That is really the problem. It seems to be some attempt to intertwine math and other subjects. I can see why school teachers in hard sciences and math strive to show students the relevance to everyday life, but this particular attempt just seems contrived and distracting.
There is plenty of literature out there that does not involve rape, drug use, pimps or abusive families. High school students are old enough for such subject matter, but I think it turns them off of reading for pleasure to include these dark subjects.
It’s really starting to look like having any critical thinking skills is reason for being banned from the edu industry.