Girl Haven

About this book

Three years ago, Ash's mom, Kristin, left home and never came back. Now, Ash lives in the house where Kristin grew up. All of her things are there. Her old room, her old clothes, and the shed, where she spent her childhood creating a fantasy world called Koretris. Ash knows all about Koretris: how it's a haven for girls, with no men or boys allowed, and filled with fanciful landscapes and creatures. When Ash's friends decide to try going to Koretris, using one of Kristin's spell books, Ash doesn't think anything will happen. But the spell works, and Ash discovers that the world Kristin created is actually a real place, with real inhabitants and very real danger. But if Koretris is real, why is Ash there? Everyone has always called Ash a boy. Ash uses he/him pronouns. Shouldn't the spell have kept Ash out? And what does it mean if it let Ash in?

Censorship history

In 2024, "Girl Haven" by Lilah Sturges was banned at the school level in several districts across the United States due to its LGBTQ+ content. This ban was part of a broader trend of challenges against books featuring LGBTQ+ themes, often initiated by local parent-teacher associations (PTAs) and conservative advocacy groups. Specific instances included formal complaints lodged in school districts in states like Florida and Texas, where school boards voted to remove the book from library shelves, citing concerns over age-appropriateness and content. As of late 2024, the ban remains upheld in these districts, with ongoing debates about the book's inclusion in educational settings.

Bans

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