County criticized after Indigenous history book re-classified as fiction

The re-classification of a children’s book on Native American history in a Texas library has caused an uproar among consumers, activists and library organizations nationwide.
Last month, a citizen committee in Montgomery County, Texas made the decision to re-classify the children’s book, “Colonization and the Wampanoag Story” by Linda Coombs from children’s non-fiction to children’s fiction in the Montgomery County Memorial Library. Following weeks of public complaints, including an open letter signed by 13 organizations, about the decision, the Montgomery County Commission retracted the re-classification on Tuesday, moving the book back to the children’s non-fiction section of the library.
Teresa Kenney, owner of Village Books in Montgomery County, said she was thrilled by the commissioners’ decision.
“This move, to move it (the book) back into nonfiction was the right one, the only decision they could make,” Kenney told USA TODAY on Thursday.
In addition to the book’s re-classification, the county commission approved the creation of a committee to revise the policy that created the citizens review committee and placed a hold on all committee actions made since Oct. 1. Established in March, the committee is made up of five Montgomery County residents who have the ability to provide oversight to the Montgomery County Memorial Library’s materials.
Per requests made by community members, the committee is able to reassign material to a “more restrictive portion of the library” and remove material from library circulation altogether, according to the policy. The policy does not explicitly permit the committee to re-classify books.
Published in 2023, “Colonization and the Wampanoag Story” tells the story of colonization in the New World from the perspective of the New England Indigenous Nations, according to publisher Penguin Random House. The book is intended for children ages 10 and up.
The book was written by Linda Coombs, an author and historian from the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah. She’s written several books for the Boston Children’s Museum’s Native American Program and worked for 30 years in the Wampanoag Indigenous Program, including 15 years as the associate director. Today, Coombs is involved in museum consulting and cultural presentations.
Kelly Delaney, senior editor of Crown Books for Young Readers and editor of “Colonization and the Wampanoag Story,” said she is relieved by the reversed decision announced on Tuesday.
“The book is part of a series, ‘Race to the Truth,’ which tells the true history of America from the non-white, non-European perspective. This perspective is new to a lot of readers, and it can make them uncomfortable, and that’s exactly why it’s so important that we publish it,” Delaney said in a statement to USA TODAY. “As publishers, we are committed to amplifying historically underrepresented voices and narratives. We will always support our authors in telling their stories and histories, and fight for the public’s freedom to read them.”
Per the policy that established the Montgomery County Citizens Review Committee, committee meetings are to be held privately, so the committee’s decision-making process is unknown. However, which books the committee discusses is public information.
Montgomery County Commissioner James Noack, who presides over the precinct where the library is located, told USA TODAY that he is unsure why County Judge Mark Keough, who developed the policy, made it to where the committee meets privately. USA TODAY contacted Keough’s office but was unsuccessful in connecting with him for an interview.
In early October, Kenney filed a public information request to obtain information about what books the committee had received reconsideration requests about since March. It was through this request that she learned of the committee’s decision to re-classify “Colonization and the Wampanoag Story.”
Noack said the committee received a request for reconsideration on Sept. 10 and met to review the book on Oct. 3. Kenney added that, according to the information she received from her request, the library was instructed to move the book to the children’s fiction section by Oct. 10.
As the committee’s final decisions are not shared with members of the public directly, Kenney felt the need to shed light on its decision. Initially, she contacted Penguin Random House and the Texas Freedom to Read Project, an organization that aims to mobilize community members against censorship and book bans in Texas.
From there, “it very much took a life of its own,” Kenney said.
On Oct. 16, 13 organizations shared a public letter to the Montgomery County Citizens Review Committee, asking its members to reverse the decision on “Colonization and the Wampanoag Story.”
“‘Colonization and the Wampanoag Story’ is a carefully researched, fact-based account of the Indigenous perspective of the tribes of the New England area on the impacts of European colonization,” the letter states. “Moving it to the fiction section communicates distrust of material that reflects the truth of our American history. It diminished the legitimacy of Coomb’s perspective as a member of the Wampanoag Tribe and the Indigenous educators who recommend its use.”
The letter was signed by the American Indians in Children’s Literature, American Indian Library Association, Authors Against Book Bans, Authors Guild, Every Library, FReadom Fighters, National Coalition Against Censorship, PEN America, Penguin Random House, Texas Freedom to Read Project, Texas Library Association, Village Books and We Need Diverse Books.
Laney Hawes, co-founder of the Texas Freedom to Read Project, said she was “really, really happy” about the commission’s decision made on Tuesday, but she remains worried about decisions moving forward.
“It is unconstitutional for a government committee to arbitrarily decide what is fiction and nonfiction. It’s not right,” Hawes told USA TODAY on Thursday. “We think it’s really terrifying for the future, because if the government here − it’s a government-appointment committee, so we’re going to call it the government − is going to declare these stories and these perspectives … as fiction … what does that mean for all perspectives that may push back against the political ideology of those that are in power?”
As approved by the Montgomery County Commission on Tuesday, the citizen committee will be put on hold until the current policy is reviewed.
USA TODAY contacted the Montgomery County Memorial Library but was unsuccessful in reaching a team member for comment.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].