Ban This Book

This may not be M/M romance or adventure, but this is a great book. I’m making an exception here. This middle-grade book is inspiring. It is encouraging. I’d never heard of it until I read that a few parents in Florida had banned it from school libraries. The parents clearly hadn’t read it, or are lying as they claimed it had sexual content. It doesn’t. It does acknowledge that books about sex exist, but that is about the extent of it. It does give an interesting game plan for kids who want to fight book bans. And it is a throughly enjoyable book even for adults.

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You’re Never Too Young to Fight Censorship!

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!

“Readers, librarians, and all those books that have drawn a challenge have a brand new hero…. Stand up and cheer, book lovers. This one’s for you.” ―Kathi Appelt, author of the Newbery Honor-winning The Underneath

“Ban This Book is absolutely brilliant and belongs on the shelves of every library in the multiverse.”―Lauren Myracle, author of the bestselling Internet Girls series, the most challenged books of 2009 and 2011

“Quick paced and with clear, easy-to-read prose, this is a book poised for wide readership and classroom use.”―Booklist

“A stout defense of the right to read.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Gratz delivers a book lover’s book that speaks volumes about kids’ power to effect change at a grassroots level.” ―Publishers Weekly

The Purple Fantastic Steam Rating gives this a 0 out of 5. Despite the claims of idiot parents who have never read the book, it is completely appropriate for children to read. It should inspire them. That’s the real reason right-wing parents don’t want kids to read this book. There are a couple of references to books that discuss sex, but in the context of the nine year old thinking “I’m not sure if I’m ready for this information yet”.  You can read more about the Steam Ratings on the About Page.