Banned McMinn Co. Schools book skyrockets in popularity

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Maus, a graphic novel covering the experiences of a Jewish couple in Nazi Germany, is gaining popularity following McMinn County Schools’ banning of the book earlier this month.

Maus, written by Art Spiegelman, is an adaption of his father’s life in the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Holocaust. The stylized book depicts Jewish people as mice and Germans as cats. The novel was recently removed from McMinn County Schools’ curriculum at a school board meeting on Jan. 10.

As of 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28, the complete edition of Maus is ranked as the #16 best-selling book on Amazon. Just two hours before, it was #23. Barnes and Noble also keeps a list of best-selling books. According to the business’ website, Maus is ranked at #54.

Just the next morning, Amazon ranked the first volume of the novel at #2. The complete edition and the second volume ranked #4 and #11 respectively. Barnes and Noble listed the book at #7 Saturday morning.

WVLT News reached out to a representative at the Knox County Library, who said copies are on backorder. The library system holds three copies of the first volume, which currently has 33 holds on it. If each person in line keeps the book for their allotted three weeks, the soonest one will be available is late February.

McMinn County’s school board voted unanimously to ban the book from the curriculum, citing vulgar language and depictions of nudity.

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