It’s All Just
a Bunch of BS.

Brooke Stephens · Ken Ivory

Stephens helps Ivory present HB374.

Ken Ivory presents his school-book bill with Brooke Stephens of Utah Parents United and Washington County superintendent Larry Bergeson. They hand out materials and answer lawmakers’ questions.

Brooke Stephens

Stephens signs requests to remove books at Layton High.

The forms name Brooke Stephens, carry her signature and ask for books to be removed from the school library. Her request for Sold includes a link to an online book report.

“I’m helping get rid of porn in schools.”

Brooke Stephens · response on the Sold form

Brooke Stephens · Ken Ivory

Ivory introduces RatedBooks at a public hearing.

During an update on HB374, Ivory introduces Stephens and directs listeners to RatedBooks. The presentation shows the website, school book-location maps and a spreadsheet of book ratings.

Ken Ivory · Jennie Earl · Brooke Stephens · Nicholeen Peck

Jennie Earl joins Ivory and Stephens to present HB464.

Ken Ivory introduces his School Materials Amendments bill with Jennie Earl, then vice chair of the state school board, Brooke Stephens and Park City parent Andrea Ni. The House meeting minutes name all four presenters. Peck speaks in favor of the bill.

Brooke Stephens · Ken Ivory

Stephens helps Ivory present HB29.

Ivory returns to the Utah lawmakers with another school-book bill. The meeting notes list Brooke Stephens of Utah Parents United and Gloria Vindas as helping him present it.

Nicholeen Peck · Ken Ivory

Peck speaks in favor of Ivory’s HB29.

At a Senate Education hearing, Ivory presents HB29. Peck, then president of the Worldwide Organization for Women (WOW), speaks in favor of the bill.

Ken Ivory

Ivory’s HB29 becomes law, extending some book removals statewide.

Governor Cox signs Ivory’s bill. Under the law, removal decisions by several districts or charter schools can require a book’s removal from public schools across Utah. The state school board can review that requirement.

Ken Ivory

The first 13 books reach Utah’s statewide removal list.

A state school board spreadsheet lists August 2 as the date the first 13 books qualified for statewide removal. Ivory’s HB29 lets several local removal decisions trigger a statewide removal.

Brooke Stephens

Stephens asks parents to challenge a book in their districts.

In a video called Time to Speak Up, Stephens directs parents to search RatedBooks by school district and submit a challenge. The video description names districts where parents can challenge Water for Elephants and asks viewers to share the video.

RatedBooks · Brooke Stephens

The IRS recognizes RatedBooks as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The IRS letter recognizes Rated Books as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with its tax exemption effective May 16, 2025. The letter is addressed to the organization in care of Brooke W. Stephens and lists EIN 39-2728966.

Brooke Stephens · Ken Ivory

Stephens sends her report to school board members, lawmakers and the attorney general.

At 7:58 p.m., Stephens emails a broad group of state officials a link to her book report. Her greeting addresses state school board members, legislators and Attorney General Derek Brown. Her list names 13 schools in five districts, including four Jordan high schools.

Ivory replies that evening, thanking Stephens and asking whether the report covers Bag of Bones. He copies 118 addresses. His copy list includes state school board members Jennie Earl, Emily Green, Joann Brinton and Rod Hall, along with Utah state representative Nicholeen Peck.

Ken Ivory · Brian Barnett · Brooke Stephens

Ivory asks Brian Barnett to challenge Bag of Bones.

Ivory emails Jordan School District board member Brian Barnett and blind-copies Brooke Stephens. He asks Barnett to review and challenge Bag of Bones, explaining that he is not eligible to file the challenge himself. He includes a link to a book analysis.

Brian Barnett · Ken Ivory · Brooke Stephens

Barnett reports filing the challenge. Ivory tells Stephens.

Barnett tells Ivory he found the book at two Jordan high schools and has just submitted the reconsideration form. Ivory forwards the reply to Stephens, calling Barnett “our one and only really good school board member.” She responds: “Wonderful! Thank you so much! He’s wonderful!”

Brooke Stephens · Nicholeen Peck · Ken Ivory

Stephens urges lawmakers to support Peck’s HB197.

Stephens emails Republican lawmakers, including Ivory and Peck, asking them to support HB197, School Materials Amendments. She thanks Peck for running the bill and cites her work with RatedBooks. HB197 did not pass.

Lori Warden · Brooke Stephens

Warden sends Stephens two school catalogs.

At 2:22 p.m., Lori Warden, Davis School District’s library media and world languages supervisor, tells Brooke Stephens she has attached the catalogs for Syracuse Junior High and Legacy Junior High. Stephens replies eight minutes later: “Thank you so much!!!”

Brooke Stephens · Lori Warden

Stephens offers to screen purchase lists under the district’s name.

Stephens tells Warden: “Also, if you think it would be beneficial to your librarians to vet their purchase lists then you can white label it and say it’s yours.”

Brooke Stephens · Thomas Strain · Lori Warden

Strain directs Stephens to Warden for more inventories.

At 9:17 a.m., Stephens asks Thomas Strain, Davis School District’s teaching and learning director, for the Layton High and Syracuse High library inventories. Three minutes later, Strain copies Warden: “She will be able to get those lists for you.” After Warden replies, Stephens asks for Davis High and Kaysville Junior High lists too.

Brooke Stephens · Lori Warden

Stephens sends Warden spreadsheets matching reviews to school books.

At 11:58 a.m., Stephens sends Warden a Davis High spreadsheet, describing “the reviews I matched to the titles.” At 12:29 p.m., she sends a Kaysville Junior High spreadsheet and says she is running a report on a book rated level 5.

Emily Green · Jennie Earl · Joann Brinton

Green asks for a plan to review how schools buy books.

Green asks for a schedule to review how schools choose and buy library books. The proposal covers funding, sellers, publishers, librarian training and groups that recommend books. All five committee members vote yes, including chair Jennie Earl and vice chair Joann Brinton.

Joann Brinton · Jennie Earl

Joann Brinton brings up RatedBooks at a board meeting.

During a discussion of school book reviews, vice chair Joann Brinton brings up RatedBooks as a free site. Library staff member Davina Sauthoff questions its use as a review source. Chair Jennie Earl says schools may use several sources.

Emily Green · Jennie Earl · Joann Brinton

Green asks for $60,000 for the book review.

Green requests $60,000 from funds the board can choose how to spend. She asks to send the review plan to the July Law and Licensing Committee, then to the full board in August. Green, Jennie Earl, Joann Brinton and LeAnn Wood vote yes; Sarah Reale votes no.

Rod Hall · Emily Green

Rod Hall moves the $60,000 review request forward.

The Law and Licensing Committee takes up the review Green requested. Rod Hall moves to send the plan and its $60,000 request to the full board. The committee approves it unanimously, with Erin Longacre absent. Green is listed among those attending the meeting.

Emily Green

Green circulates a revised survey after her husband sends the draft.

At 10:25 a.m., Green sends the staff’s school library review timeline to her husband, Mike Green. At 12:17 p.m., he sends back a survey draft containing a table that names RatedBooks. Green revises the document, asks staff to add it to the meeting materials, and circulates it to board members that evening. The RatedBooks row remains.

Emily Green · Jennie Earl · Joann Brinton · Christina Boggess

Board members vote to include Green’s survey.

Christina Boggess seconds Green’s proposal to include the survey in the library review plan. Ten board members vote for it, including Jennie Earl and Joann Brinton. The board approves $60,000 for the review, including the survey as a starting point for staff to refine.

School districts · State school board library review

Districts reach the deadline to choose whether to participate in the review.

KUTV’s October 14 report says school districts have until October 16 to decide whether to take part in the data gathering and survey for the state school board’s $60,000 library review.