If There Be Thorns
V.C. Andrews
About this book
Now a major Lifetime movie event—Book Three of the Dollanganger series that began with Flowers in the Attic—the novel of forbidden love that captured the world’s imagination and earned V.C. Andrews a fiercely devoted fanbase. They hide the shocking truth to protect their children. But someone who knows their dark secret is watching. Christopher and Cathy have made a loving home for their handsome and talented teenager Jory, their imaginative nine-year-old Bart, and a sweet baby daughter. Then an elderly woman and her strange butler move in next door. The Old Woman in Black watches from her window, lures lonely Bart inside with cookies and ice cream, and asks him to call her “grandmother.” Slowly Bart transforms, each visit pushing him closer to the edge of madness and violence, while his anguished parents can only watch. For Cathy and Chris, the horrors of the past have come home…and everything they love may soon be torn from them.
Censorship history
In 2024, "If There Be Thorns" by V.C. Andrews faced bans at the school level across several states in the United States, primarily due to its sexual content, violence, and perceived immorality. Notably, in March 2024, a school board in Texas voted to remove the book from its curriculum following formal complaints from parents and local advocacy groups concerned about its themes. The ban has been upheld in various districts, with ongoing discussions about its appropriateness in educational settings.
Bans
| Country | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2024 | SexualViolenceMoral |
