NEWMAN, Calif. — A book that some call profane and anti-Catholic is causing a stir at Orestimba High School in this central valley town southwest of Turlock.

Teachers argue the work, “Bless Me, Ultima,” is a powerful story that connects with teenagers.

Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District Superintendent Rick Fauss decided the book is not suitable for teenagers and banned it for the rest of the school year.

Written by Rudolfo Anaya, “Bless Me, Ultima” is about a boy maturing, asking questions concerning evil, justice and the nature of God, and trying to reconcile Native American religion with traditional Roman Catholicism.

“Bless Me, Ultima” is this year’s novel for the U.S. Academic Decathlon competition, is one of several selections for the National Endowment for the Arts’ “The Big Read,” a national book club, and is on first lady Laura Bush’s “top 10” reading list for all ages.

English teachers accuse Fauss of circumventing the district’s policies on book challenges and ignoring the findings of a committee of teachers and a committee of administrators from the Stanislaus County Office of Education and Modesto City Schools. Both groups recommended keeping the book, with limitations such as not allowing it as a summer reading book or sending warnings home to parents.

Fauss’ actions set up a “scary” precedent, teachers say.

“It’s a long, steep, slippery slope. It makes eliminating literature that people object to a lot easier,” said Andre Powell, an Orestimba High School English teacher.

In the past, if parents did not want their child reading a book, teachers substituted another book with the same theme, as has been done for such plays and books as “The Crucible” and “The Scarlet Letter,” teachers said.

Banning “Bless Me, Ultima” takes away a dynamic book from hundreds of students because of the complaint of one student’s parent, teachers said.

Fauss said the book was not appropriate for any teenager.

“I think there’s room for exposing students to other experiences, but do we have to sacrifice the values of our families and our community to do that?” asked Fauss, a former high school English teacher.

He hasn’t read the entire book but said he’s “read enough.”

Despite widespread community knowledge of his decision, Fauss said he hasn’t received any complaints except from four teachers. Fauss said that proves he made the right decision, one that “reflects the values of the community.”

About 200 students were scheduled to read the book this year. Most classes had studied it by the time Fauss’ ruling came down in mid- October, said Catherine Quittmeyer, chairman of Orestimba’s English department.

Administrators and teachers aren’t sure when or if the book was approved by trustees, but it has been adopted by the California Department of Education.

“Bless Me, Ultima” is an especially important book to teach for the district’s Latino students, Quittmeyer said.

“This is Hispanic literature. Sixty-five percent of our enrollment consists of the Hispanic population. They can identify with this book culturally,” Quittmeyer said. “The book talks about things these kids are growing up hearing. And for the non-Hispanic kids, this is something different.”

“Bless Me, Ultima” is one of the most challenged books in the country, according to the American Library Association. Complaints include profane language, depictions of sexuality and pagan content.

Students and parents in other cities, including Norwood, Colo., and Fayetteville, Ark., have protested the book.

Even though “Bless Me, Ultima” can’t be used in classes the rest of the year, it’s available in Orestimba’s library, Fauss said.

Orestimba High enrolls about 750 students from Newman and Crows Landing.

Some students said they related to the book, regardless of ethnicity, and disagreed with the ban.

“You have to read it in context,” said Brittney Clark, an Orestimba senior who read the book two years ago. “(The main character), he’s trying to find his place in his family, who he’ll be, what he’ll do the rest of his life, independent of his parents.”

Even students who read it because it’s required for school said the novel is offensive only if excerpts are taken out of context.

“I didn’t see anything bad about the book,” said Ashley Dove, an Orestimba sophomore who read the book in class this year. “It was boring to me, but I didn’t see anything wrong with it.”

Teachers are planning a response to Fauss’ decision. Fauss hopes to have all supplementary books approved by trustees, a common practice in school districts, within the next five years.