There are calls to remove "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Of Mice and Men" from the school curriculum.
A Meath County Councillor feels they should be banned due to their use of offensive racial language.
Both books are prescribed texts for Junior cycle students.
They have each appeared several times on the American Library Association's list of most challenged books due to their offensive language, depiction of racism, and unsuitability for young people.
Meath Cllr. Alan Lawes wants the Education Minister to take the books off the school curriculum, as local families have become the target of racist abuse since their children's classes read them:
"They came to first year, and these sort of books are on the curriculum in first year. You have certain racial slurs that are repeated in these books numerous times, and then their classmates all of a sudden start to use these racial slurs to call them names. And it's happened repeatedly with the two families."
Author Emaonn Delaney doesn't think a ban is the way to go, saying it is wrong to censor or clean up the past, which he feels is a false way of looking at our past.
Direct Provision activist Ellie Kisyombe believes a review of their place in the curriculum is needed.
She insists it is not about erasing history "I am conflicted about how we should raise this racial issue because I am a black woman - every day I face racism."
"But I want to be surrounded by people in a platform whereby you can understand the issues when I complain about racism"
