"A fourth grader fights back when From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg is challenged by a well-meaning parent and taken off the shelves of her school library. Amy Anne is shy and soft-spoken, but don't mess with her when it comes to her favorite book in the whole world. Amy Anne and her lieutenants wage a battle for the books that will make you laugh and pump your fists as they start a secret banned books locker library, make up ridiculous reasons to ban every single book in the library to make a point, and take a stand against censorship"--Publisher's website.
Banned in a Florida school on 5/20/2024. I immediately purchased it. Of course.
Excellent middle grade novel about students finding their strength and learning a harsh lesson about the real world and the awful (and not so awful) people who fill it.
The characters are vibrant and relatable and the author teases out a narrative that is so creative and nuanced. I am forever impressed when authors reach deep and somehow find their childhood voice so effectively.
This book touches upon a host of thoughtful topics and I can't recommend it enough.
This is a delightful book for kids who love to read, who think books are important, and who wish they had the courage to stand up for what they believe. A sharp but shy fourth grader has a favorite book in her school library that she pounces on whenever she had a chance to check it out. But one day, when it's scheduled to be back on the shelf, it's not there. The outspoken parent of a boy she doesn't like has decided it shouldn't be in the library. In fact, a bunch of books shouldn't be in the library - a crusade that Amy Anne thinks is completely wrong, even though the school board has voted to remove those books from the library. The school librarian (wouldn't it be great if all schools had them?) has her hands tied. Amy Anne decides to take action, establishing a secret banned …
This is a delightful book for kids who love to read, who think books are important, and who wish they had the courage to stand up for what they believe. A sharp but shy fourth grader has a favorite book in her school library that she pounces on whenever she had a chance to check it out. But one day, when it's scheduled to be back on the shelf, it's not there. The outspoken parent of a boy she doesn't like has decided it shouldn't be in the library. In fact, a bunch of books shouldn't be in the library - a crusade that Amy Anne thinks is completely wrong, even though the school board has voted to remove those books from the library. The school librarian (wouldn't it be great if all schools had them?) has her hands tied. Amy Anne decides to take action, establishing a secret banned book library in her locker. She also is asked by the librarian to speak in front of school board. Amy Anne has to overcome her shyness to do what's right and, as in so many middle grade books, learns something about herself and the world in the process. I really enjoyed this middle grade book. It would be a good starter kit for students who might later want to read Doctorow's Little Brother - particularly if they're looking for a protagonist who has smarts but isn't comfortable taking public stands, who can't see herself leading a rebellion but does anyway. I admired the way the author avoided exaggerating the bad guys, giving perspectives a fair shake, and wove together Amy Anne's anxieties with her activism without overdoing either.
