**Texas County Reverses Controversial Book Reclassification After Public Outcry**

A Texas county has reversed a contentious decision to categorize a children’s history book about the Native American experience as fiction. Montgomery County, situated near Houston, initially reclassified "Colonization and the Wampanoag Story" to the fiction section at local libraries. The move incited backlash from major publishers, literary freedom organizations, and numerous community members.

The county's decision came after the establishment of a citizen review committee, driven by a conservative Christian group, which conducted its meetings in secrecy and excluded librarians from the deliberation process. Teresa Kenney, a local resident and founder of the Village Books store, voiced the community's displeasure at a recent county leaders' meeting. "The recent decision by commissioner-appointed committee members has outraged not just our community, but the country as a whole," Kenney stated.

Debbie Reese, founder of American Indians in Children's Literature, also criticized the reclassification, emphasizing that it undermines the historical perspective of Native Americans. "To claim this book is fiction dismisses our perspective and history," Reese said. She further highlighted the book's importance for both Native and non-Native children, stating that such works contribute to a more informed understanding of history.

The controversial reclassification was made public through open records requests by free speech advocates in mid-October, revealing the history book had been moved to the fiction section. Proponents of the change, including Michele Nuckolls, a homeschooler and founder of Two Moms and Some Books, justified the decision by citing community values. "The new policy is working," Nuckolls remarked at an October commission meeting.

Nuckolls and her group are known for their advocacy to relocate books on sexuality and transgender identity to more restrictive sections of the library while promoting the inclusion of more Christian titles. Despite not having children in the local school district, Nuckolls is a frequent participant in school board meetings.

In response to the widespread criticism, Montgomery County commissioners placed a temporary halt on all decisions made by the citizen review committee. They also announced plans to create a new committee to reevaluate library rules, including those concerning the citizen review committee. This newly proposed committee will consist of county staff members and will receive guidance from the county attorney, as reported by Lonestar Live.