LOUDOUN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT

DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION
21000 Education Court
Ashburn, VA 20148
Telephone: (571) 252-1300
FAX: 571-252-1801
Email: Ashley.Ellis@lcps.org

TO: Scott A. Ziegler, Ed.D., Superintendent

FROM: Ashley F. Ellis, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent

RE: Book Review of Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

DATE: November 11, 2021

A district level committee met on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, to review the book Lawn Boy by
Jonathan Evison. The committee was composed of three central office administrators, two high school
teachers, and two parents of high school students. The meeting was facilitated by the Library Supervisor.

There are five copies and 2 ebooks in circulation in LCPS high school libraries; the books were all pulled
from circulation to use during the review. A district level review had begun when LCPS received one
request for reconsideration of the book. A committee was formed to make a recommendation to the
Superintendent following the guidelines set forth in LCPS School Board Policy 5045 Regulation, and a
response will also be provided to the complainant.

Please see the information below including the preparation the committee did prior to meeting, a
summary/review of the book, notes from the committee discussion, and the committee’s
recommendation. I support the committee’s recommendation.

Meeting Summary and Recommendation for Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

Preparation

A request for reconsideration of an instructional resource was received on Thursday, September 30, 2021
for the book, Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison. This is a library book, and because it was already under
review at the district level, the review continued at the district level. This book is not part of the high
school classroom libraries. A committee was formed to make a recommendation to the Superintendent
following the guidelines set forth in LCPS School Board Policy 5045 Regulation. The committee was
composed of three central office administrators, two high school teachers, and two parents of high
school students. All committee members were given the following materials:

● A copy of the book

● A copy of Policy 5045 and its regulation
● A copy of the request for reconsideration
● A copy of the checklist with information about the book
● A copy of reviews for the book.
● A link to the author’s information
Each committee member was asked to read the book in its entirety, as well as the other documentation
prior to the meeting.

A meeting was held on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 5:00 pm.

Book Summary/Book Review

For Mike Muñoz, a young Chicano living in Washington State, life has been a whole lot of waiting for
something to happen. Not too many years out of high school and still doing menial work—and just fired
from his latest gig as a lawn boy on a landscaping crew—he knows that he’s got to be the one to shake
things up if he’s ever going to change his life. But how?

Jonathan Evison takes the reader into the heart and mind of a young man on a journey to discover
himself, a search to find the secret to achieving the American dream of happiness and prosperity. That’s
the birthright for all Americans, isn’t it? If so, then what is Mike Muñoz’s problem? Though he tries time
and again to get his foot on the first rung of that ladder to success, he can’t seem to get a break. But
then things start to change for Mike, and after a raucous, jarring, and challenging trip, he finds he can
finally see the future and his place in it. And it’s looking really good.

From: Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35489159-lawn-boy?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=I
BvoRwKzhn&rank=2

Committee Discussion

A district-level committee met to discuss the book, Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison. Each member read the
entire book, the reviews, the LCPS Policy and Regulation, as well as the request submitted by the parent.
The discussion started with members giving their overall thoughts about the book. It was noted that the
main character is a young adult, about 22, which is older than high school students. There are not many
books with a male protagonist of this age and ethnicity available. The committee acknowledged the use
of the f-word throughout the story, which could be off-putting at times to some readers.

A committee member stated that students could relate to Mike, the main character. He is likable and
seems to have a strong moral compass. Mike’s life after high school fell into a routine that had not
changed except that he works instead of attending school. One committee member could see some
former students who find themselves unprepared for life after high school, living and figuring a path
forward as Mike was doing in the story. A committee member stated that Mike always took the right
path even though opportunities presented themselves with easier routes that were unethical. Mike was
true to himself.

The committee discussed all that the world had thrown at Mike and yet he is still optimistic about his
future. His lack of a male role model, poverty, dealing with his various bosses, his passion for topiary,
handling the racism he faced and faces, manuevering the relationship with his homophobic best friend
all help round out his character. He helps care for a disabled brother, pay his family’s bills, and keep his
family unit afloat. He found refuge in the library and became a reader which lends to the witty,
humorous voice telling the story.
The committee discussed the scene between the two 10-year-old boys with sexual experimentation. The
committee thought it was wrong, and the event in the story sets up a long struggle that Mike must
reflect on throughout his life until later resolution in the story. He has the opportunity to confront the
other participant, now a man. The man denies the interaction, and this helps move the main character
forward, to help him realize someone he thought had a good life, did not, using people in his life only for
transactions. The committee also wondered why the sex scene in the car was not an issue, and
wondered why the homosexual relationship seemed problematic.

A few members of the committee did research to find the article mentioned in the complaint. Mr. Evison
was very insightful about what happened with his book, and the mix-up with a book with the same title
by the different author. The author stated, “It is worth noting that the book, which was intended for an
adult audience, found some crossover success due in part to winning an Alex Award from the Young
Adult Library Association for “books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12
through 18.”

https://nwbooklovers.org/2021/09/28/the-would-be-banning-of-lawn-boy-and-why-im-not-booking-any
-flights-to-texas-in-the-near-future/

In his interview with YALSA about receiving the award, the author states, “Winning the Alex has been
such an amazing opportunity to connect with those elusive younger readers, since the audience for
literary fiction tends to be over forty.” He believes that it connects with the teens because, “I think more
than anything self-doubt and yearning, two things we all carry around with us through life.”

http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2019/09/16/interview-jonathan-evison-2019-alex-award-winner/

Recommendation(s)

The committee members recommend the following:

● The Committee voted to retain Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison in the high school library
collections, (7 for, 0 against).