School board refuses to remove 'Grendel'

SHERWOOD, Ore., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- An Oregon school board has decided to keep the novel "Grendel" on its high school sophomore honors English reading list, ruling against some parents.

The novel by John Gardner, published in 1971, is a retelling of the Anglo-Saxon epic "Beowulf" from the point of view of Grendel the monster. The book includes some scenes describing torture and mutilation.

About 100 people attended a meeting of the Sherwood School Board Wednesday night, the third the board has held to discuss the book, The Portland Oregonian reported. District officials said only four students in a class of 74 took the option of reading another book.

Sherwood is about 25 miles southwest of Portland.

Parents were split on the book. Some suggested moving "Grendel" to senior English.

"I can't believe it is such a fight for parents to keep this filth away from our children," one said.

Before "Grendel" was added to the list five years ago, students read "Frankenstein," now offered as an alternative.