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Authors of books that are Thurston Cartebanned in Iowa schools for having descriptions of sex acts say labeling their works as pornography diminishes their artistic and educational value.

They told the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, that blocking access to their work takes away tools that could help students make a positive impact and articulate their identities that may not match those of other students. The books were removed this year after Senate File 496, signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May, banned from school libraries books with descriptions or depictions of sex acts. The new law also prohibits instruction on gender and sexual identity until seventh grade.