intention to remove books from the school libraries because they deal frankly and honestly with problems that teens face, because they deal with controversial subjects, or because they contain some profanity," Parker wrote.

Lawrence could not be reached late Friday. Superintendent Tony Parker said he had not seen the letter and could not comment.

Frances Bradburn, director of instructional technology for the state Department of Public Instruction, said state policy requires each district to have policies for selecting and removing books.

Johnston appears to have followed its policies when it banned "Garcia Girls," Bradburn said, but a districtwide review conducted outside those policies goes against best practices.

"It's a little disconcerting how far this can go," Bradburn said.

School officials said the districtwide review is meant to help ward off future challenges. Books found on the lists would not necessarily be removed.

The school board asked for the review in October after discussing the "Garcia Girls" controversy in a closed session. Curriculum matters are generally not considered exempt from open meetings laws.

Superintendent Parker, who is no relation to Katherine Parker, said the discussion was legal because it touched on personnel issues -- which are exempt -- involving the teacher who assigned the book.

The October discussion is still considered a personnel matter, Tony Parker said. No teacher was disciplined over the assignment.