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Posted: 2023-08-09T23:07:25Z | Updated: 2023-08-09T23:07:25Z

Author John Green called out an Indianapolis area library on Wednesday for its decision to remove his hit novel The Fault in Our Stars from its young adult section.

The Hamilton East Public Library, which has locations in Fishers and Noblesville, Indiana, released a list of fiction books that as of July have been removed or moved from its YA section. The list named two of Greens novels, including The Fault in Our Stars.

In a tweet on Wednesday, Green responded to news of the books removal, calling it ludicrous and an embarrassment to the city of Fishers.

The Fault in Our Stars has been removed from the YA section in the suburbs of Indianapolis and is now considered a book for adults. This is ludicrous, he wrote . It is about teenagers and I wrote it for teenagers. Teenagers are not harmed by reading [The Fault In Our Stars].

The book removals are related to an effort brought forward by the librarys board in December, which implemented a policy requiring books that are deemed not age-appropriate for children to be removed from the YA section and relocated to the adult section.

The board also ordered an extensive review process , which was expected to cost up to $300,000, to determine if books are age-appropriate to be shelved in the children or teen sections.

Age-appropriateness, under the policy, is determined based on criteria related to nudity, alcohol and drug use, violence and sexual content. The criteria was later expanded to include a list of profanity and criminal acts.

According to IndyStar , the policy was expected to impact more than 18,000 books in the library. By April, its teen section was nearly emptied as a result of the librarys review process, with books on puberty, comics and Forever by Judy Blume disappearing from the shelves. Still, the book review process is far from complete, with 74.4% of titles still requiring review as of July 27.

I only have a small voice in these decisions, of course, but you wont catch me alive or dead in Fishers, Indiana until these ridiculous policies are revoked, Green tweeted on Wednesday.

The Hamilton East Public Library did not respond to HuffPosts request to comment on Greens criticism.

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Authors often get most of the attention when it comes to issues around book banning and intellectual freedom, but those who really deserve the plaudits and attention are the teachers and librarians and community members doing the work every day to keep books available.
They https://t.co/pX5dOA9SIm

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Authors often get most of the attention when it comes to issues around book banning and intellectual freedom, but those who really deserve the plaudits and attention are the teachers and librarians and community members doing the work every day to keep books available.
They https://t.co/pX5dOA9SIm

John Green (@johngreen) August 9, 2023

Libraries across the country have been conducting similar reviews and removing books from young adult sections that they deem harmful to minors, a move that has largely targeted books about race and LGBTQ+ topics . In 2022, the number of book ban attempts surged, and the number of book challenges nearly doubled from the previous record in 2021.

Librarians have also faced harassment and legal threats as a result of these book bans. This year, Indiana enacted a law that allows for school librarians to be criminally charged if they fail to comply with House Bill 1447 , which calls for a ban on harmful materials in school libraries. At least four other states passed similar legislation.

Today and every day I am so, so grateful to librarians whose work is absolutely essential to making art and information available to alleven amid absurdly difficult working conditions. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Green tweeted later on Wednesday.

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Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

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