Amanda's honesty and bravery is inspirational. The tribulations she has had to go through just to be able to do her job is apprehensible, and this book sheds some light on the hardships of being a librarian in American in the past several years. I hope her courage never falters, and I hope we can return to a time of decency when we can treat each other with civility, and when court cases such as hers are no longer needed.

Let me start by stating that my lower rating has nothing to do with how I feel about the issue of book banning. I appreciate Ms. Jones' standing up for the right to read.

What I did take issue with is the length of the book and the repetitive chapters telling about her emotional struggle. It has to be incredibly difficult (and even more so in a small community) to be attacked for what you believe from the very people you believed to be your friends. I expected somewhat more of a timeline of the events. the court cases and trials. As a result, I skimmed and skipped much of the book. I believe a better job of editing would have led to a much improved book. She does give positive steps to take in the event something like this were to occur in your own community.

Amanda Jones is a school librarian in Louisiana who went to a library board meeting at her local public library and spoke in defense of libraries. She was targetted by an outside organization trying to stir up controversy and mediator of the local Facebook page. They lied, she sued and the story goes from there.

Why I started this book: Requested it from Netgalley because this is a cause that I'm passionate about and I was eager to learn her story.

Why I finished it: This is a good story badly written. Or at most generous, unevenly. Which is a real shame. Perhaps if the memoir and manifesto had been separated out more? It's a little bit of a mess, and can be repetitive in places. And I feel really bad about saying that... because I believe that she's fighting the good and necessary fight.

I am glad that this book exists, but I felt let down by it. It's also difficult for me to write reviews about memoirs, because I feel badly about judging someone else's experiences.... I am sorry to hear that Amanda experienced such backlash for being "that librarian," and the stories that she had to share were interesting to me as I am a librarian myself. I suppose I just wish it was presented differently. From beginning to end, this wasn't an empowering, encouraging to librarians, or even cautionary - it was sympathy seeking. This could have been extremely powerful if written in a different tone, and I think others in the professional field would agree.

Amanda Jones is brave for writing this book. The perspective from the inside is so important and Amanda shares her story in an honest and heartbreaking way.

Well thought out and well written! As a former library worker, this topic is very close to my heart, but Amanda made it available to everyone.

That Librarian by Amanda Jones is a charming and insightful exploration of the often-overlooked lives of librarians. Jones beautifully weaves together anecdotes and reflections, highlighting the unique challenges and joys of the profession. The characters are well-developed, offering a relatable glimpse into the world of books and community. With its engaging narrative and thoughtful commentary, this book is a must-read for book lovers and anyone curious about the role of libraries in today’s society.

" What they're really saying is that the LGBTQIA+ community shouldn't be given equal rights or even be acknowledged. They can't just leave queer people alone. No, they want to take away their rights and "other" them. Alt-right conspiracy theorists fixate on the idea that teachers and librarians are all in a plot to turn their children gay. It's ludicrous, and I wish they would take off the tin-foil hats before our country no longer has any educators or librarians. But perhaps that is the idea."

This is a book that shouldn't have to be written. Who would think we would have a society where libraries and libraries are viciously attacked? Your local neighborhood librarian exists to help children learn to read and embrace the magic of reading. Who helps seniors learn technology skills. Who helps people find jobs and assistance. And yet, they are attacked with claims of harming children. It is entirely unfathomable. And yet, here we are. It's infuriating that someone can be a billionaire on the bodies of murdered children, yet librarians are attacked to the point that they become radioactive to associate with.

Amanda Jones has had to face this firsthand. A school librarian, she provided public comment against book banning at her local library board meeting. One of many speaking that night, she would find herself singled out and eviscerated online the next day. She was called a groomer and a pedophile who exposed pornography to children. She was devastated as people she knew well in the community and even coworkers would turn against her. She would fight back in court, but after many tense exchanges, she was viewed as an s a public official, making it fair game for people to say anything they wanted against her.

This movement attempts to silence anyone who provides diverse materials for the public and children. Books are a mirror and a window; patrons should be able to see themselves reflected in the collection and learn about people different from themselves. People attacking librarians nationwide often do not even have library cards or live in the community. It is shocking that it has gotten to this point.

Amanda Jones hasn't stopped fighting and attempting to foil the efforts of those who would ban books and scare librarians out of the profession. Furthermore, this book is essential for capturing this moment. Librarians and librarians attacked viciously with little recourse for their defense.

Favorite Passages:

So many of my school librarian friends have essentially gone into hiding after being targeted. Educators who were once the face of the most popular sessions at librarian conferences have disappeared for their own safety or the security of their families. I miss seeing their faces and learning from them. Some have even completely left social media, so librarians I messaged and kept up with through those avenues are gone from my life. I think of them often and wonder if they are okay. I do not fault them and under-stand completely. Their safety and mental health should be their focus, and they need to do what they need to do. A few of us have even formed our own support group online on a private Facebook group to help offer moral support and suggestions for coping through the stress of it all. What kind of world are we living in that has some of our most devoted community servants living so terrified?

Throughout this whole ordeal, I have felt that there was an attempt to silence me. Whether that was because they just didn't want to deal with the issue, because of their own fears or anger at me personally, I will never know unless I ask, and I'm not going to ask. There was a movement to silence me through the posts of these two men and then an attempt to silence me from people I thought were friends. There is a massive amount of political pressure in our community from the far-right and our citizens and leaders let their fear of becoming targets, and their cowardice, affect their decisions. It takes bravery to speak out. I guess it is a courage many do not have.

Last fall, I was invited to speak to a group that included many trans women. As I was listing my woes of being called names online, I had a huge epiphany. Here I was crying to these women over something that at most will cause me turmoil for a few years. Meanwhile, they will face harassment forever. How horrible of a thought—that what I'm feeling for a few months or years is someone's entire life? Because I have diarrhea of the mouth, and sometimes just let my newfound thoughts ooze out of my mouth with no thought, I said this out loud. They clapped and snapped for me. That's when I realized that we all face difficult situations each in our own way. Some situations are worse than others and some last longer than others. Our pain is our own and it sucks. It doesn't mean I'm belit-tling my experience or saying it's not painful. It's just different. I've faced this hate because of what I said (and didn't actually say), but they face it because of who they are. Nobody should ever be made to feel less than for who they are. This constant barrage of hate toward the LGBTQIA+ commu-nity is not normal behavior. Homophobic and racist people try to justify their hate, but it boils down to their fear of anyone who looks and thinks differently from them. What used to be whispered is now a very outward display of hate. Or maybe I just noticed it for the first time? I guess that makes me woke. Woke. Ha. That's another word that's thrown around a lot. I'd rather be accused of being woke than be accused of being a hateful bigot. The kids in my town are paying attention. I want them to know that not everyone in our town hates the LGBTQIA+ community. I want them to see that there are adults in the world who truly want to protect children and not just mock and malign people. Not everyone is actively racist. I must think of the children in our community and set a good example.

What they're really saying is that the LGBTQIA+ community shouldn't be given equal rights or even be acknowledged. They can't just leave queer people alone. No, they want to take away their rights and "other" them. Alt-right conspiracy theorists fixate on the idea that teachers and librarians are all in a plot to turn their children gay. It's ludicrous, and I wish they would take off the tin-foil hats before our country no longer has any educators or librarians. But perhaps that is the idea.

Books and librarians are not harming children. Books provide comfort and libraries provide safe spaces. If anyone says otherwise, I’d ask them when they’d last visited a library or spoke to a librarian.

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the eGalley to review!

That Librarian is indeed part memoir and part manifesto, as Amanda Jones takes an unfiltered approach to defend herself against the years-long smear campaign pitted against her, and to mobilize the public to defend our local libraries and library staff.

The book is essentially one long call-out post to everyone who has lied about her objectives and actions and to everyone who turned tail and betrayed her the first moment they could. There are screenshots aplenty and transcriptions of conversations as proof of the vile attacks on her and hers. Truly, it is completely and utterly bizarre for such a small handful of people to be so obsessed with one person and to keep attacking her with outright lies just for a few bucks, but that's pretty much what's been happening ever since she stood up for her local public library at a public meeting. The speech she gave that started all this is included in the back (along with a bibliography) so readers can read for themselves to see what it was (or wasn't) that made these people go off the rails. Jones even says that if these people would just get over themselves, she wouldn't be needing to write a book like this, because she'd prefer for it all to just go away. So she'll continue to use her platform to not just defend herself, but to defend libraries and library workers as a whole, as long as there are similar smear campaigns across the country.

While I greatly appreciate the call-to-action to defend local libraries and marginalized communities, some of the book was a bit rough to get through, as Jones repeats herself often, making it seem like she needed to pad the word count for a certain page length. She could have benefited from an editor who could help her make her points more succinct. Nonetheless, it's a refreshingly raw memoir with such personal writing that everyone can grasp and understand, making it a great tool for advocacy. I want to hand out several copies of this book and point to certain sections, saying, "See? This is what I was talking about!" given my own position as a library worker. I think it's going to help many people pause and not believe everything they see on social media. At least, I hope it does.

That Librarian by Amanda Jones is a wonderful chronicle of this time in history, and, as a high school librarian, I connected with Jones' story. I'm not sure if this book will have a reach outside of professional circles, but I'm glad it was written and published to serve as a testimony to what happened to Jones and is happening around the country.

Thank you, Amanda Jones, for fighting for libraries, librarians, and readers everywhere!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this title.

Amanda is pissed (& she has every right to be). As a school librarian in Louisiana, she spoke up at a public library board meeting against censorship. Almost immediately a vocal right-wing group began harassing her online. They barraged her with hate--calling her a pedophile & groomer (it continues to this day). She was distraught--even so-called friends abandoned her. She decided to fight back & sued the men who began the harassment. If this can happen to Amanda--a lifelong conservative--it can happen to anyone.

Although it could be a bit repetitive in parts, this memoir allows Amanda to speak her truth, with the anger she is owed. I was so incensed on her behalf. How her so-called friends kowtowed to the mob of hate and didn't stand up for her. How two men--and their minions of hate and lies--were supported by the Louisiana justice system to--so far--defame her with lies and vitriol. Nationally several drag performers have won settlements for being labeled as Amanda has been labeled. I hold out hope she gets the same justice they have. Falsely and viciously calling opponents of book-banning these things dilutes the likelihood that the real perpetrators of this in our society will be held accountable.

Amanda's memoir offers good advice, especially about how educators/librarians can fight back. She rightly claims (again and again) that NO trained and educarted librarians or educators are putting inappropriate books in front of kids. These are professionals who are trained to know what books are appropriate for kids because they serve ALL not just a few.

Amanda shows how one innocuous speech (it's included in the book) can open the door for heinous harassment by vicious people who lie in the pursuit of power & control. This is a must-read for anyone who is interested or involved in efforts to speak up and out against book-banning.

As the owner of the only Black-owned brick-and-mortar bookstore in South Carolina, I am continuously amazed by the ignorance that still persists in this state. The recent push to ban books to avoid feelings of guilt is particularly perplexing. Feeling guilty should be a part of the reckoning process, especially in a state that once prohibited Black people from learning to read. One would think that such a history would foster a belief in the importance of allowing everyone to read whatever books they choose.

Attacking bookstores and libraries because of the content they offer is not only ignorant but also a grave disservice to the community. We will not be deterred. I come from a lineage of resilient individuals, including my grandmother, who was barred from entering a library in Athens, Georgia, out of fear. We will continue to fight against this fear and ignorance.

To those who support book banning, consider how this reflects on you. When you reach the pearly gates (if you believe you will), think about how your actions have impeded the progress and education of others. We will keep pushing forward, undeterred and unafraid.
Your commitment to providing a space where everyone can access literature is commendable. Keep standing strong and advocating for the power of reading and education.

In this powerful memoir, Louisiana librarian Amanda Jones explores and explains why she spoke up against a local book ban and the vitriol, abuse, court cases, and consequences that followed. Including images of social media posts, headlines, and other relevant photos to supplement her powerful, descriptive, and honest prose, Jones brings the years-long struggle (that is still ongoing) to life and places it in the larger context of other national book bans and the reasons behind such legislation. Jones received a lot of media attention (positive and negative) and support (and hate) from others outside her small town, and she uses this information to place her own story and struggles into a larger national context, an important strategy that provides nuance to other book bans through a study of incidents and details in her own life. Jones, continuing to put her story out there, is a strong writer with a clear passion for her work, and her bravery and strength is inspiring and profound. In this strong, compelling, and emotional memoir, readers learn more about the front lines in the book ban struggle in the United States, and Jones makes this struggle powerful and personal through her recollection of her own experiences.

As an ELA teacher, this text certainly hit close to home. In this time of ever-increasing culture wars, it’s one of an educators' greatest fears to be at the center of such community speculation and backlash. Amanda Jones courageously catalogs her experiences navigating erroneous allegations regarding censorship at her local library. While the events of this incident are harrowing, as a reader I was looking for more than mere memoir: I had hoped to learn more about the broader cultural phenomenon surrounding book censorship across the country and, perhaps, the historical implications. Jones’ experiences are relatable, but at times it felt like she spent more time editorializing individuals than examining the systemic politicization surrounding literacy.

Toward the end of the text, Jones provides step-by-step instructions on how to respond should the reader ever be subject to similar scrutiny. I’m sure some folks appreciated these learned lessons, but I was looking for more proactive vs. reactive measures.

*This book was read and reviewed in partnership with NetGalley.*

As a teacher at the forefront of the recent push to ban books, this is such an inspiring story of someone who is fighting back to protect our freedoms.

This is a very important book, and I commend Amanda Jones’ honesty in telling her story. I fully align with her thoughts on censorship and appreciate her open-mindedness while living in an area mostly populated with right-leaning conservatives. However, as many have said, the beginning and end of this book were the best parts. The middle chapters fell victim to repetition, particularly regarding the continued attacks online, Jones’ emotional turmoil, and how she was choosing to respond, or not respond, to the claims being made against her. Unfortunately, I kind of slogged through the middle of the book when I really wanted to enjoy it more.

REVIEW: That Librarian by Amanda Jones

I knew going in that this would be an emotional roller coaster of a story. As a former library worker who now also has her master’s and license as a school library media specialist, I am SUPER passionate about access to books for everyone. Book banning is a topic that will always get me fired up. I had heard about Amanda Jones before the book, so I was intrigued to read more of her story.

That Librarian was both a fascinating and heartbreaking read. It is still crazy how much libraries and librarians are under attack lately. Amanda Jones had to deal with so much bullying and hatred for just speaking at a public library board meeting about censorship. All Amanda stated was that there is a policy and process that needs to be used to challenge any books. She was attacked online and felt fearful whenever she went. The toll all that negativity takes on her is so much. She even tried to press charges for sharing false information, but they just tried to change the case about “porn” in the library.

Amanda also shares so much inspiration and light throughout the book. She talks about inclusivity and diversity and how they are so important in our lives and the library. Amanda was very insightful and made me stop and reflect on the current climate, especially with books.

The only thing that hindered the story at times was the structure and pacing of the book. There were many back-and-forth time jumps that made it hard to follow. I also thought some areas were stretched too long and didn’t feel much was happening.

Overall, I enjoyed That Librarian. It is one of those reads that everyone should experience to see how deep issues with books, libraries, and librarians are now.

Thank you, Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA | Bloomsbury Publishing, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

This is an important story and I applaud Amanda for sharing it. Painful and heartbreaking, I’m heartened to finally see a librarian memoir on the market.

Amanda Jones is a Middle School librarian in southern Louisiana who decided to speak publicly about banning books at the Public Library. Her speech wasn’t even that controversial (I live in a college town, so maybe my standards are different?) but it sparked such online hatred and lies that she was motivated to defend herself publicly and in court. She was called a “groomer” and other horrible names that simply were nowhere near being true which caused an understandable spiral into anxiety and fear. The whole situation was scary and really depressing and definitely isn’t a onetime occurrence. This is happening to librarians across the country and to me indicates one of the most horrifying actions in the turning tide of this country. I think that Amanda presents the facts clearly, emphasizing her beliefs, what she actually said at the meeting and the TRUE protocol that libraries follow when making books available to their patrons. I do think this book was too long, and that the message might have been more effective if in a tighter format, however, the fight against book banning is one of the most important battles currently and one that I hope continues to be written about. I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley.