5 stars
A fantastic book about book bans and using your voice to speak up for what you believe in.
“It wasn’t just good books that shouldn’t be hidden away. It was all books. Any books. It didn’t matter what they were about, or whether I liked them, or Mrs. Spencer liked them, or the school board liked them.”
Amy Anne Ollinger visits the school library to check out her favorite book like she’s done so many times before. But when she arrives, she’s met with the unexpected. The book isn’t there and she’s told by Mrs. Jones, the librarian, that the school board has banned the book along with others deemed “inappropriate”. Amy Anne doesn’t usually say what she’s thinking, but this unexpected hurdle sets her on a path that teaches her just what she’s capable of.
The book includes real-life books that have been banned and challenged in America, which was really fun. I enjoyed the inclusion of some of the arbitrary reasons for book challenges.
Also, Dav Pilkey shows up as a characters, which was really cool. I’m a lifelong reader of Captain Underpants so I really enjoyed meeting him on the page and his fictional role in the fight against book bans in the Shelbourne Elementary Library.
The book works in so many issues related to book banning and censorship:
- Access: Amy Anne’s father buys her a copy of her favorite book so she can read it, but she recognizes that doesn’t help other kids at school who want to read it, inspiring her to act.
- Proper procedure: The story shows why Requests for Reconsideration procedures exist and the danger of simply banning something because one person has a problem with it.
- Not for every child: Amy Anne finds one of the banned books too scary for her. But that doesn’t stop her from sharing it with others who may enjoy it. She recognizes it’s not for her but that doesn’t mean it should be banned.
- Real life issues: Amy Anne helps another student work through a difficult time by recommending one of the banned books and lending it to him. While the topics covered in some of the books aren’t pleasant, they reflect real-life issues children go through and help them figure out their own feelings.
- Civil disobedience: Amy Anne and her friends learn how to fight back against the bans, recognizing their missteps along the way and working within the systems to show its flaws. I love how the kids gained the confidence to talk to the school board and to demand to be taken seriously.
- The role of librarians: Mrs. Jones was fantastic. She mentors the students, fights for proper procedures for reconsideration, and stands up for the right to read. And I love that it’s noted she has her doctorate in library science. So many people don’t recognize the education required to be librarian.
Great themes of using your voice when you know something is wrong, not being afraid to disagree with adults, and admitting mistakes. Also includes themes of friendship, learning to love reading, having the courage to voice your concerns in daily life, sisterhood, and family conflict.
I love how the Banned Books Locker Library ends up bringing the students closer together. They learn from one another and form inside jokes based on the books. And Amy Anne’s interest in library procedures was really sweet.
Also includes a Reading & Activity Guide at the end with discussion topics and activities for before and after reading the novel.
The irony of this book being banned is upsetting, but Amy Anne’s example showcases there is always hope and why we continue the fight against censorship.
Clever, sweet, powerful, and entertaining. This was such a great read.