Shocked parents were horrified to find a cult comic book littered with obscenities and references to Satanism - in a library's children's section. International best-seller Ghost World by Daniel Clowes is just 80 pages long but contains the "F" word 50 times and another more offensive word twice. There are also numerous uses of the words s*** and a*****e but managers at Walsall's Central Library still deemed it suitable for youngsters. Children were allowed access to the controversial book until protests and the intervention of a councillor forced a re-think. It was finally removed from the shelves of the children's section at the library. Ghost World, described as a "graphic novel", was penned by former underground artist Clowes, who lives in Berkeley, California. The young characters featured in the story are described by reviewers from the Grovel graphic novels internet site as an "extremist teenager who rebels against liberalism, the shy young boy who finds himself at the wrong end of the girls' sexual frustrations, the parents who can't do the right thing and a supporting cast of assorted weirdos." The book - made into a movie in 2001 - is also available at Birmingham Central Library, but staff there carry out regular checks to ensure it doesn't fall into the hands of youngsters. A spokesman said: "We have specialist buying teams. One for adults, one for non-fiction and one for children's books. "They know what certain publishers produce and the genre of certain authors. Anything they are unsure of they would review first." Books at the city library are divided into two categories - one for children and one for 16 plus with reviews taking place iof readers complain. Walsall Councillor Garry Perry demanded the book be removed from the children's section after he received a complaint. Coun Perry (Con, Pelsall) said: "I thought it was appalling and as soon as I raised the matter it was withdrawn from the shelves. "It was totally unsuitable for children and could offend them."
 Former Pelsall Tory councillor Cath Micklewright (pictured) went further, branding the decision to allow children access to the book a disgrace. Mrs Micklewright said: "I went to buy a copy of Ghost World from Waterstones's in Birmingham and when I asked if it was in the children's section I was told 'definitely not. It is in the graphics section on the second floor'. "That's as it should be. "I think it is disgraceful that it should be put in the children's section in Walsall Library. "If you are in charge of a library I think you should at least look through publications before you put them out. It is no good just looking at the front cover." | 
