Ban This Book: A Novel

I was curious when a school in Florida banned this book, so I figured I'd read it. Those who championed banning this book clearly have NOT read it. Supposedly it has sexual content. (It doesn't). We do see that different parents have different views about what is appropriate for their children. Our young heroine makes a healthy choice about her own lack of readiness for your-changing-body sort of material – and it is such a minor element of the book that it is not remotely problematic for younger eyes. If you are a parent I would encourage you to read this book, as you should read all the books that your child reads. But it is all quite age appropriate for a nine year old.What it does have is kids and adults who believe in thinking for themselves. It is about kids learning to communicate with their parents. It is about speaking up. This is also very much about parents being aware of what their children are reading AND how discussions about what kids read should come from a child's parents. It is not the business of strangers to dictate what your kids read. This book explores these ideas with creativity and nuance. It is quite entertaining and as an adult I found it absolutely appropriate for young readers. The nine year old at the center of the story would be able to easily read this book and would appreciate its points. And I love that she respects her parents when they tell her that some books are too old for her. This is not a book that says kids can read anything. This is a book that says both adults and kids are thinking creatures. And parents are the ones who guide their own children's reading habits.I love that both kids and parents learn to communicate better as the book progresses. And I love that the villain of the piece - a hyper-militant mother is also understood by the end and is not simply "bad." This is a book in which everyone has a story that contributes to their actions. Well done on all counts.

<i>Ban This Book</i> has no sexual content or so-called ‘critical race theory,’ yet it has joined the ranks of Florida’s banned books. There’s no doubt why bullies tried to ban this book. The title itself challenges the authority of politicians, religious zealots, and others with agendas to determine what you can read. The book’s overarching message is, "Nobody has the right to tell you what books you can and can't read. Except your parents." <i> Ban This Book </i> takes on those same controlling bullies with a full frontal assault, demonstrating how book bans remove the decisions about reading materials from parents and teachers and put those choices in the hands of individual fanatics who open the doors to broader bans. The book’s challenge shows the self-serving hypocrisy of the many challenges made by authoritarians who seek to control the minds of others, demonstrating that the emperor has no clothes.When the protagonist, Amy Ann Olinger, discovers her favorite book has been “challenged” by a woman on a crusade, she starts to fight back. When her friends make similar discoveries, they join her, creating an entertaining context for the story. Every book mentioned in the story, including Amy’s favorite, <i>From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler</i>, has been banned in our current wave of challenging books for content. Popular among the reasons is the presence of magic, witches, and wizards, making me wonder how anyone survived <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>. (Apparently, Alan Gratz, author of <i>Ban This Book</i>, pondered the same thing and uses the discordance with grace in the text.)If you’re looking for a great kid’s book that adults can still enjoy, one that isn’t loaded with offensive materials but whose courageous central character still manages to ruffle the feathers of bullies, you may enjoy reading <i>Ban This Book</i>.

I bought this for my 10 year old son. He really enjoyed the story, and was encouraged to read the books mentioned in the story.

An easy read. The main character was likeable, the other characters not as fleshed out. It seemed like the characters acted older than fourth graders. The ending could have been a little richer, more reconciliation with the woman who wanted the books banned. I enjoyed reading it, but wished it could have been a little better.

This book is for every kid who ever had her or his favorite book banned. I had this happen to "Otherwise Known As Sheila the Great" because it talked about glue sniffing (it painted it has a bad gross thing) I fought for it and got it back, and the other banned books from my middle school library. The PTA had my back, and told the new grumpy old everyone deserves freedom of thought, and school is no where for the "thought police". Welcome to Alexandria, Virginia one of the most well-read cities in the country; we read books, a lot of them. And this book is about freedom and the right to access information, be it a fiction book or a nonfiction. It's also about realizing that you have a voice, and a right to be at the table too. Even if you're only in 4th grade. I enjoy that the characters in this book are empathic to each other. It brings me back to my days in school, and trials and tribulations I went through. The kids have deep character development, and are written well. And Principle Banana, is a really good depiction of a well meaning administrator, who just has no clue about what's really going on in her school or what the kids and staff want or need. She also comes off to me as cold, I have known elementary school principles like that. If I was teaching elementary school, I would have more then one copy of this in my class library. (In fact I know some Little Free Librarys that will be getting copies of this title.) This is also a great title for classroom reading. In closing I love this book.