I agree that there has to be more to the story. IMO, either use the book, or don’t. Blacking out words and phrases or tearing out whole pages is just plain crazy. I have seen school novels read like a redacted military report!
I was at a lecture man years ago given by a well-known mechanech. His wife was in the audience as well. The topic was shalom bayis. And he “Dear”ed his wife quite vocally and ademantly.