HPISD and Highland Park High School received national attention in September 2014 for the banning of seven books previously used in high school English studies, after a group of parents protested the contents of these books. The seven books were: "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein; "" by David K. Shipler; "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse; "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie; "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green; "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls; and "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison. Superintendent Orr eventually reversed the decision to suspend the books, stating in an email to parents, "I made the decision in an attempt to de-escalate the conflict, and I readily admit that it had the opposite effect. I take full responsibility for the decision, and I apologize for the disruption it has caused." He would retire shortly after the controversy ended.