Yes, White Smoke Is Banned!
ISBN: 9780063029095
📖 Why You Should Read This Book
Stolarz's horror novel about a blended family in a haunted house uses genre thrills to explore race, gentrification, and who gets to feel safe.
White Smoke follows Marigold, a biracial teenager recovering from addiction, who moves with her newly blended family into a renovated home in a rapidly gentrifying Indianapolis neighborhood. Strange things start happening: doors open on their own, objects move, and the house seems to have a mind of its own. As Marigold investigates, she discovers the house’s dark history is tied to the community’s displacement.
The novel has been challenged for violence, drug references, profanity, and sexual content. Tiffany D. Jackson uses the haunted house genre to explore gentrification, displacement, and the ghosts that linger when communities are torn apart.
Why Was It Banned?
Where Was It Banned?
Read It Anyway
The best response to a book ban is reading the book. Here's where to get it:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is White Smoke banned?
Yes, White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson has been banned or challenged in 7 documented instances across 3 states in the United States, including Texas, Florida, Missouri. It remains one of the most frequently challenged books in America.
Why was White Smoke banned?
White Smoke has been challenged and banned for the following reasons: Violence, Drug Use, Profanity, Sexual Content. These challenges have come from school boards, libraries, and parent groups seeking to restrict access to the book.
Where is White Smoke banned?
As of 2025, White Smoke has been banned or challenged in Texas, Florida, Missouri. Notable bans include Keller ISD (2022), Clay County School District (2023), Wentzville School District (2022).