Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

This was a funny, yet touching MG about the power of books and standing up for what’s right.

This book was so funny! A lot of the names were puns – like Rita B. Danjerous, Etta Toryal, and Gladys Friday. It is also an epistolary format which is my favorite format to read!

In Don’t Check Out This Book, you get memos, emails, letter, and newspaper articles that document the school hiring a brand new librarian. She has a ‘green dot’ collection of books that you don’t need your library card to check out and this is just unacceptable to the superintendent of the school. She is very against books in general. She thinks children should follow the rules.

Rita, the librarian, is trying to teach the kids to question rules and who made them. Always do what you think is right and stand for what you believe in.

This novel is a laugh-out-loud story of the power of books and loud, mean people don’t win! I think it’s a great, important read for kids aged 8-12. Perfect for a classroom!

This was so much fun!! The formatting was a little difficult in an e-book form, but I cannot wait to read again once it's published!

A sweet and funny, small town story that has it's very own Umbridge from Harry Potter. I think this will do very well for the younger Middle Grade age range. The students in this book are in 5th grade and the antics and humor involved is very fitting for that grade.

I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers.

What I Didn’t Like:
-First, this book doesn’t work well as an ebook. The images are VERY well done and they lose something on the electronic device. In addition to that the format of letters doesn’t carry over well to the electronic device either.
-This one will appeal to lower middle grade readers, think 4th/5th grade. That’s not really a negative, just a note.

What I Did Like:
-The names of the characters are very punny. They match the characters personality and make for a fun reading out loud experience. This would be a GREAT classroom read along with the right group of kids.
-Big life lessons. This one deals with censorship, personal style, no access to materials at schools, corrupt financial backers, and more. All of this is buried inside of cute puns and a fun story kids will enjoy.
-Format. This one is told through a series of letters, emails, newspaper articles, demerits, and more. All a fun format to see AND (bonus for the teachers) many of the letters are written in formal business letter style!

Who Should Read This One:
-4th-6th grade teachers this will fast become one of your favorite group read alongs. Grab a copy (of multiple) for your classroom. These great themes make this a DO NOT MISS. Plus, I can already imagine about 20 amazing lessons spinning off of this one.
-Kids who like stories about students standing up for their beliefs will also like this one.

My Rating: 5 Stars. This will appeal to anyone who likes contemporary stories, humorous stories, or stories with big morals. Highly recommended.

A Clever Enough, Quick Read

Lots of puns built around the characters' names, a fairly heavyhanded censorship theme, and a crooked businesswoman make up the bulk of this extremely fast paced tale. There's a bit more sourness than I expected, especially regarding the adult characters and the fashion in which the various plot threads are wrapped up. Because the targets of the satire are obvious, easy, and readily overcome this struck me as appealing generally for very young readers who'll likely be engaged mostly by the puns and the antic action.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

What a unique and entertaining story! Told completely in letters and emails going back and forth, Don’t Check Out This Book tells a fun and quirky MG story full of cleverly named characters. This is a quick and easy read that I think MG readers would love!
Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the chance to review this advanced reader copy.

Don’t check out this book by Kaite Klise is an awesome read that will take you on a exciting and mysterious adventure! I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and memorable read!

I thought this book had great potential, however, when I evaluated it from the perspective of my students I found that the format was hard to follow and potentially confusing for the reader. I wonder if I would have felt differently had the book been slightly easier to follow?

I haven't read anything by Kate Klise that I didn't love and Don't Check Out This Book is not different. It is told in letters, newspaper clippings, and memos which makes it a quick and engaging read. I would recommend this for any middle grade reader.

This book was so much fun that I ate it up the moment I downloaded it, and couldn't stop.

Told in memos, letters, and newspaper articles, this is about Rita B. Dangerous, the new school marm, I mean new school librarian at a small down in the American heartland, where apples seems to be what it is known for.

She has modern views, such as kids should read what interests them, and this rubs the school board, made up of one woman, the wrong way.

I love how the fifth graders figure out what is going on, and how Rita worms her way into everyones hearts with her book choices for them.

Fun. Quick. I think kids will love this book, and even though it is a bit of a simple plot, I love how the boys are interested in sewing, and illustration, and the girls want to be writers and reporters.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

What a fun read! With an entertaining format and endearing characters, this is one middle grade book that will be loved by all ages.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is hysterical. The kids will love it because the good guys win in the ends, but it is really going to get the adults laughing harder, especially those that work in a school. The machinations will be so familiar, but the good guys win in the end, so it's not nearly as hard to take as it is in real life. This is definitely one I want in my library.

I love Kate Klise. This book was so fun. The characters were engaging. I see this being a hit in the library.

This book was a quick, hilarious book that had some great messages. All of the names in the books were puns of some sort. It may seem cheesy but it was very funny and fit wells with the feel of the story. The story was a love letter to books and librarians. A new librarian comes to the school and is really shaking things up for the "proper" people in town. She strives to get a book in everyone's hands. She starts a section in the library that contain more sensitive information that students don't have to check out and can just take and bring back when they're ready. I felt like the corruption of the principal and the town officials got a litter intense for kids at times, but I enjoyed the underlying concepts as an adult.

Don't Check Out This Book! by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise is another great book from this prolific team. The town of Appleton, Illinois is in for a shakeup when Rita B Danjerous is hired as the new school librarian. While Ms. Danjerous and her daughter May B quickly makee friends with many of the locals, school board president Ivana Beprawpa and principal Noah Meemree are not so keen on her presence or efforts to share books with kids and adults alike. Told through letters, emails, newspaper articles, and text messages, Don't Check Out This Book is a quick read that shows the power of books and education without feeling didactic. There is much for both kids and adults to enjoy in this fun book, and it might spark conversations about intellectual freedom with young readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I received this e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Klise sisters are at it again! They have written another book in epistolary form, using letters, emails, and notes. The names of all the characters are puns, although some you may need to say a couple of times. Appleton Elementary principal Noah Memree has hired a new school librarian, Rita B. Danjerous. The school is in danger of closing for insufficient students. Ms. Danjerous’s daughter, May, has enrolled in fifth grade, saving the school. Rita has brought along her own books for the school library, including the mysterious “green dot” collection. This piques the interest of school board president, and sole member of the school board, Ivana Beprawpa. Ms. Beprawpra starts to institute changes at the school that benefit her personally, like mandating school uniforms that must be purchased at her shop. When May and her friends start writing for the local newspaper, things start to change.
I really enjoyed reading this book! It is very similar to 43 Old Cemetery Road series. The only complaint that I had was that my e-ARC was not fully formatted so I missed some of the messages and story. I will definitely reread it when it is published! Recommended for grades 3-6.
#DontReadThisBook #NetGalley

Klise and Klise have joined together to produce a book filled with puns and multiple messages with great sketches to enhance both. Many of the puns will be obvious enough for all in the target audience of 4th to 6th grade to appreciate, but some will be grasped only by the brightest readers in the age group. The messages of fighting for what is right and the importance of reading for a variety of reasons should be apparent to all. With its humor, relatable characters and quickly moving storyline, “Don’t Check Out This Book” will have a place in many libraries. For those intrigued by the whole concept of a green dot book collection, Alan Gratz’s “Ban This Book” is a natural next choice.

There is no library currently at Appleton Elementary School, which is why Principal Noah Memree is confused when his secretary mentions the new librarian, Ms. Danjerous. He had forgotten that he had hired Ms. Danjerous on the last day of the previous school year, using money they received from a <i>When All Else Fails Grant.</i>

Since the room that used to be the library is piled high with extra desks and chairs and all the books had to be thrown out because of mold, he gives Ms. Danjerous the first floor broom closet. Luckily, Ms. Danjerous is bringing her books along with her ... some of which are part of a mysterious "green dot collection." These are books that students can take without checking out and return them when they are finished.

The Principal is thankful that Ms. Danjerous has a daughter, May B. Danjerous, because school enrollment is so low that the state may close them down at any minute. They need at least 20 students enrolled at all times to remain open. And with May, they have just enough. He's not so sure, though, about Ms. Danjerous. She seems to have some crazy ideas.

Add into the mix a new school board president, Ivana Beprawpa, whose biggest focus is for kids to have better manners AND school uniforms. And did we mention? She runs a clothing store from which the uniforms should be purchased? Hmm ... And she is also very concerned about this Green Dot collection that the students seem to be enjoying. Any book that keeps a kid reading late into the night surely isn't appropriate for that child. Maybe there should be a reading curfew? And why don't they have to check these books out?

Then there's Etta Toryal, publisher and editor of the local paper, who reports on all the goings on at the school. She even enlists Sarah Bellum, current 5th grade student to submit articles.

Told mostly through emails, memos and newspaper articles, this is a funny, quick read about one daring librarian who tries to satisfy "the hunger for books" she's sees in kids and adults and the smart kids who know better than adults what's really important in school. There are a lot of puns, especially for character names, that For third grade and up.

This selection will appeal to anyone who is a fan of titles such as Don't Open This Book. Just being told not to do something makes anyone want to do it, right? The cleverly-written plot is displayed in notes and letters which go back and forth between students, teachers, townspeople, the new school librarian, and a sinister new school board president. A small town only has a tiny number of students attending its school, and needs one more student to enroll in order to keep its doors open. Enter the new school librarian who has a fifth grade daughter. The problem lies with the new school board president, who institutes a new school dress code, among other new regulations. When the new school librarian decides to make waves with her "green dot" collection of books which students may borrow without checking them out, you can imagine the protests from the new school board president. This title would be a welcome addition to any elementary school library for middle grade readers. It contains many lessons about doing the right thing, and would provide many opportunities for classroom discussion.

Don't Check Out This Book is a well-written story told completely in letters from one character to another. The plot line is engaging and fun and the story makes you want to keep turning the page to see what happens next. The characters are entertaining and make you want to know more. I think kids will love this book!

The talented Klise sisters are at it again! This witty and creative love letter to librarians is written in the epistolary format that Kate and M. Sarah Klise are known for: memos, emails, letters, news articles, sticky notes, texts, and illustrations all come together to tell a brilliant, relevant story. I always have loved their knack for punny names, such as May B Dangerous, Gladys Friday, and Reid Durr. The book follows events in the very small town of Appleton, Illinois, whose population has diminished so much that they are one student away from closing the school. The arrival of that student, and her mother, the new librarian, as well as the rein of a new school board president, set off a hilarious chain of events that touch on topics such as political corruption, investigative journalism, gender stereotypes, financial responsibility, and banned books - all in 162 pages, and with plenty of laughs! I look forward to sharing this book with my students!

Thanks to #NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this wonderfully subversive book!