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3smallsalsmum's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Very similar read to "Property of the Rebel Librarian". A great junior fiction about standing up for what is right, and the power of books and reading.
jaxenswag's review against another edition
5.0
SO GOOD. a short read about 2 hours but it was so good. i loved it.
jenmangler's review against another edition
3.0
I adore this book! How could I not? Kids share books and stand up for what they believe is right in very clever ways. This is an important topic, and Gratz has approached it in a thoughtful way. On a personal note, I'm supremely grateful to my reading friends who recommended this book to me, because without them I wouldn't know it existed. Thanks, reading friends, for giving me such a great gift - a fabulous read!
jgurniak's review against another edition
5.0
All it took was 1 page for me to decide how I felt about this book. Everyone should read this! Adults, teens, kids, it's perfect for everyone. Seriously, this book is fantastic.
avavoors02's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book because it shows people's rights and what they can do. This book sometimes makes me frustrated, because people's basic rights are being taken away.
malkat007's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
karrama's review against another edition
4.0
How do you stop book bans at your school? Start your own library of banned books in your locker.
mariahistryingtoread's review against another edition
5.0
Ban This Book is a fantastic book. I cannot sing its praises enough.
It does a great job balancing the important message with the emotional beats and hijinks. While I love when middle grade takes on serious topics, I have been questioning lately how much of it will actually translate well to kids. I am an adult so my perspective on middle grade is inherently different than a kid - as the key demographic - would be. When I read it, I am more inclined to appreciate the heavier moments and tone as I have the life experience to see a bigger picture.
Kids aren't like that. They need to have whimsy. They need to have charm. They need to have silliness. Not always, and not even the majority of the time; kids are entirely capable of higher levels of thought or empathy. However, I have noticed that newer middle grade is often caught up in the potential impact of a message more than the potential enjoyment of the story.
Ban This Book manages to keep it informative yet fun.
Amy Anne is such a relatable, inspiring protagonist. Speaking up is difficult, but you won't change anything by staying silent. Her fight for the banned books gives a great template for kids everywhere to follow when challenging an unjust system - yes, even the secret library. Would Amy Anne have been able to make her point without breaking a rule or two? Sure. Would it have been nearly as effective? Absolutely not.
I love that this book involved parents who were willing to own up to their misdoings, apologize, and take steps to actively improve. It's important to have that insight into what positive parent-child interactions look like. Plus, too many books let adults off with a measly apology - see my review of The Girl On The Lake - when that part is the easiest for them to do. Doing better moving forward is often lost in the shuffle.
Also, I was pleased to note that despite the white author there were no weird quirks to 'prove' she or her family were Black. They just were. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Book banning has become a recurrent, noxious issue. Anything that encourages fighting against it is a-ok in my book. Read it and be reminded once more of why you do it in the first place.
It does a great job balancing the important message with the emotional beats and hijinks. While I love when middle grade takes on serious topics, I have been questioning lately how much of it will actually translate well to kids. I am an adult so my perspective on middle grade is inherently different than a kid - as the key demographic - would be. When I read it, I am more inclined to appreciate the heavier moments and tone as I have the life experience to see a bigger picture.
Kids aren't like that. They need to have whimsy. They need to have charm. They need to have silliness. Not always, and not even the majority of the time; kids are entirely capable of higher levels of thought or empathy. However, I have noticed that newer middle grade is often caught up in the potential impact of a message more than the potential enjoyment of the story.
Ban This Book manages to keep it informative yet fun.
Amy Anne is such a relatable, inspiring protagonist. Speaking up is difficult, but you won't change anything by staying silent. Her fight for the banned books gives a great template for kids everywhere to follow when challenging an unjust system - yes, even the secret library. Would Amy Anne have been able to make her point without breaking a rule or two? Sure. Would it have been nearly as effective? Absolutely not.
I love that this book involved parents who were willing to own up to their misdoings, apologize, and take steps to actively improve. It's important to have that insight into what positive parent-child interactions look like. Plus, too many books let adults off with a measly apology - see my review of The Girl On The Lake - when that part is the easiest for them to do. Doing better moving forward is often lost in the shuffle.
Also, I was pleased to note that despite the white author there were no weird quirks to 'prove' she or her family were Black. They just were. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Book banning has become a recurrent, noxious issue. Anything that encourages fighting against it is a-ok in my book. Read it and be reminded once more of why you do it in the first place.
reader4evr's review against another edition
5.0
This was so good and had such a positive message and I want to be friends with Amy Ann.
I hope this book peeks the curiosity of kids to find the books that are highlighted in this book!
I have enjoyed so much by Alan Gratz and I will continue to read everything that he continues to publish.
I hope this book peeks the curiosity of kids to find the books that are highlighted in this book!
I have enjoyed so much by Alan Gratz and I will continue to read everything that he continues to publish.
vtsarahd's review against another edition
5.0
Loved the main character, Amy Anne and her inner thinking across the story. I love how the titles of many other books are mentioned throughout the story, perhaps spurring young readers to do some additional reading on their own. Lots to debate when reading this story.