LEWISTON — A local woman is stepping up her campaign against a controversial sex education book for middle-school children that she removed from the shelves of the Lewiston and Auburn public libraries.

JoAn Karkos has been stuffing letters critical of “It’s Perfectly Normal” under the windshield wipers of cars parked at churches and parking garages in downtown Lewiston.

The letters claim that the Lewiston Public Library “mocks obscenity laws” by including the book in its collection and allowing children to check it out without parental approval. Included with the letters were censored copies of cartoon-like illustrations from the book showing adult couples engaged in sexual intercourse, and two naked teenagers.

Karkos attracted a flurry of national attention last summer when she took out the books and refused to return them. Her act made Lewiston a battleground in the conflict over First Amendment rights and the desire to protect children from inappropriate material.

Although she reimbursed both libraries for the cost of the books she removed, Karkos was served with a civil complaint and faces a District Court trial this spring.

In the meantime, she is continuing her campaign against the book, which she describes as pornography, by appealing to the public, state and local officials and the Maine Library Association.

It’s only the latest battle for Karkos, a veteran anti-abortion activist who likens herself to a soldier in a war to protect America’s children from exploitation and moral neglect.

“Sometimes I feel like ‘The Lone Ranger,’ but I know I’m not,” she said. “It’s a matter of no more compromise, no more acquiescing.”

Karkos, 64, is a Lisbon Falls native who has lived in central and midcoast Maine her entire life. She works part-time as a receptionist and bookkeeper at a fitness center, and devotes most of her spare time to her fight against “It’s Perfectly Normal” and the libraries that circulate it.

Her small apartment is hung with crucifixes, images of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and other religious figures, evidence of the faith that sustains her. One room has been converted into an office, with cartons of books and documents and a large table where Karkos and a handful of friends prepared the letters calling attention to the book she finds so offensive.

Karkos says the book has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood, a private, nonprofit organization that provides abortion, among other birth control and counseling services. In her letters, Karkos draws connections between abortion, pornography and rising rates of sexually transmitted diseases, suicide and depression among teenagers.

Most of those letters went under windshield wipers in downtown Lewiston. But others went further afield, to Lewiston City Council members, area legislators and board members at the Maine Library Association.

“There’s no heroism here whatsoever,” she says of her campaign. “It seems like common sense.”

Rick Speer, director of the Lewiston Public Library, said no one has complained to him about the book since Karkos distributed her letters.

“The only feedback is that we received a complaint from one of our patrons, who was very upset that someone had targeted her car in the parking lot,” Speer said.

He said he is unaware of any discussions among members of the City Council, some of whom received copies of Karkos’ letter. Councilors approve the library budget each year.

Rich Boulet, president of the Maine Library Association, said several members of the group’s board have received letters from Karkos, but the organization has not formally taken a stand on the issue.

“I can tell you that the association’s position would always be on the side of free and open access,” he said.

Karkos filed a complaint that the book violated the city’s obscenity ordinance,...