Highline Schools Defends Sexually Explicit Books & Stoking Fear in Migrant Students

by Melissa Petrini, The Highline Journal Managing Editor

A parent at Evergreen High School in the Highline School District, reported to local media about an objectionable book that their 9th-grade student was assigned to read. Upon further inspection, the parent discovered obscene and literary pornographic details depicting inappropriate, sexually explicit scenes between an adult and a child he rapes.

The story first broke on the [Un]divided Podcast, hosted by Brandi Kruse on October 13, 2025, and was quickly viewed thousands of times and shared throughout the region, calling parents to question what their students are reading and demand answers.

Communications contact, Nicole Thompson, of the [Un]divided Podcast, shared the response they received from the district, which does not condemn these kinds of books, and in fact, supports them:

Full Statement from Highline School District Communications Director, Tove Tupper:
(Bold and underlined for emphasis by The Highline Journal)

“This book has been used for a couple of years in 9th-grade language arts at Evergreen High School and other high schools in Highline. This book was selected because it supports key learning goals for ninth-grade students, including analyzing character development, exploring themes of identity and belonging, and understanding diverse perspectives. These lessons help students build empathy, think critically, and strengthen reading and writing skills.

"At the start of each school year, we send a message to high school parents/guardians and students through our notification system with a link to our course syllabi at all schools. Course syllabi outline the materials used in each class.

"The Evergreen High School syllabus where this book is used includes this statement: "Some of the materials used may contain explicit or sensitive content such as profanity and/or violence. All material will be age-, grade-, and subject-appropriate and relevant to what we are learning. If you have any concerns about the materials used in class, please communicate them on the sign-off page at the end of the syllabus and your student's teacher will make alternative arrangements.

"As outlined in this syllabus, parents/guardians who have questions or concerns may meet with staff to discuss the material, ask questions and share concerns. Families may also request an alternative assignment.”

One might question: Who decides what is “age-, grade-, and/or subject-appropriate and relevant," when it comes to obscene and pornographic materials being peddled to minors? Do parents have a say in selecting books they want to shape their child's perceptions and character? It doesn't appear to, as most parents around the country find nothing but a wall of stares as they passionately implore their schools to choose better material and books. These parents are usually dubbed "book banners." Most would hope these things would not be supported and distributed by the schools themselves. [See tomorrow's follow-up story about WHO CONTROLS THE BOOKS!]

The syllabus provided to parents does not specify ‘sexually explicit’ but suggests ‘explicit’ to mean “sensitive content such as profanity and/or violence.”  There is no mention of including “...such as sexually explicit content depicting rape of a minor by an adult, that may be inappropriate for some children, and parents should be advised...,” like they do in the movies. This kind of notification would properly alert parents to take a closer look. Clearly, the parent who complained (who chooses to remain anonymous) was not made aware of the nature of the “content” until it was too late. 

We have also reached out for additional questioning on whether “The district is more committed to allowing any and all sexually-explicit books, (even if they glorify pedophilia, rape of a minor, or other inappropriate obscene material being peddled to children), OVER that of proper parental notification and descriptions, and the choice to opt-out of sexually explicit lessons and assignments?” 

As of this publishing date, the district has not commented. We will update this article if they do respond.

Furthermore, Highline District trains teachers to be “trauma-informed” and to understand that all students come from different backgrounds, economic circumstances, races, and cultures, and is tasked with reducing harm. Yet, at a time when families and immigrants are fearful of their security and status, a book like this creates greater divisions and unnecessarily stokes fear in our children and communities. This also puts our law enforcement and ICE Agents at further risk for enforcing the laws, per their job description.

One parent we spoke with, who wishes to also remain anonymous, said “Even for a liberal parent like myself, who has mixed-raced, gender-spectrum kids, would not want them reading this kind of material, and is disparaging to immigrant families and does their community no service.”

In another media question posed to the district, we asked if they would comment about the possibility of making our students more fearful through this fictional story, and about the poor timing of this book they call “relevant.”

This wouldn’t be the first time that a book has stirred controversy over content that parents deemed inappropriate. Nor is it the first time they have felt their parental rights have been violated due to not being properly notified about the classroom readings of political or ideological books. See links below for examples:

Marvista Elementary book on Gender

Marvista Elementary book on Activism 

The next School Board meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday at 6:00 pm, at the Highline Central Office in Burien. 

Follow-up Story: 'Understanding Who Actually Controls the Books!' (I'll give you a hint, it's NOT the School Board!)- Coming soon

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