
The Carnival at Bray
by Jessie Ann Foley
his promising debut, set in the heyday of grunge, tells the story of Maggie Lynch, a displaced Chicagoan and grunge music fan, living in a quiet town (Bray) on the Irish Sea. Maggie was uprooted from her friends, her music scene, and her beloved Uncle Kevin when her romantically fickle mother married her latest boyfriend, resulting in a move to his hometown. During her time of difficult adjustment to Ireland, Maggie falls in love with Eion the very moment a devastating loss hits her family, leading to rebellion and a journey to Rome to see Nirvana and fulfill Uncle Kevin's wish for her.
Genres
Banned or challenged 12 times across 12 jurisdictions.
Related Laws
This book has been banned or challenged under these laws.
Also flagged by 3 challenger groups
These groups have publicly targeted this book for removal. This is NOT a confirmed ban — it’s a signal that the book is on one or more challenger lists, which often precedes formal challenges in specific districts. See methodology for how we distinguish targeting from enforcement.
Timeline
Unified view of laws affecting this book and jurisdictions where it’s been removed or challenged, in chronological order.
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Mar 25, 2022
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May 3, 2023
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May 17, 2023
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Jun 13, 2023
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Jun 30, 2024
BanremovedManatee County School District, FL
Removed per FL Stat. 1006.28(2) — reported in the FL DoE 2023-2024 statewide report.
BanremovedBay County School District, FL
Removed per FL Stat. 1006.28(2) — reported in the FL DoE 2023-2024 statewide report.
BanremovedIndian River County School District, FL
Removed per FL Stat. 1006.28(2) — reported in the FL DoE 2023-2024 statewide report.
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Jun 20, 2025
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Mar 2, 2026
LawUtah HB 0029The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley meets statewide 3-district threshold (districts: Davis, Granite, Washington).
BanremovedDavis School District, UT
Removed by Davis School District and added to the USBE statewide sensitive materials list. Statewide prohibition triggered under HB 0374 (2024).
BanremovedGranite School District, UT
Removed by Granite School District and added to the USBE statewide sensitive materials list. Statewide prohibition triggered under HB 0374 (2024).
BanremovedWashington School District, UT
Removed by Washington School District and added to the USBE statewide sensitive materials list. Statewide prohibition triggered under HB 0374 (2024).
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Platform availability
11 platforms tracked
Availability at online retailers and library platforms, refreshed by our daily scanner. “Pending review” means the scanner saw the title unavailable but a human hasn’t confirmed whether it’s a stockout or a real removal.
All ban records (12)
Clay County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2022-2023 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2023
Katy ISD, TX
school · school district
Removed from Katy ISD libraries to comply with Texas HB 900 (READER Act, 2023), which requires book vendors to assign content ratings to library materials and prohibits 'sexually explicit' content in school libraries. Some sections of HB 900 were partially struck down by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Reported Aug 1, 2024
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, AK
school · school district
Challenged by school board; reviewed per court order in Case 3:23-cv-00265-SLG
Washington School District, UT
school · school district
Removed as 'objective sensitive material' per Utah HB 0029 (2022); statewide prohibition triggered under Utah HB 0374 (2024).
Reported Mar 2, 2026
Bay County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2023-2024 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2024
Davis School District, UT
school · school district
Removed as 'objective sensitive material' per Utah HB 0029 (2022); statewide prohibition triggered under Utah HB 0374 (2024).
Reported Mar 2, 2026
Fort Worth ISD, TX
school · school district
Under review by committee of master-certified librarians per FWISD book review process.
Reported Aug 28, 2023
Granite School District, UT
school · school district
Removed as 'objective sensitive material' per Utah HB 0029 (2022); statewide prohibition triggered under Utah HB 0374 (2024).
Reported Mar 2, 2026
Indian River County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2023-2024 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2024
Manatee County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2023-2024 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2024
Martin County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2022-2023 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2023
New Braunfels ISD, TX
school · school district
SB 13 compliant but restricted to grades 9-12
Reported Jan 1, 2026