A mother upset by the selection of a young-adult novel that deals frankly with life on an American Indian reservation is asking (Billings, Mont.) School District 2 for a second time to remove the novel from its required reading list. The book, Sherman Alexie’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” winner of the 2007 National Book Award, is on the list of required reading for sophomore English classes in SD2 and is taught in some classrooms. A committee of SD2 trustees will discuss the book and its place in the classroom during a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday in the Lincoln Center board room/Bob Rogers, Billings Gazette. More here.

Question: Are Sherman Alexie books appropriate for required high school sophomore reading?