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Oscar-winning actress and author Julianne Moore has expressed shock and disappointment after learning that her children’s book, Freckleface Strawberry, has been suspended from school libraries run by the Department of Defense (DoD) as part of a compliance review under the Trump administration.
A ‘Great Shock’ to the Author
Moore took to Instagram to share her dismay, writing, “It is a great shock for me to learn that my first book, ‘Freckleface Strawberry,’ has been banned by the Trump Administration from schools run by the Department of Defense.”
Initially published in 2007, Freckleface Strawberry is a semi-autobiographical picture book about a young girl who struggles with self-acceptance due to her freckles but ultimately learns to embrace her uniqueness. Moore, inspired by her childhood, described the book as a story meant to remind children that differences make us special.
Why Was the Book Suspended?
Last week, the DoD announced a sweeping review of library materials in its schools serving military families. According to a memo obtained by The Guardian, books were being examined for potential ties to “gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology topics.” As a result, access to all library books was temporarily suspended before a smaller selection was kept for further review. Moore’s Freckleface Strawberry was among the books affected.
It remains unclear whether the book will be permanently removed or reinstated. Other titles caught in the review include Kathleen Krull’s No Truth Without Ruth, a children’s biography of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Amy Ellis Nutt’s Becoming Nicole, a nonfiction book about a transgender teen.
Moore’s Personal Connection to the Military
Moore, whose father was a Vietnam War veteran and a career Army officer, attended a DoD-run high school in Frankfurt, Germany. She highlighted her disappointment that military children—many of whom grew up like she did – will be denied access to a book that encourages self-acceptance.
“I could not be prouder of [my father] and his service to our country,” she wrote. “It is galling for me to realize that kids like me, growing up with a parent in the service and attending a DoDEA school, will not have access to a book written by someone whose life experience is so similar to their own.”
The Bigger Picture: Censorship Concerns
The book review process stems from two recent executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump: Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling and Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism. These directives have heightened scrutiny of educational materials, particularly those touching on diversity, inclusion, and social issues.
Organizations such as PEN America have raised concerns over the move, warning that it contributes to a growing wave of book bans nationwide. Moore echoed these concerns, questioning why a book about freckles and self-acceptance could be controversial.
“I am truly saddened and never thought I would see this in a country where freedom of speech and expression is a constitutional right,” she wrote.
What Happens Next?
The DoD has stated that books removed from shelves are under professional review, with no clear timeline for final decisions. Advocates for free speech and literary access, including Moore and PEN America, continue to push for transparency in the process.
For now, the fate of Freckleface Strawberry and other affected books remains uncertain. Still, the controversy highlights ongoing debates over book censorship, education, and the role of government oversight in children’s literature.
