March 7, 2016Related contextEmpowered Parents’ predecessor is formed
Parents Empowered in Education Resources and Support is incorporated in Utah by Audrey Sill. It later becomes Empowered Parents. Brooke is not named in this founding filing.
Reference page
Brooke Stephens:
A timeline of her public work.
2016–2026: Brooke Stephens’s public roles, businesses and work with the groups named here.
Stephens organized school-book searches, helped Ken Ivory present bills and later formed RatedBooks as a nonprofit. This timeline also follows rating reports and paid National Book Rating Index services. Earlier company and app records explain the business background.
Brooke Stephens has helped organize book challenges through Utah Parents United, where she was identified as “Educator Director” in a 2024 legislative hearing. She also helped Rep. Ken Ivory present the 2022 and 2024 school book laws.
Read events
Organizations and roles
Empowered Parents
Brooke’s roles changed across the state filings:
- August 19, 2021: added as a director.
- March 30, 2022: removed as a director.
- July 21 and August 4, 2022: returns as director, then signs a filing as president.
- November 25, 2024: the amendment lists her president and director entries as inactive.
- 2016 incorporation (PDF, pages 1–2; addresses removed)
- August 2021: added as director (PDF, page 1; addresses removed)
- 2021 name change (PDF; addresses removed)
- March 2022: removed as director (PDF, page 1; addresses removed)
- July 2022: returns as director (PDF, page 1; addresses removed)
- August 2022: president filing (PDF; addresses removed)
- May 2026 annual report (PDF, page 2; addresses removed)
The IRS Utah file checked October 3, 2026 lists “c/o Audrey Sill” for Empowered Parents (EIN 81-1431524). Brooke’s director and president roles are recorded in the separate state filings below. Read the IRS organization data (PDF extract).
UPU describes Empowered Parents as its 501(c)(3) sister organization; UPU identifies itself separately as a 501(c)(4).
LaVerna in the Library
Brooke Stephens is an administrator of LaVerna in the Library. A March 10, 2025 public post displays her admin role.
Her school-library search tutorials and BookLooks shutdown post show how the group shares search guidance and rating-report updates with parents.
Moms for America: title records
Moms for America named Brooke Civic Engagement Director on its Utah leadership team in October 2024. Utah Moms for America’s October 2025 registry entry lists her as an officer. A separate “Moms for America Action” title in the notes still needs its original source.
National Book Rating Index
In a 2026 interview, says she helped build the index. S&S Apps operates the product.
She demonstrates matching library inventories to rating reports and describes rating-based checkout preferences. Her June 2026 demonstration quotes $100 per library for inventory review.
Pavement Education Project
Partners with RatedBooks and shares the printed credit on its rating scales. Brooke is RatedBooks’ president; this is her documented connection to Pavement.
The partnership page combines ratings and book reports with school-location searches, including North Carolina.
Protect Child Health Coalition
Presents RatedBooks and BookLooks at the coalition’s 2022 summit. An April 2024 webinar introduces her as its national co-chair.
RatedBooks
Aaron Stephens, Brooke’s husband, created the RatedBooks.org website. Brooke promoted the website before the nonprofit’s formation. The May 2025 nonprofit filing names her as president, director, and incorporator.
- Read the RatedBooks incorporation filing (PDF, pages 1–3; addresses removed)
- May 2026 annual report (PDF, page 1; addresses removed)
Search by the entity number above to view the filing.
The site supplies rating reports and school-book location lists. Brooke’s March 2025 tutorial shows parents how to use them and submit a challenge.
S&S Apps / Amplify USA
S&S Apps formed in California on January 24, 2018 and registered as an out-of-state LLC in New Jersey on August 21, 2020, entity 0600468934. Its New Jersey filing (PDF, page 2) states its business purpose as “Online Delivery of K-12 Curricula: World Language Reading & Sex Education.”
Brooke and Aaron Stephens co-founded S&S Apps, the company behind their Amplify USA app. S&S Apps also operates StoryLabs and NBRI. Amplify USA launched in October 2022 and offers organization contacts, government and school-board lookup, and notifications for advocacy and outreach.
StoryLabs
Before the book-rating work, Brooke and Aaron marketed classroom software to language teachers. The March 2018 CLTA program (PDF, page 8) schedules both as presenters of “Collaborative Libraries for Cultural Proficiency,” demonstrating their Resource Queue lesson-planning app. At ACTFL’s 2019 LaunchPad, StoryLabs was one of five presenting startups. The organizer names Brooke as co-founder and describes teachers distributing readings, students using web and smartphone access, and teachers tracking reading progress.
Conference records name Brooke as a co-founder by March 2018. In June 2020, iKeepSafe names her in its student-privacy certification announcement.
- iKeepSafe — Storylabs FERPA and California Student Data Privacy Certifications, June 8, 2020
- Language Flagship Technology Innovation Center — 2019 LaunchPad / S&S Storylabs
The platform distributes digital curricula, including HEART sex education. HEART’s 2020 curriculum names Brooke on its advisory board and S&S Apps as the digital provider. The StoryLabs box follows the paid access, approval marketing, 2022 review, UPU class links, and later sales-page claims.
Utah Moms for America
Moms for America names her Utah Civic Engagement Director in October 2024. Utah Moms for America’s October 2025 filing names her as an officer.
Search by the entity number above to view the filing.
Her work includes February 2025 testimony supporting digital-vendor legislation and advertising Exemplars of Liberty, a 15-week course offered in 2025 for $100 or free to Moms for America members.
Utah Parents United
Legislative records identify her as the group’s education director. That role is separate from the nonprofit’s filed principals.
- January 23, 2024 House Education minutes (PDF, page 3)
- March 2021 incorporation (PDF, page 2; addresses removed)
- April 2026 annual report (PDF, pages 2–3; addresses removed)
Her library-search tutorials and challenge tutorial connect the role to helping parents locate school books and seek their removal.
The IRS Utah file checked October 3, 2026 still lists “c/o Brooke Wentzel Stephens” for Utah Parents United (EIN 86-2759097). The IRS calls this the “In Care of Name”: the person to whose attention correspondence should be directed. Read the IRS organization data (PDF extract) · Read the IRS field explanation (PDF extract).
World Library Association
Its About page lists her as a team member. The page-update date does not identify when she joined.
2016–2020
20163 entries
September 12, 2016Related contextAn early educational app is released
Aaron Stephens releases Simple Progress. The later S&S Apps domain is registered the same day.
2016 · IRS ruling yearRelated contextEmpowered Parents receives IRS recognition
Empowered Parents receives IRS recognition. Brooke’s documented director role begins in 2021.
20171 entry
November 14, 2017Related contextThe Resource Queue predates the company
Aaron Stephens releases The Resource Queue, a teacher resource organizer, before S&S Apps incorporates.
20183 entries
January 24, 2018Related contextS&S Apps incorporates in California
S&S Apps, the company behind StoryLabs and later the National Book Rating Index, is formed in California.
March 9–10, 2018Brooke’s actionBrooke and Aaron’s early conference presentation
The Resource Queue brochure names Brooke and Aaron Stephens as co-founders. CLTA’s conference program schedules both to present “Collaborative Libraries for Cultural Proficiency” on March 10, 1:40–2:40 p.m. The exhibitor-sponsored session demonstrates their smartphone app for assembling teaching resources into lesson plans. Here “libraries” means collections of lesson resources.
July 20, 2018Related contextStoryLabs registers its website domains
storylabs.online is registered July 20; storylabs.app follows September 3.
20193 entries
April 30, 2019Related contextThe StoryLabs trademark is registered
S&S Apps registers STORYLABS for foreign-language learning apps. Its application claimed first use on July 11, 2018.
November 20, 2019Related contextHEART is sold through StoryLabs
The earliest saved HEART product page prices digital access at $3 per student, $15 per teacher, and $25 per classroom. The underlying curriculum is offered free; the digital version is paid.
November 22, 2019Brooke’s actionBrooke presents StoryLabs at ACTFL’s 2019 LaunchPad
At the November 22–24 ACTFL convention, StoryLabs is one of five startups presenting at LaunchPad. The organizer names Brooke Stephens as co-founder and links the StoryLabs presentation recording. Its description explains that teachers can distribute their own or purchased readings, students can read through the web or smartphones with audio and activities, and teachers can track reading progress.
20203 entries
2020Related contextA grant supports a StoryLabs subscription
A fall 2021 conference program lists a StoryLabs subscription among its 2020–2021 resource grants. It does not give an amount or exact subscription dates.
June 8, 2020Brooke’s actionStoryLabs earns student-privacy certifications
iKeepSafe announces StoryLabs’ FERPA and California student-privacy certifications and quotes Brooke as cofounder. The HEART curriculum also names her on its advisory board and identifies S&S Apps as its digital provider.
August 21, 2020Related contextS&S Apps registers in New Jersey
S&S Apps, LLC registers in New Jersey as a foreign LLC (a company formed in another state), entity 0600468934. The filing is stamped August 21, 2020 and records its California formation on January 24, 2018. Its stated business purpose is “Online Delivery of K-12 Curricula: World Language Reading & Sex Education.”
2021
21 entries
January 13, 2021Related contextS&S Apps moves its registration to Utah
S&S Apps is domesticated from California into Utah, entity 12115414-0160.
March 15, 2021Related contextUtah Parents United incorporates
UPU formally incorporates in Utah. Its organizing activity began earlier; incorporation is the legal-entity date.
May 19, 2021Related contextUPU promotes 1776 Unites in a coalition letter
UPU joins 21 other organizations opposing proposed federal history-and-civics grant priorities. The letter recommends 1776 Unites.
June 20, 2021Related contextStoryLabs sells digital access to 1776 Unites
A saved storefront page offers digital access to the curriculum before rating merchandise appears on the same site.
August 1, 2021Related contextStoryLabs describes permission to distribute 1776 Unites
Its American Freedom page says 1776 Unites expressly permitted S&S Apps to distribute the free curriculum digitally.
August 5, 2021Brooke’s actionSpeaks at a Utah Parents United sex-ed event, urging parents to hold legislators and administrators accountable
Speaks at a Utah Parents United sex-ed event, urging parents to hold legislators and administrators accountable.
August 19, 2021Brooke’s actionBrooke becomes an Empowered Parents director
An annual report adds Stephens as a director of the nonprofit later renamed Empowered Parents.
September 29, 2021Related contextUPU asks parents for legislative examples
UPU asks parents to document school content for planned curriculum-transparency legislation. The post does not name a bill.
October 26, 2021Related contextThe nonprofit adopts the name Empowered Parents
Parents Empowered in Education Resources and Support files an amendment changing its name.
October 27, 2021Related contextUPU recruits district book-review teams
A Washington Parents United post describes recruiting volunteers, searching school holdings, and collecting book information across districts.
October 30, 2021Related contextLaVerna’s Facebook page is created
A saved Facebook page-creation record dates LaVerna in the Library to October 30.
November 5, 2021Brooke’s actionBrooke teaches parents to search school libraries
Uploads “How to find books in Utah Public School District Libraries,” part of a tutorial sequence linked from UPU’s LaVerna page.
November 11, 2021Related contextA working book-review spreadsheet is created
The working list tracks titles, source links, LaVerna/Mary posts, grade levels, and school districts. It predates the later RatedBooks master sheet.
November 12, 2021Related contextThe working list gathers candidates from other sources
Records dated November 12 cite PCHC, Protect Student Health Georgia, No Left Turn, Goodreads, and other lists. These are candidate records, not hundreds of independent Utah reviews.
November 18, 2021Brooke’s actionReporting describes Brooke’s recruitment and training
KUTV reports that Stephens urged parents to involve police over books they believed crossed legal lines. UPU’s training also promoted lawsuits and pressure on school staff.
November 2021 – January 7, 2022Brooke’s actionCreates a school-book list with excerpts, locations, and Obscene, LGBTQ, and CRT columns
Creates a school-book list with excerpts, locations, and Obscene, LGBTQ, and CRT columns. The files were created January 7, 2022; some entries date to November 2021. No 0–5 ratings appear yet.
The original source is not linked here, so this account cannot yet be checked against it.
November 22, 2021Brooke’s actionReporting identifies Brooke as UPU’s curriculum director
QSaltLake names Stephens as curriculum director and describes referring challenged books to law enforcement.
November 22, 2021Related contextOut-of-state lists enter the Utah working sheet
November 22–30 entries add a 40-title Indiana Mary block and titles from a Kansas controversy to the working database.
November 23, 2021Brooke’s actionBrooke demonstrates the book spreadsheet
Uploads “Book Spreadsheet Introduction.” KUER separately reports that she is leading a Facebook effort to identify books in Utah schools.
November 25, 2021Related contextUPU’s LaVerna page shares a later RatedBooks contact
The saved page publishes the contact address later used by RatedBooks, months before the domain’s 2022 registration.
November 29, 2021Brooke’s actionReporting describes statewide book-review organizing
The Salt Lake Tribune identifies Brooke as UPU’s curriculum director and reports an effort to organize reviews in every Utah school district.
The original source is not linked here, so this account cannot yet be checked against it.
2022
31 entries
January 25, 2022Brooke’s actionBrooke teaches public-comment preparation
Uploads a tutorial on preparing public comment, continuing the school-library advocacy sequence.
February 25, 2022Brooke’s actionPresents H.B. 374 with Ken Ivory
Brooke Stephens, listed with Utah Parents United, assists Rep. Ken Ivory in presenting H.B. 374, Sensitive Materials in Schools, to House Education. With Washington County Superintendent Larry Bergeson, they distribute handouts and respond to committee questions. After supporters and opponents speak, the committee adopts the second substitute and sends it out favorably, 11–2, with two absent.
March 24, 2022Related contextThe RatedBooks.org domain is re-registered
The RatedBooks.org domain is re-registered. The earliest saved pages with working site content date from July 3 and July 6, 2022, and their site settings already read HEED Parent Teacher Alliance. The earliest saved home page is July 12. An unrelated site used the domain in 2015–2016.
March 26, 2022Related contextReporting describes a nearly 600-title UPU list
Deseret News reports UPU linking to a list drawing from Goodreads and other databases. Its source labels closely match the surviving working spreadsheet.
March 30, 2022Brooke’s actionAn Empowered Parents filing removes Brooke as director
Registry filings record her removal on March 30 and return on July 21, before the August filing she signs as president.
April 3, 2022Related contextA reusable book-location map template is created
Google Drive’s file details date the Rated Book Reviews for Google My Maps template to April 3. It remains linked from RatedBooks’ Advocate page.
April 5, 2022Related contextBookLooks.org LLC is registered in Florida
BookLooks.org LLC is registered in Florida. RatedBooks later carries its reports.
April 7, 2022Related contextThe later RatedBooks master sheet is created
Drive’s file details date “Rated Book Review List: Author, Publisher and URL” to April 7. Several records carry forward source links from the November 2021 working list.
April 14, 2022Related contextEarly spreadsheet dates were filled in later
Some titles now dated April 14 had blank Date Added cells in the Legislature’s 2022 snapshot. April 14 is not a confirmed bulk-import date.
April 23, 2022Brooke’s actionBrooke demonstrates Google My Maps
Uploads “Adding spreadsheet to Google My Maps,” another step in the school-library tutorial sequence.
May 6, 2022Related contextA Mary USA account hosts Cline’s model policy
Google Drive’s file details identify Mary in the Library USA as owner of a copy of Cline’s May 4 Draft 2. Hosting the copy does not identify its author.
May 7, 2022Brooke’s actionBrooke discusses LaVerna and StoryLabs
Appears on “Be Not Afraid” with a StoryLabs Spanish label and says she is on UPU’s board. This is her description; UPU’s filed principals are a separate record.
May 8, 2022Brooke’s actionBrooke maps books across a school district
Demonstrates searching Follett Destiny, using the RatedBooks title list, mapping school locations, and sharing the map with a principal.
May 18, 2022Related contextThe Wix predecessor displays ratings and state pages
Saved pages from May 18–21 show a 1–5 scale and multi-state pages. RatedBooks still redirects to this Wix site.
May 19, 2022Related contextThe predecessor site uses a signup gate
The saved stopschoolporn page requires phone verification or a callback form to continue.
May 21, 2022Related contextStoryLabs sells rating stickers and district maps
Its storefront offers Youth Advisory Ratings stickers and a custom district book-location map alongside curriculum products.
May 24, 2022Related contextStoryLabs markets HEART as USBE approved
A saved Utah-edition page uses that claim and lists a $100 price, reduced to $50. The later state report lists HEART as “Reviewed–Not Recommended,” also labels it “Rejected,” and recommends upholding the denial.
June 29, 2022Related contextS&S Apps is reinstated in Utah
The company is reinstated after an administrative dissolution.
July 3, 2022Related contextRatedBooks hosts a No Left Turn page
The regional /nlte page appears in the web archive by July 3, 2022.
July 31, 2022Brooke’s actionUPU introduces Brooke as education director
A recorded segment calls her UPU’s education director and credits her with creating LaVerna. The speakers also describe using a rubric to rate books.
August 4, 2022Brooke’s actionBrooke signs as Empowered Parents’ president
Signs a registry filing as president after returning as a director on July 21.
August 5, 2022Related contextState review upholds denial of HEART and rejects 1776 Unites
The instructional-materials report lists HEART as “Reviewed–Not Recommended” and “Rejected,” recommending that the denial be upheld and HEART removed as a teacher resource. Reviewers cite mismatches with Utah standards and law, incomplete standards coverage, and inaccurate or biased information. The report separately labels 1776 Unites “Rejected.” The full board adopts the report September 8, with Cline and Earl opposed.
September 20, 2022Related contextUPU’s LaVerna page links RatedBooks and StoryLabs
The saved page offers free Utah district pages and directs out-of-state users to a $35 StoryLabs product.
September 26, 2022Related contextThe storefront packages book-challenge products
StoryLabs offers a $50 RatedBooks district webpage, warning stickers, and an HB243 complaint kit.
October 3, 2022Related contextOne-page RatedBooks handouts are created
The Slicksheets document groups 4- and 5-rated titles with report links. RatedBooks’ Advocate page still links it.
October 19, 2022Brooke’s actionIvory introduces Stephens and RatedBooks to lawmakers
During an Education Interim Committee update on H.B. 374, Ivory introduces Stephens and names RatedBooks.org as the website she and other mothers put together to show material in school libraries. The minutes identify Stephens with Utah Parents United and record her and Diane Livingston speaking about their experiences with sensitive materials in schools.
October 25, 2022Related contextAmplify USA launches on iOS
The app launches under Aaron Stephens. Early version notes add organization contact sharing, school-board lookup, and precinct lookup; Android names S&S Apps as developer.
November 1, 2022Related contextA policy toolkit pairs Utah and Texas examples
A dated Google Doc links a Texas school-policy success story and Cline’s Utah model. A companion legislation document was edited later, so its current contents cannot all be dated to 2022.
November 4, 2022Related contextBook Riot describes the advocacy-site connections
Reporting describes RatedBooks and LaVerna working with UPU, No Left Turn in Education, and stopschoolporn.
November 11, 2022Brooke’s actionBrooke presents at a national coalition summit
At the November 11–12 Protect Child Health Coalition summit in Texas, presents RatedBooks and BookLooks as tools for parents reviewing school-library books.
December 6, 2022Brooke’s actionA saved RatedBooks directory lists Brooke as administrator
The archived HEED-branded site names her as Admin. Its June 2019 join date belongs to the Wix account, not the RatedBooks domain.
2023
10 entries
January 29, 2023Related contextStoryLabs sells an advocacy brochure and Amplify subscriptions
The storefront displays a $45 Explicit Materials Brochure and an Amplify subscription page.
January 30, 2023Related contextRatedBooks publishes a Jordan book-location page
A saved district page links an older spreadsheet labeled Book Locations.
February 3, 2023Related contextReporting describes RatedBooks’ organizational ties
Book Riot describes the site as an arm of UPU and No Left Turn, with more than 300 cataloged books. This is the outlet’s characterization.
February 9, 2023Brooke’s actionReading notes connect Harmer’s anti-obscenity account to the later scale citation
Stephens’s notes summarize John Harmer’s A War We Must Win: obscenity cases, his account of a proposed California film-review board, and arguments for restricting sexual material. The 1968 section describes Harmer’s proposal for state movie ratings and the industry’s response. RatedBooks later links these notes from the phrase “first introduced in 1968” on its rating-scale page. This identifies the linked historical account; it does not independently verify Harmer’s account of the origin of film ratings. February 9, 2023 is the document creation date.
April 17, 2023Related contextA Davis map identifies books to challenge
The published map has 32 school pins and a layer dated April 17 for books needing challenges, using 4- and 5-rated titles.
June 24, 2023Brooke’s actionCreates “Books Rated 4’s and 5’s in Utah,” a spreadsheet listing books and their school locations
Creates “Books Rated 4’s and 5’s in Utah,” a spreadsheet listing books and their school locations.
July 5, 2023Brooke’s actionBrooke describes copying and expanding the Mary template
In an interview, says she copied Indiana’s Mary image for a USA page, named Utah’s page LaVerna, and started other states after announcing it at a national advocacy meeting.
September 8, 2023Brooke’s actionBrooke describes using ChatGPT to screen books
In an interview, says she asks ChatGPT about content, then searches a PDF for quotations and page numbers. She recommends RatedBooks and BookLooks.
September 29, 2023Related contextStoryLabs hosts Freedom in Education’s curriculum portal
A saved page shows another organization’s curriculum portal on the StoryLabs platform.
October 14, 2023Related contextReporting names RatedBooks in a national advocacy network
Community Voice names RatedBooks, BookLooks, Moms for Liberty, Truth in Education, and No Left Turn in its account of book challenges.
2024
13 entries
January 10, 2024Related contextUPU asks readers to email the state school board
Utah Parents United uses Amplify USA to ask readers to email their state school board representative about repealing R277-328. Amplify is a product of S&S Apps, the company Brooke and Aaron Stephens co-founded. The post identifies UPU, not an individual author.
January 12, 2024Related contextUPU routes HEART class participants to StoryLabs
UPU links an Introduction to HEART Sex Ed class. Its resource sheet directs participants to StoryLabs with a class code.
January 18, 2024Related contextPavement Education Project incorporates
The North Carolina organization later credited alongside RatedBooks on rating scales files its articles of incorporation, SOSID 2772468.
January 22, 2024Brooke’s actionSupports HB261 at Senate Education, where minutes identify her as Utah Parents United’s education director
Supports HB261 at Senate Education, where minutes identify her as Utah Parents United’s education director.
January 23, 2024Brooke’s actionHelps present H.B. 29 in House Education
The House Education minutes list Stephens as Utah Parents United’s Educator Director, assisting Ivory and Gloria Vindas in presenting H.B. 29, Sensitive Material Review Amendments. The proposal would turn qualifying local sensitive-material determinations into statewide removal requirements. The committee hears support and opposition, amends the bill, and sends it out favorably, 10–2, with three absent.
February 9, 2024Brooke’s actionHelps present H.B. 29 in Senate Education
The Senate Education minutes list Stephens as a citizen assisting Ivory in presenting H.B. 29; they spell her surname “Stevens.” The committee hears supporters and opponents and considers substitutes and amendments. An amendment to protect public-comment readings of available instructional material fails, 2–4, with three absent; the substitute bill is sent out favorably, 5–1, with three absent.
February 20, 2024Related contextRatedBooks’ Davis page says its listed titles were found in the district on February 20, 2024
RatedBooks’ Davis page says its listed titles were found in the district on February 20, 2024.
February 22, 2024Brooke’s actionCo-writes a Deseret News opinion piece about explicit content in schools
Co-writes a Deseret News opinion piece about explicit content in schools.
March 1, 2024Related contextPublishers Weekly covers RatedBooks
The publishing trade outlet names the site in its weekly library coverage.
April 5, 2024Brooke’s actionBrooke is introduced as PCHC’s national cochair
A Protect Ohio Children webinar introduces her in that role. She says BookLooks supplies the ratings and describes collecting district book-location data.
October 23, 2024Brooke’s actionMoms for America announces Brooke’s Utah role
The organization names her Civic Engagement Director in its new Utah leadership team.
November 25, 2024Brooke’s actionEmpowered Parents lists Brooke as inactive
An amendment lists Stephens among inactive officers or directors and names three active directors.
2024Related contextA foundation funds Empowered Parents
The Daniels Fund’s 2024 return lists a $20,000 grant to Empowered Parents for homeschooling public awareness. This is a grant to the organization.
2025
28 entries
January 31, 2025Brooke’s actionSupports HB281 at House Education, speaking for Utah Moms for America
Supports HB281 at House Education, speaking for Utah Moms for America.
February 19, 2025Brooke’s actionSupports SB142, the App Store Accountability Act, as Moms for America Utah’s civic engagement coordinator
Supports SB142, the App Store Accountability Act, as Moms for America Utah’s civic engagement coordinator.
February 28, 2025Brooke’s actionBrooke supports digital-vendor legislation
Speaking for Utah Moms for America, supports HB473 and discusses breaking vendor contracts. Utah Library Association’s Rebekah Cummings speaks against it.
March 1, 2025Brooke’s actionIn “Time to Speak Up,” shows parents how to find books by district on RatedBooks and submit a challenge
In “Time to Speak Up,” shows parents how to find books by district on RatedBooks and submit a challenge. The description asks parents in named Utah districts to challenge Water for Elephants.
March 10, 2025Brooke’s actionAs a LaVerna in the Library administrator, shares BookLooks’ shutdown notice and says RatedBooks will continue linking to its reports
As a LaVerna in the Library administrator, shares BookLooks’ shutdown notice and says RatedBooks will continue linking to its reports.
March 23, 2025Related contextBookLooks stops publishing and freely gives its review repository to RatedBooks
BookLooks stops publishing and freely gives its review repository to RatedBooks. The Florida LLC remains active.
March 24, 2025Related contextMinnesota Reformer reports that RatedBooks is maintaining the BookLooks archive
Minnesota Reformer reports that RatedBooks is maintaining the BookLooks archive.
May 16, 2025Brooke’s actionSigns RatedBooks.org’s Utah nonprofit filing as incorporator, president, director, and registered agent
Signs RatedBooks.org’s Utah nonprofit filing as incorporator, president, director, and registered agent. The filing names five principals.
June 18, 2025Related contextAuditors are asked to continue the sensitive-materials review
The June audit reviews 15 districts and two charters. Senate President Stuart Adams moves for a limited follow-up examining content flagged by parents and legislators.
June 21, 2025Related contextStoryLabs offers a RatedBooks donation product
A saved storefront page displays the donation product after RatedBooks incorporates and before IRS recognition.
July 16, 2025 · PDF createdRelated contextPavement Education Project and RatedBooks credit the rating scale
The rating-scale PDF credits Pavement Education Project with RatedBooks.org. Its file creation date is July 16; publication timing is unconfirmed. Brooke is tied to the partnership through her RatedBooks role.
August 2025Related contextThe IRS recognizes RatedBooks as a 501(c)(3) public charity
The IRS recognizes RatedBooks as a 501(c)(3) public charity.
August 20, 2025Brooke’s actionBrooke advertises Exemplars of Liberty
Promotes a 15-week course priced at $100 or free to Moms for America members.
October 2025Related contextBookLens brings several review sources into one lookup
RatedBooks announces the barcode lookup drawing from BookLooks, RatedBooks, and WeArethePeople2.
October 9, 2025 filingBrooke’s actionUtah Moms for America’s filing names Stephens as an officer
Utah Moms for America’s filing names Stephens as an officer. She had already spoken for the group before it incorporated.
October 10, 2025 – December 8, 2025Related contextThe rating-scale page adds a link to Harmer’s account of movie ratings
Between the October 10 and December 8 saved versions, RatedBooks adds a “first introduced in 1968” clause linking to Stephens’s reading notes on Harmer. The notes discuss his proposed California film-review board and obscenity-law arguments. The page keeps its separate Motion Picture Association link. The exact edit date and editor remain unknown.
October 14, 2025Related contextAuditors select 20 books from a 186-title RatedBooks list supplied by an unnamed legislator, then add two titles separately
Auditors select 20 books from a 186-title RatedBooks list supplied by an unnamed legislator, then add two titles separately. They read all 22 books in full and report sexual conduct in 21.
October 14, 2025Related contextA Utah newspaper reports the audit’s use of RatedBooks and names Stephens and Utah Parents United
A Utah newspaper reports the audit’s use of RatedBooks and names Stephens and Utah Parents United.
October 20, 2025 · PDF createdBrooke’s actionPavement Education Project and RatedBooks credit rating-scale version 2.0
Rating-scale version 2.0 is credited to Pavement Education Project with RatedBooks.org. The saved PDF names Stephens as its author and has an October 20 creation date.
October 27, 2025 – November 3, 2025Brooke’s actionPosts Harmer page references that match those in her notes
Posts Harmer page references that match those in her notes.
The original source is not linked here, so this account cannot yet be checked against it.
November 2025Related contextA newsletter advertises paid NBRI access
The newsletter describes an aggregated-links index coming at the end of 2025, priced at $5 monthly or $50 lifetime.
November 14, 2025Related contextReporting describes BookLooks reviews moving into RatedBooks
Book Riot reports that BookLooks reviews were folded into RatedBooks.
November 29, 2025Related contextNBRI registers its own domain
Domain records date nationalbookratingindex.com to late November, followed by a defensive .org registration.
December 2, 2025Related contextQueen Creek Unified adopts a school-library review policy
Queen Creek Unified adopts a school-library review policy. The policy and supporting materials name no rating vendor.
December 2, 2025Related contextRatedBooks starts offering NBRI memberships
The site advertises limited-time membership offers for the index.
December 8, 2025Related contextThe NBRI YouTube channel publishes its first video, a silent screen demonstration
The NBRI YouTube channel publishes its first video, a silent screen demonstration.
December 11, 2025Related contextYork County Library System adds RatedBooks as a review source for teen and children’s collections
York County Library System adds RatedBooks as a review source for teen and children’s collections. The board vote is 6–1.
December 28, 2025Related contextRatedBooks offers institutional pricing
Institutional tiers of $399, $999, and $2,999 advertise list analysis and integration with library systems.
2026
61 entries
January 11, 2026Brooke’s actionCalls for required “illegal book detection” training for librarians
Calls for required “illegal book detection” training for librarians. Says a team creates the reports and that she sought a quote for an AI tool.
January 16, 2026Related contextInstitutional products disappear from the pricing page
Saved pages from January 16 through April 17 show individual-only access and an S&S Apps notice. The change appears in copies of the page from these dates.
January 21, 2026Brooke’s actionIn a video, suggests describing book bans as protecting children and says the index can help schools remove books from collections
In a video, suggests describing book bans as protecting children and says the index can help schools remove books from collections.
January 31, 2026Related contextS&S Apps renews its Utah registration
The entity record shows the company active and renewed January 31.
February 5, 2026Brooke’s actionHope of Utah posts a RatedBooks profile
The channel includes a short RatedBooks profile among its first five videos.
February 19, 2026Brooke’s actionSays in a video that RatedBooks is a partner of Hope of Utah
In “We love reading!”, calls RatedBooks a Hope of Utah partner, names review sources, and describes nearly 17,000 books. The video’s public upload date is February 19.
February 2026Related contextPickens County Library System names NBRI as a possible source for assessing age appropriateness
Pickens County Library System names NBRI as a possible source for assessing age appropriateness.
February 20, 2026Brooke’s actionA parent's notes of a call with an assistant superintendent, reported by The Salt Lake Tribune on June 18, 2026, say Stephens volunteered for about 90 minutes at a Davis elementary school
A parent’s call notes, reported by The Salt Lake Tribune on June 18, 2026, put Stephens’s Davis elementary-library visit at about 90 minutes. Davis did not confirm the duration or access level. The account describes entering titles, authors and ISBNs, without uploading ratings.
February 24, 2026Related contextA Davis library supervisor tells staff that parents should not have catalog administrator access and that the district does not upload book-rating systems
A Davis library supervisor tells staff that parents should not have catalog administrator access and that the district does not upload book-rating systems.
March 6, 2026Related contextA journalist requests district emails about Stephens and any training materials she provided
A journalist requests district emails about Stephens and any training materials she provided. The request was still pending August 1, 2026.
March 6, 2026Related contextHB197 does not become law
After House passage, the Senate holds the bill and strikes its enacting clause. The final status is not passed.
March 8, 2026 · archived pageRelated contextRatedBooks links readers to LaVerna
The saved RatedBooks homepage links to LaVerna’s Facebook group. Beside that link, it lists the same public email used in RatedBooks’ incorporation filing.
March 10, 2026Related contextA complaint about the Davis catalog-access incident is filed with USBE
A complaint about the Davis catalog-access incident is filed with USBE. USBE later refers it back to Davis, saying its audit department lacks authority to manage districts.
March 20, 2026Related contextBookLooks’ LLC remains active after the website closes
The Florida entity files a 2026 annual report, a year after the site stopped publishing.
April 1, 2026Brooke’s actionBrooke explains human use of AI rating tools
404 Media reports Gemini and ChatGPT columns in the review process. Stephens says three people operate the models.
April 14, 2026Brooke’s actionTwo videos show sorting district book lists by ratings, LGBTQ, and CRT fields
Two videos show sorting district book lists by ratings, LGBTQ, and CRT fields. One describes a 5-rated book as a possible removal priority.
April 14, 2026Brooke’s actionTells a student newspaper that AI tools can scan books
Tells a student newspaper that AI tools can scan books.
April 15, 2026Brooke’s actionBrooke describes creating NBRI in an affiliate video
In Hope of Utah’s affiliate compilation, identifies herself with RatedBooks and describes NBRI as an aggregate of ratings and reviews.
April 16, 2026 · PDF createdBrooke’s actionRating-scale version 2.1 is credited to Pavement Education Project with RatedBooks.org
Rating-scale version 2.1 is credited to Pavement Education Project with RatedBooks.org. Level 1 includes instruction or discussion about gender identity or sexual orientation. The saved PDF has an April 16 creation date.
April 17, 2026Brooke’s actionUtah Moms for America lists Brooke’s role
A saved team page names her Director of Civic Engagement. This is the date the page was saved, not when the role began.
May 18, 2026Related contextHope of Utah reports grants to its affiliate network
Its FY2025 return reports $48,050 in grants without naming recipients. RatedBooks is an affiliate, but the return does not identify a grant to it.
May 20, 2026Related contextA Michigan parent uses NBRI for an opt-out request
Reporting describes a parent screening a district catalog through the index and requesting a book opt-out.
The original source is not linked here, so this account cannot yet be checked against it.
May 25, 2026Related contextRatedBooks files a three-director annual report
The May 25, 2026 report names Brooke Stephens, Amy Bruner, and Renee McCurdie as directors. The May 2025 incorporation filing named five people.
June 2026Brooke’s actionBrooke says RatedBooks releases 40 new reports
Says 26 of the month’s 40 new reports are LGBTQ-flagged and ties the selection to Utah’s Fidelity Month.
June 1, 2026Brooke’s actionDemonstrates a $100-per-library inventory review, rating-based checkout preferences, author flags tied to an Israel-boycott letter, and a parent letter distributed through PeachJar
Demonstrates a $100-per-library inventory review, rating-based checkout preferences, author flags tied to an Israel-boycott letter, and a parent letter distributed through PeachJar.
June 2, 2026Brooke’s actionA profile promotes Brooke’s National Book Rating Index
The Post Millennial interviews her about the tool and its intended use by parents and schools.
June 3, 2026Brooke’s actionDonates $50 to Rep. Trevor Lee’s campaign
Donates $50 to Rep. Trevor Lee’s campaign.
June 18, 2026Related contextThe Salt Lake Tribune reports that Davis denies a breach
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Davis denies a breach. The district gives no written finding; a quoted FERPA attorney questions the access. Stephens says, “Nothing happened.”
June 26, 2026 · page updatedBrooke’s actionWLA’s About page lists Stephens on its team and names her roles with RatedBooks, LaVerna, and NBRI
WLA’s About page lists Stephens on its team and names her roles with RatedBooks, LaVerna, and NBRI. The date shown is a page update, not a role start date.
June 30, 2026 · released / July 1 · uploadedBrooke’s actionInterview compares the rating system with movie ratings
In the interview released June 30 and uploaded July 1, Stephens dates the rating system’s origins to 1964, while RatedBooks’ scale page says 1968. She also says a senator helped secure an audit. YouTube lists June 30 as the release date and July 1 as the upload date. The conflicting origin years remain unexplained.
June 30, 2026 · released / July 1 · uploadedBrooke’s actionIn a Utah Moms for America interview, says she helped build NBRI
In a Utah Moms for America interview, says she helped build NBRI. Describes paid library-system integration and matching submitted lists against 34,000 reports, and says Texas entities send pre-purchase lists. The specific Texas customers are not named. YouTube lists June 30 as the release date and July 1 as the upload date.
July 8, 2026Brooke’s actionS&S Apps registers Scholar’s Lab
The company registers SCHOLAR’S LAB as a Utah assumed name, Business ID 14713126-0151, with Stephens as registered agent.
July 13, 2026Related contextBonnie Wallace combines location searches with RatedBooks reports
On Defending Freedom, describes supplying titles to Karen England’s Take Back the Classroom and directs parents to RatedBooks when a report is missing.
July 14, 2026Related contextThe index includes PEN America removal records
The index has removal and restriction filters labeled with PEN America reports. Its category totals can count the same book more than once.
July 16, 2026Related contextA July 2026 search finds no Utah public payments to RatedBooks, S&S Apps, NBRI, or the related names checked
A July 2026 search finds no Utah public payments to RatedBooks, S&S Apps, NBRI, or the related names checked.
July 16, 2026Related contextA list of removed books links to 31 RatedBooks reports
The comparison found RatedBooks report links for 31 of 42 titles. Those links alone do not explain why a school removed a book.
The original source is not linked here, so this account cannot yet be checked against it.
July 18, 2026Related contextThe earlier Wix site redirects to RatedBooks
The website-7 address printed in the 2022 committee handout redirects to RatedBooks. The same Wix account also hosts the NBRI site.
July 18, 2026Related contextAn archived BookLooks review finds four citation mismatches
Of 901 PDFs examined, four cite pages beyond every edition checked. The passages are found elsewhere; the cause of the page mismatch remains unresolved.
The original source is not linked here, so this account cannot yet be checked against it.
July 19, 2026Related contextRatedBooks lists district catalog links
The page lists 72 library-catalog links, mostly for South Dakota districts. The separate account of Brooke circulating Pennsylvania links has not been confirmed directly.
July 22, 2026Related contextVicki Baggett cites RatedBooks and demonstrates BookLens
On camera, cites a five-out-of-five RatedBooks rating and demonstrates BookLens as a book-review lookup.
July 27, 2026Related contextA payment search is missing key details
The July 27 notes describe a search for public payments, but omit the full list of organizations, the years searched, and the organization that received a payment. Without those details, the reported result cannot be checked.
August 1, 2026Related contextA report review finds one edition mismatch: ten cited page numbers exceed that edition’s page count
A report review finds one edition mismatch: ten cited page numbers exceed that edition’s page count. A second case remains unresolved.
The original source is not linked here, so this account cannot yet be checked against it.
August 2, 2026Related contextArchived RatedBooks and BookLooks entries are compared
An August 2 comparison of archived RatedBooks pages and BookLooks reports found 566 matching title labels among 1,220 RatedBooks entries (46.4%). Some entries may not be book titles, so this is a preliminary comparison. The source labels in RatedBooks’ spreadsheet cover a different set of records.
The original source is not linked here, so this account cannot yet be checked against it.
August 7, 2026Related contextDistrict listings are checked against independent records
The August 7 review checked Queen Creek, Arizona; Fulton County, Georgia; Alpine, Utah; Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; and West Ada, Idaho. Queen Creek has a vendor-published board-member account of submitting files. Reviewed records in the other four did not confirm RatedBooks or NBRI use. Alpine and Phoenixville policies were unavailable. Missing records also leave a separate three-user claim unconfirmed.
The original source is not linked here, so this account cannot yet be checked against it.
August 12, 2026Related contextOn Dan Patrick’s podcast, Bonnie Wallace credits Stephens with creating RatedBooks
On Dan Patrick’s podcast, Bonnie Wallace credits Stephens with creating RatedBooks.
August 16, 2026 · saved recordRelated contextIRS data lists RatedBooks’ 2025 postcard
The saved IRS data lists a Form 990-N for calendar year 2025, naming Brooke Stephens as principal officer. The row gives the tax period, not the submission date. It carries no detailed revenue or expenses.
August 17, 2026Related contextBehind the Shelves links readers to RatedBooks
The site links to RatedBooks as its book database and uses similar rating terms.
August 17, 2026Related contextNBRI offers named policy flags
The observed interface includes local-review flags for anti-BDS legislation and Utah sensitive-materials law. The linked anti-BDS reference includes laws, executive orders, and resolutions.
August 17, 2026Related contextInstitutional pricing returns
The site lists $399, $999, and $2,999 annual institutional tiers and $100-per-school transparency packages. One 1,000-school tier has an inconsistent price.
August 17, 2026Related contextThe Parental Choice Index uses similar code and different scoring
The two websites use some of the same names in their software, but combine sources and calculate ratings differently. The shared code’s author is unknown.
August 18, 2026Related contextHEART still displays approval and privacy claims
The live storefront displays certification badges and approval wording. The 2020 privacy-certification announcement is separate from the 2022 state curriculum review, which recommended upholding HEART’s denial. A later state approval has not been verified.
August 20, 2026Related contextRecover America uses RatedBooks thresholds in a challenge guide
Its guide combines book-location searches with RatedBooks reports and recommends rating thresholds for removal in elementary, junior-high, and high-school collections.
August 28, 2026Related contextAmplify and StoryLabs offer organization services
Amplify describes organization notifications and school-board lookup. StoryLabs sells Amplify subscriptions and customized apps.
August 28, 2026Related contextUPU calls Empowered Parents its sister organization
UPU’s pages describe the nonprofit relationship and a shared education portal. Their different tax statuses remain separate.
August 28, 2026Related contextRatedBooks packages reports into legislative and policy advocacy
Its Advocate page directs readers from reports and slicksheets to Amplify contacts, running a bill, and creating a policy. The page was viewed on this date; its launch date is unknown.
September 3, 2026Related contextRatedBooks markets library-system integration
The Index & Products page offers institutional branding and integration so parents can select opt-outs by rating. The page advertises this service without identifying an installed system.
September 3, 2026Related contextAn annual subscription routes services to NBRI
RatedBooks offers a $50 annual membership with AI scans and title audits, while the footer says there are no subscriptions. Service requests go to NBRI.
September 3, 2026Related contextPublished totals use different units
The product page counts 28,000+ titles; the homepage advertises 37,000+ reviews. Its source lists also change between the launch video and later pages.
September 12, 2026Related contextWLA lists Brooke and Bonnie Wallace on its team
The About page names both. Brooke’s listing includes RatedBooks, LaVerna, NBRI, and Utah Moms for America roles. This date records when the listing was viewed. Her joining date is unknown.
September 13, 2026Related contextRatedBooks names Take Back the Classroom in its workflow
Its Rating Teams page assigns school-location searches to Take Back the Classroom, followed by separate data, report, and rating teams.
September 13, 2026Related contextRecover America combines the three tools for readers
The guide sends readers to Take Back the Classroom for locations, RatedBooks for reports and thresholds, and Bonnie Wallace for local challenge guidance.
Dates needing clarification
1 entry
July 18, 2026 · saved pageBrooke’s actionA separate Moms for America Action title appears in the notes
Brooke’s Utah Moms for America role is documented: the organization named her Civic Engagement Director in October 2024, and its October 2025 Utah registry entry lists her as an officer. Notes dated July 18, 2026 also record “State Director of Engagement for Moms for America Action.” The original source for that separate Action title is missing.
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Drag the map or focus it and use arrow keys. Zoom or Fit map changes the view. Lines connect dated events; cards identify roles. Select an event for sources, or use the menu to choose a connection or timeline section. The notes below link both records.
Connections and sources
Brooke’s roles across dated records
- Also signs as Empowered Parents’ president
The July 31 recording introduces her as UPU’s education director. The August 4 filing is signed as Empowered Parents’ president.
UPU introduces Brooke as education director · Brooke signs as Empowered Parents’ president - Speaks for Utah Moms for America
The 2024 minutes list her UPU educator-director role; the 2025 hearing records her speaking for Utah Moms for America.
Helps present H.B. 29 in House Education · Supports HB281 at House Education, speaking for Utah Moms for America
The RatedBooks filing
- Signs as RatedBooks’ president
After speaking for Utah Moms for America on HB473, she signs the RatedBooks incorporation filing as president and incorporator.
Brooke supports digital-vendor legislation · Signs RatedBooks.org’s Utah nonprofit filing as incorporator, president, director, and registered agent