Judge rules Harford County schools must keep ‘Flamer’ on library shelves

A Harford County Circuit Court judge sided with the state school board on Thursday afternoon, ruling that a young adult novel can remain in Harford County Public Schools libraries.

Judge Yolanda L. Curtin said the Harford board of education’s June 2025 decision to remove “Flamer,” by Mike Curato, from the shelves violates Maryland’s Freedom to Read Act and the First Amendment.

The hearing is the latest development in a saga that began a parent formally requested to remove the book from Harford school libraries in November 2024, arguing that it didn’t “meet the values of the community” and it “plants seeds in the heads of children that not only are trying to find themselves but could also be experiencing mental health challenges.”

Curato’s “Flamer” is about his experience being bullied as a kid for being gay.

Maryland’s Freedom to Read Act states that school libraries shouldn’t exclude books because of the author’s background or “because of a partisan, ideological or religious disapproval.” It requires local school systems to create their own policies and procedures to review objections to library books.

Harford County schools created a committee of parents, students and employees to review challenged books.

When reviewing “Flamer,” the committee voted to keep it in middle and high school libraries. Harford’s superintendent agreed and authorized “Flamer” to remain on the shelves.

However, Harford’s procedures also allow parents to appeal a decision to the local school board.

In a private meeting in June 2025, board members voted 5-3 to remove the book, citing age-appropriateness.

The Maryland State Board of Education stepped in, marking the first time the state has intervened in a local decision about what’s appropriate for students to read.

State board members decided to “reverse the decision of the local board and find that the local superintendent’s decision to retain ‘Flamer’ in HCPS secondary school libraries stands,” the board said in its decision document.

Members of the Board of Education of Harford County chose to appeal the state’s decision to the county circuit court in November.

Gregory Szoka, the board’s attorney, said at the time: “I think the chances of succeeding on the appeal are less than 20%.”

During Thursday’s hearing, Szoka argued that the county board had the authority to disagree with the book review committee’s decision to keep “Flamer” in school libraries since reviewing district procedure is part of their duties. The review committee’s decision was not binding, he said, and the board used their “collective understanding” to determine the book was not appropriate for students.

But Curtain, the judge, said the decision can’t be based on the board’s “collective understanding.”

“It’s got to be following what the state law is,” she said.

About the Education Hub

This reporting is part of The Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded journalism that provides parents with resources they need to make decisions about how their children learn. Read more.