Montgomery County, Texas, faced significant backlash after it reclassified Linda Coombs' nonfiction book 'Colonization and the Wampanoag Story' as fiction in local libraries.

In response to the outcry, Montgomery County reversed its decision and reinstated the book's classification as nonfiction.

The reclassification drew condemnation from anti-censorship advocates and Penguin Random House, who argued it undermines freedom of expression.

Debbie Reese, founder of American Indians in Children’s Literature, highlighted the book's importance for both Native and non-Native children in understanding history.

The controversy surrounding the reclassification became public in mid-October, following records requests by free speech advocates.

PEN America and various advocacy groups criticized the reclassification as a threat to freedom of expression and a dismissal of Indigenous perspectives.

The Texas Freedom to Read Project has collected over 34,000 signatures on a petition demanding the book's reinstatement in the juvenile nonfiction section.

Kasey Meehan from PEN America stated that restricting access to the book limits young readers' understanding of America's true history.

The reclassification was influenced by rightwing activists and followed a challenge from a local resident, leading to the creation of a citizen review committee.

However, the committee's meetings were kept secret, and librarians were excluded from discussions about the book's classification.

Texas ranks second in the nation for book bans, with over 1,500 titles removed between 2021 and 2023, highlighting a troubling trend in censorship.

Despite Montgomery County's decision, major libraries, including the Houston Public Library and the Library of Congress, continue to classify Coombs' book as nonfiction.