Inspiring a love for books: Ban This Book: A Novel

Gratz, A. (2017). Ban this book: a novel. NY: Starscape/Macmillan.

From the publisher:

"Ages 8-12"

"In Ban This Book by Alan Gratz, 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. Ban This Book is a stirring defense against censorship that’s perfect for middle grade readers. Let kids know that they can make a difference in their schools, communities, and lives!"

From Kirkus:

"A shy fourth-grader leads the revolt when censors decimate her North Carolina school's library. In a tale that is dominated but not overwhelmed by its agenda, Gratz takes Amy Anne, a young black bibliophile, from the devastating discovery that her beloved From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler has been removed from the library at the behest of Mrs. Spencer, a despised classmate's mom, to a qualified defense of intellectual freedom at a school board meeting: "Nobody has the right to tell you what books you can and can't read except your parents." Meanwhile, as more books vanish, Amy Anne sets up a secret lending library of banned titles in her locker--a ploy that eventually gets her briefly suspended by the same unsympathetic principal who fires the school's doctorate-holding white librarian for defiantly inviting Dav Pilkey in for an author visit. Characters frequently serve as mouthpieces for either side, sometimes deadly serious and other times tongue-in-cheek ... Indeed, Amy Anne's narrative is positively laced with real titles that have been banned or challenged and further enticing teasers for them. Contrived at some points, polemic at others, but a stout defense of the right to read. (Fiction. 9-11)"

I am adding this book to my collection for grades 3-5 because it fosters a love for books and it refers students to other great books in the process. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg stars in this book as a main character. I believe this book will catch readers’ attention and challenge readers in 3-5th grade. Kirkus recommends this book for ages 9-11, and the publisher recommends this book for ages 8-12.



Keywords: Books, Censorship, Libraries, Free Speech

This book can tie in to the English language arts standards for grades 3-5 beginning on page 70 of the Kentucky Academic Standards. 

BAN THIS BOOK. (2017). Kirkus Reviews, Lxxxv(12), Kirkus Reviews, Vol.LXXXV(12).

Kentucky Department of Education. (2017). Kentucky Academic Standards. Retrieved September 20, 2017, from https://education.ky.gov/curriculum/standards/Pages/default.aspx

Macmillan Publishers. (2017). Ban This Book, Alan Gratz. Retrieved September 20, 2017, from https://us.macmillan.com/banthisbook/alangratz/9780765385567/