WSET.com - ABC13Curse Words Found in Middle School Library Book

Reporter: Mark Kelly l Videographer: Parker Slaybaugh

Bedford County, VA - A Bedford County mom could not believe what was printed in a book her son brought home from school. 14-year-old Erick Kelley, a student at Forest Middle School, checked a book out of his school library that has a lot of curse words on the pages inside. His mom was furious and called the school looking for answers.

The book is called Running with the Buffaloes. And the school is now looking into the complaint. School policy is to have a review committee - made up of parents, staff, administration, even the complainant - vote on whether to take it off the shelves.

Mom always said, don't judge a book by its cover. But once mom got past the cover, that's when the judging began.

"When I got home, I looked up the chapters and started reading through it. And there was more curse words in it and I was just like, no no no no," said Ruth Allen, Kelley's mom.

Sometimes, the curse pops up in the contents page. Other times, you'll find it in the text itself. But, it's always disturbing to Ruth Allen and her adopted son Erick Kelley.

"I think they should ban every book that has words like that in it," said Kelley.

Kelley has Asperger's Syndrome and is an avid reader. Most every day, he checks a book out of his school library. But, finding these curse words was a first.

We asked Forest Middle School why 14-year-old Kelley was able to get his hands on a curse-filled book. The school says they vet the books before setting them on the shelf.  And, according to the handbook, once a complaint is filed, a committee must read the book, read reviews and talk with those who know the book - among other things - before it's out of the school once and for all.

"I know they hear it. I know they probably say some of them. It's the age. They think it's cool. But why should it be put under their noses in a book in the school library to read?" said Allen.

School administrators are thankful Allen and her son brought this to their attention. Allen says she'll be thankful when another middle-schooler can't pick this book up.