An odd and controversial book that our daughter has to read for 11th grade English...

[Ms. Toad]

65. Has anyone who is up in arms

Actually read the book?

I don't know whether this particular book is appropriate, but I remember the furor over The Color Purple (and any number of other books) which the right wing tried to have banned without bothering to read it.

The presence of biblical quotes (or quotes from the Quran, or any other sacred text) does not bother me in and of itself. All writers bring their own bias to whatever they write (as well as the bias of their times). That doesn't necessarily make the book inappropriate.

I would encourage you to first read the book and evaluate whether book is teaching religion - or whether it is an inherent part of the character of the protagonist (in which case it forms part of the discussion of the book in the context of how it influences his life - which is not the same as the book being Bible Study).

From your description of your daughter's reaction (highlighting the biblical passages, and being livid), I wonder if it didn't color her perception of the class discussion. I know my daughter could easily (even at several years past high school) misinterpreted a teacher's instructional bias if she had already fixed in her mind that the teacher was biased by - for example - reacting strongly to the presence of bible verses in the book.

You might want to contact the teacher and ask, in a neutral way, what is going on. If she intends for it to be bible study - then you have a fight on your hand if you want it. If she doesn't intend that, then it is a good time to have a discussion with her about how her presentation is being perceived, at least by your daughter.