Amanda Jones's story is an important one, and she writes honestly about a brutally unfair and painful time in her life. The strength and determination that Jones demonstrated throughout this book is inspirational to the rest of us who are dealing with similar, albeit lesser, battles in the library world.

A must-read for anyone who values inclusivity, diversity, and the freedom to read, particularly educators, librarians, and book lovers who are passionate about defending the rights of marginalized communities and promoting a more equitable society.

This book was way too repetitive. It felt like the Jones was rushing to get the book out so that it felt more relevant but it could have used a lot more editing.

I’m a retired school librarian, and am well aware of groups that make it their mission to target books, libraries, and the people who work there. Amanda Jones deserves kudos for standing up to the people who defamed her, threatened her, and tried to destroy the career she loved.
Jones speaks candidly about the toll the “haters” took on her, and how painful it was to see people she had counted as friends joining the social media smear campaign. She filed suit for defamation, and thanks to a Go Fund Me campaign has been able to pursue legal complaints. She writes of wanting to take the high road, and in, many cases has done so, despite the challenges.
I appreciate her writing this book, especially since it draws attention to concerted censorship efforts being waged by various groups who fear diversity and inclusion.

Amanda Jones tells her story that is, unfortunately, becoming all too common these days - librarians being targeted by white Christian nationalist groups that spread horrifying lies to get forward their own censorship agenda. This is a frustrating, yet hopeful, read that leads the reader through the entire process from the beginning. She spoke at her local public library’s board meeting -which citizens have a right to do - about her concerns of censorship in regards to agenda topic. From that speech - which can be read in its entirety at the end - two white Christian nationalists used her as the platform for their hate campaign.

I know that being a public librarian who is watching this unfold in real-time and has an invested interest in how cases like Amanda’s are handled, I am inherently biased. However, I really do think that this is a good read. At the heart of it, it is her cathartic memoir - with very valid points and an interesting look into how a person can recover from this. Toward the end of the book, she even has a whole chapter dedicated to how one can prepare themselves so that they aren’t caught as flat-footed as she was (including a whole bibliography for her book - which duh, she’s a librarian.)

This is for the librarians and those who are passionately behind librarians. Though with that in mind, it does go into some detail about processes that the audience for this book are probably very familiar with, like collection policy and reconsideration policies.

However, this is not anything that you could hand over to someone who isn’t already kind of agreeing with Amanda and her stance on censorship (which I am in full agreement on her stance.) But for those who voted for Trump and do not regret it (as she very clearly states), some of the book might be extremely off-putting and would probably even prompt them to not finish the book.

Overall a very good book with all kinds of useful resources and insight!

Full disclosure: I received an e-galley from the publisher through e-galley.

Following the story of Amanda Jones in the library world has been both scary and inspirational. She has been a long-time school librarian, who stood up for the rights of public libraries. She was publicly humiliated, slandered, and threatened.

Recommended for public libraries and academic libraries.

SIGH, I wish any of this was new to me. I am not a librarian but I was a library administrator for several years, the last couple working in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Though not to the extent of hate given to this Louisiana librarian, after bringing diversity programs (including a drag Queen story time) to our system we were harassed with death threats, bomb threats, visits from the Proud Boys, and contentious board meetings - all based on dishonest representations and downright lies from far right so-called Christians. Now that the bitter rant is over…Ms. jones experience is reprehensible and disheartening. Her response is courageous and inspiring. Her writing about it should help other librarians and she should be commended.

As an avid reader and user of my public library system, this particular title caught my eye. After reading the description, I knew I needed to read this immediately! I was appalled by many of the things the librarian had to endure and go thru. I am also so sad the world has come to this banning books era. This is a definite must read for your non fiction shelf.

First the review:

"I chose to take a stand, and that decision changed the trajectory of my life . . . I have zero regrets."

After speaking her mind at a public meeting on "book content," school librarian Amanda Jones found her Facebook page blazing with slurs, accusations, and death threats. Thus began an uphill, and ongoing battle for Jones to defend her right to create a safe, inclusive environment for EVERY reader. I highly recommend this one to anyone interested in censorship, and the freedom to make choices. My only complaint about the book is it seems to be more about internet bullying (I thought Melania was supposed to take care of that . . . ) than book banning.

Now the rant:

Last year the library where I work attempted to have a drag queen story time. (Though we received numerous complaints over the phone, only one protestor showed up that day, and he sat outside on his lawn-chair clutching a little sign that said something about pedophiles.) No children attended the story time, though every member of our library board was there in a show of support. Later that year when we sent out letters asking for donations, we received one reply that stated loosely that, "she would NEVER give money to us as we had drag queens talking to children, and the book Gender Queer on our shelves." Had this irate woman been secure enough in her views to include her name and address, I would have happily written her back to let her know that our children's librarian offers over one hundred story times a year that DON'T feature drag queens, and our shelves feature thousands of books that DON'T concern LGBTQ issues or characters.

When you attempt to defund libraries, you take EVERYTHING away from communities: books for children AND homeschoolers about animals and nature, sweet and innocent tales by Nicholas Sparks, clean books about Amish romance, access to computers for job seekers, and heat or air conditioning for the homeless. Take away money from libraries, and you're not just harming the LGBTQ community, as many right-wingers seem to think.

The Heritage Foundation has put together a nifty little package called Project 2025, and, make no mistake about it, it will be implemented the next time a Republican attains our highest office. Part of their master plan seeks to jail pornographers, which in Christian speak means anything about LGBTQ individuals. (Don't worry - good Christian men will still be able to stop off at those strip clubs on the way home from bible study.) The Project report is filled with "allegations of criminal conduct by librarians, publishers, authors, and educators and argues in favor of criminal charges and incarceration."* Eleven states have already passed laws posing restrictions on libraries, and the majority of the most frequently challenged books are by and about LGBTQ people, and people of color.

If you care about the First Amendment and the freedom to read, you know what you have to do.


*EveryLibrary

"I knew that social media was a vicious place. I just didn't know how diabolical it could be."

As a teacher-librarian, the truth of this statement, and the author's story, makes this book one of the scariest I've read in a long time. Because this happened. And is still happening.

Add to your must-read nonfiction list.

A brutal and honest look into the lies and darkness that banning books in America is and who is behind it. Amanda’s story will resonate with parents, teachers, and librarians, and is a gift full of hope in the end for the future of intellectual freedom.

This is a good story and I respect what Amanda went through in order to speak her truth. I am not sure she needed to share her political view on the presidential race but it is her story.

I so wanted to love this book. This is the story of many a librarian’s worst nightmare come to life and told by a librarian I want to relate to, but that is where I struggle. The telling of the slander and torments this woman has and continues to go through along with actionable information is spot on and makes me want to jump in and do even more to defend us against censorship. It’s the several off shoots into self pity that make this a difficult read.

In the times we are in, it is necessary for people outside of library world to see what we are often up against. I followed Amanda's experience with these hate groups as it happened. I applauded her for her courage then and applaud her now for writing this book. Thank you for your courage and determination Amanda!

As an aspiring librarian currently working in an academic library, I was excited to read Amanda's story. I wish I could say what I read was shocking, but unfortunately her experience is one that I fear far too many people are dealing with during this current rise of alt-right, fascist, and downright dangerous sentiment. I greatly admire her strength and her honesty as detailed throughout this book, as well as her owning up to her own flaws and necessary personal growth.

I think this book will be particularly interesting for people who aren't already aware of the issues plaguing libraries and schools right now. My only true complaint per se is that, as some other reviewers have noted, the book could have benefited from a little more editing. There are several bits that are especially repetitive and it just distracts from the flow.

All in all, this is a book worth checking out -- especially if you're interested in the library field or just wondering what the hell is going on with the increase of recent censorship attempts. Chapter 15 is particularly useful as a mini-guide on how to get involved, who to contact, and how to know what you're looking for.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.)

As a fellow school librarian and educator, Amanda’s story gave me hope at a time when schools and libraries feel under attack from so many directions. Her candid voice conveys a traumatizing, stress-filled situation that she truly turned in to a positive by reaching out to advocate and show support for all. There were moments that were honestly hard to imagine as she described the vitriol that was thrown her way. I appreciated her honesty in sharing her feelings, emotions, reactions, and even the struggles that her health encountered due to the stress.

Amanda does a beautiful job of encouraging others to find ways to stay active in their communities. Her examples shared in the final chapters are simple, straight forward ways that anyone can easily do and that I feel are so important to continue to share. I loved her message that the heart of the library is truly a place for all and the importance of keeping personal beliefs separate in order to provide a space that holds the tools for any and all to access.

Thank you to Net Galley and Bloomsbury for this ARC, and thank you to Amanda for being raw and vulnerable in sharing her story. What an amazing advocate for her students and community members.

Maybe you’ve never heard of Amanda Jones, but I sure have. Amanda Jones is a big freaking deal in the library world. She simultaneously represents (at least to me) the goals librarians have to make a difference - as well as the dangers of being outspoken against censorship. She lives and works in a small parish in Louisiana not very far from where I lived for a long time (although I was not in education at that time), and she’s been under attack for years by narrow-minded and hateful people in her community - and even nationwide - that use her as a scare tactic for their quest to control information and viewpoints.

This book read more like personal journal entries to me than it did an edited memoir. A few times I did think, wow this is coming across as incredibly defensive, and then I had to remind myself that this woman’s name was dragged through the mud and she’d found a platform on which to share her side of the story - of course it was going to be defensive! However, I think that the overall message is undercut because it drags on too long and should have been edited to be a tighter and more concise message. Even I, a colleague who is very passionate about this message, found myself skimming over some pages because it all began to feel too repetitive. Still, the heart of the story is so powerful and, unfortunately, so relevant to communities in every part of the country.

This is a great book for librarians but also anyone who is interested in the fight against book banning and how libraries actually work. I also think this would be great as required reading for graduate students in MLIS programs. Amanda Jones continues to be an inspiration for this librarian, and I hope to be as brave, as vocal, and as passionate as she is!

"That Librarian" is a very pertinent memoir in this day of book bans and heightened politicized drama. Amanda Jones has suffered some truly awful vitriol directed at her for simply affirming that libraries have a collection development policy that allows for a reflection of the community in her Louisiana parish. For that she was called a groomer and accused of having books explaining anal sex in the children's area, lies so patently false that a simple internet fact check could have dispelled the rumors, but didn't. Her story and her advocacy is passionate and relevant, but not in a way that the editing always shows in the best light.

Many of Jones's chapters seems to skip around, from the initial conflict, to the failed attempt at suing some of the lead perpetrators for defamation. The fact that her appeal case is still pending is understandable it wouldn't be the backbone of the memoir, but skipping around chronologically made the memoir feel more like someone talking to you off the cuff than a comprehensive story. Other times the things she's referencing, like her comparing the censors to the French mob in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" comes off a little awkward. In the way her natural inclination to cite the source grinds the flow of the story to a halt. This does not detract from her lived experiences, and I actually found her speech and moments where she shifts from her life to advocacy to be the strongest parts of the book. However, as a blended memoir and manifesto it feels like it should have been given more editorial help.

Editing note: on page 204 of the galley I see a misprint. "White Christian nationalists strive for male dominance, obedient wives, and same sex marriage." I think she meant heterosexual marriage, although I have to say I've seen some alt-right people hate women so much I wonder if it's because they're venting their lack of proper attraction to them.

Wow! As a librarian myself, this real account can show how ones life can change after sharing ones thoughts at a public library meeting on "book content" with the job as a school librarian. A go to for any librarian for what can happen, how to keep going and tons of information/resources to face challenges that come, when you are "That Librarian".

Bloomsbury USA provided an early galley for review.

I am currently an adult services librarian in a public library, so books related to my career are a big interest. Also an interest is the growing challenges that we librarians are facing every day when it comes to censorship and the attempts to limit the materials we make available for all readers in our community. That is what drew me to Amanda's story.

The opening chapter describing the aftermath of the hearing is very powerful. I really felt for her and what she was going through. The story then shifts to a few chapters of background leading up to the hearing itself. It was good to get a sense for the community where she grew up, still lives and works as well as the sense overall with what had been happening with libraries in Louisiana up to that point. The climate at the time was tense indeed (and still is).

Where things got a little "uncomfortable", for me, is with how personal she was willing to go. Sharing details from her family life, conversations she had with friends, and even her ongoing thoughts of aggression against those who harassed her were a lot. I understand she is making known her truth, but I fear this book will just continue the cycle of attacks and harassment against her. Speaking out at the hearing put her in the public eye; this book along with the many interviews and appearances she has done (as noted in the book) continue to keep her in that spotlight - for the good of the cause and for ill in her own life. That is a brave thing to do for one's profession and beliefs. I am fairly sure that is not a level of notoriety I am willing put myself into, especially in the current social-political world we've been living in for the past several years. I would find myself instead standing behind the policies of our library, letting them speak clearly where I might not be able to.

Since the subtitle of this one is "The Fight Against Book Banning in America", I appreciated when the author included details of other libraries across the country who are responding to similar attacks and censorship. I wish there was more focus on these other libraries; what little we got was sprinkled in-between her personal fight and grievances.

In the end, she provides some good information on how to be a more vocal advocate against book banners. That will prove useful to those looking into this. All in all, it was an enlightening read and has plenty to offer even those not part of our profession.