haʊˈɛvɚ, ðə bˈʊks jˈuːsɪdʒ ɹᵻsˈiːvd bˈæklæʃ fɹʌm mˈɛni stˈuːdənts, tˈiːtʃɚz, ænd ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪɾɚz hˌuː dˈiːmd ðə nˈɑːvəlz vˈɪvɪd dᵻskɹˈɪpʃənz ʌv vˈaɪələns ænd jˈuːs ʌv pɹəfˈeɪn lˈæŋɡwɪdʒ æz hˈaɪli ˌɪnɐpɹˈoʊpɹiət fɔːɹ tʃˈɪldɹən ænd kˈɔːld əpˌɑːn skˈuːl bˈoːɹdz tə bˈæn ðə bˈʊk ænd sˈiːk ɔːltˈɜːnətˌɪv nˈɑːvəlz.
However, the book's usage received backlash from many students, teachers, and educators who deemed the novel's vivid descriptions of violence and use of profane language as highly inappropriate for children and called upon school boards to ban the book and seek alternative novels.