After a year of truly dealing with book ban issues across the country, I enjoyed a book where the students fight back. It’s a hard time to truly show how amazing finding the right book is for kids- especially during their 4-8 grade years when they are learning who they are through physical changes as well as social and emotional ones.

Kudos to Levy for writing a thoughtful, well-researched story about book banning that will inspire readers to become activists. The diverse cast of characters feels authentic and current, although the narrator wasn't always likable. Unfortunately, the long passages about book banning often felt didactic, which pulled me out of the story.

I recieved a free eARC of this book so I could read it and share my honest opinions. Thank you for the opportunity.

About 2 years ago, I started reviewing books in large part to make it easier for other teachers to comply with state laws that required that parents be notified of content in books accessible in schools. The hope I had was that maybe, just maybe, parents would be able to get information that a book wasn't scary just because it had a gay character, talked about racism, or might make someone feel bad.

This book takes the current rush to ban and restrict books...and even more, ideas, head on.

Molly's had a difficult last few years. Her older brother, who was chronically ill, died recently. Molly had taken on a lot of responsibilty, a lot of guilt, a lot of pain.

Her high point was the LBC, a book club at school that read and discussed hard to handle books-a way to connect to other kids and in many ways, to feel less alone because the book characters had to deal with hard stuff, too. Facilitated by an amazing teacher.

That is, until parents complain, and Ms Lewiston is placed on administrative leave. The complaints are familiar to anyone who listens to the news or has to select materials for kids now. Books with a single kiss deemed "too sexual" because the two characters were both boys. Books that talk about racially motivated violence deemed anti-american.

As the kids attempt to figure out what happened and try to save their beloved books and teacher, the book gets more and more reflective of the current situation in schools and communities and libraries. It does an excellent job of showing the true cost of these bans.

I want every school board member, every parent to read this book. To realize that, far from protecting kids just how much this has hurt kids like Molly. Kids who NEED these books, need these discussions, need the safety of exploring these topics through literature. And I want kids to read this book to see that they're not alone.

The books mentioned also make a really great reading list, for your own banned book club.

Unfortunately, I have no confidence that this book will be shelved in school libraries. But I'll be adding it to my "to buy" list for my little free library, which I put in two years ago for the same reason the RODS kids started stocking the ones in their community. I encourage others to do the same...because it's a story that needs to be heard and understood.

I loved the friendships that took the lead in the book. I especially enjoyed how the group text name always changed. That made me giggle. Molly's passion is exactly the kind of passion that middle schoolers are capable of, and I'm glad to see that highlighted in this book. I love that the passion was ignited by a love for reading and an inspiration from a teacher.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. The topic of this book is extremely relevant to what is going on today. Even though the banning of books has been around for centuries, it has always been the act of the cowardly in my opinion. Those who ban books want to ban the ability to think critically. I believe the author did a good job in highlighting the MC’s life struggles while also shining a light on the banned book controversy and the necessity of taking a stand.

Review is also posted on my Goodreads

I cannot wait for this book to be published because I can see this book being VERY popular at my library. I could imagine myself in this story as a teen and I think there will be a lot of teens saying the same once they read this book.

Perfect for fans of Gratz' Ban This Book, King's Attack of the Black Rectangles, Levithan's Answers in the Pages, Varne's Property of the Rebel Librarian, and Yang's Finally Seen.

And in case anyone thinks this is a new concern, let's not forget Hentoff's 1982 The Day They Came to Arrest the Book .

Wow! What a powerful and timely story with so many relevant topics to our kids today. This book is incredible and I would highly recommend it for middle school and up. I love the mention of so many other books within this one as well. I really enjoy when an author does that and I connect even more to the story bc I’ve read the same books. I already preordered the hard copy of this one!

A group of middle school students find their school book club becoming disbanded after someone reports one of the books controversial. The students set out to find who and why. In the midst of this, these students are also going through their own personal life issues. I thoroughly enjoyed that these students fought for what they believed.

There are great responses from the book club leader, Ms. Lewiston, that should be read and then re-read! A good novel for middle school and up, IMO. Make sure to read the authors notes at the end.

Thank you, Random House Children's/Delacorte Press for the ARC.

As the middle school characters in the book are going through their own life issues, they find solace in their school book club. When the club is disbanded, the friends work together to find out who is behind it and why. Throughout the book, there is mention of popular middle school age books that have been banned and the reasons why. This is an important book to bring to light the realities behind book banning. It’s also a good book about middle school issues and friendships, and the realities of growing up.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Molly and her group of friends were fun characters and the side stories were good. There were some parts of the book I feel could have been more succinct and others that should have been expanded. All in all, 4 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #NotAnotherBannedBook by #DanaAlisonLevy in exchange for honest feedback.

Excellent!
Molly has had a lot of upheaval in her life for a 13-year-old. When her old brother died two years ago, her parents mourned so deeply that they almost stopped functioning. Her best friend Amelia seems to have suddenly become a different and unlikable person. The best, and sometimes only, constant in Molly’s life is the book club at school, where she and her book-loving buddies have open discussions. Until some outsider raises a complaint about a book, a beloved teacher is suspended, and all the “controversial” books are hauled away. Molly and her friends refuse to take this lying down, and they might have to resort to some drastic measures to make their feelings known…
Many important and timely lessons are artfully scattered throughout this book. The suspended teacher’s response to Molly when she’s feeling discouraged shows respect for the students’ feelings. It also points out the responsibility that a teacher has in following school guidelines for choosing teaching material.
I think this novel would be very inspiring for middle-grade and Y.A. students., especially with all the information about beginning “Little Free Libraries.” The author’s notes at the end are interesting, and obviously written from her book-loving heart!

Memorable Quotes:
“If children’s books were that powerful, wouldn’t we all be Very Hungry Caterpillars by now?” (Poster in Ms. Lewiston’s classroom)
**Now I really want a poster like that one!**
* I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

My middle grade daughter LOVED this book! Molly is part of her school's library book club. Their club is impacted by parents complaining about the books available to students. Molly and her friends band together to defend their right to read books. It was well written and my daughter could not put it down!

I appreciated that this book is making a timely political statement about the current right-wing book banning going on, which is actually affecting our hometown and local school district where my children are enrolled. I hope my daughter will be inspired by reading this book to help advocate for herself and other students in our district to continue to have the right to access books and choose what they want to read!

I think this book is great, especially for young adults, to see themselves in the fight against book banning. It is important for people to fight against it and many times in the news we see adults fighting for or against it but it is important for kids and young adults to be involved in the fight for their educations and the right to read. This book gives young adults a way to see themselves in the fight and to see that they have a voice and power. This book is well written with impactful characters and I think this book with positively effect many young adults when reading it and who want to protect the rights to reading and education

This book was great! I loved reading about teens who were able to stand up for what they believed in and make a difference not only in their community but around the country! I also enjoyed seeing how their relationships grew and changed and how the characters learned from their experiences!

This is such a great book looking at book banning that is happening all over the United States right now.
I liked that Molly and her friends were dealing with real things in their everyday lives. I liked watching how they deal with their books being taken away and how they fight back.
I enjoyed all of these characters. I think many teens will enjoy this one and find the characters relatable.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

#NotAnotherBannedBook #NetGalley

There are so many things I love about this book. I don't know how this author does her magic but her dialog is spot-on for the ages of the characters! (I have a 16 yr old so I'm in the thick of it).
The gist of the story is the school book club gets suspended due to someone reporting "inappropriate" books being read by said group. The teacher in charge of the book group is also dragged down via probation through the district. The bulk of the book is how this group of kids tries to maneuver without the book group. Many of the group members are going through struggles at home (i.e. home move, divorce, sibling death, navigating queerness) which usually was addressed via the group meetings and book discussions. Now they are without. They get into some funny scrapes along the way that keeps the story entertaining for this middle grade audience without preaching. They Cagney & Lacey (I'm an 80's kiddo) their way into finding out who reported the book club. Through the bulk of the book, this person seems to be the ultimate goal. I get it... I was a vengeful teenager as well. HOWEVER, they come to realize that the ultimate goal of taking on the mountain called the "Banned Book" movement is not the wisest choice and will only end up in a degree of failure. Instead, they make small changes with the hopes of making a difference (whatever the magnitude) in keeping "challenged" books alive.
I loved that this book didn't have an ending where everything is all wrapped up with a pretty bow. It would be very unlikely that a group of middle school students could totally eradicate book bans. Thanks to the author for keeping it real and showing middle school readers how to problem solve and have fun doing it.

his middle-grade novel delves into themes of loss, resilience, and the power of friendship, with a candid portrayal of the challenges faced by today's youth. While some parents may take issue with certain language and themes—such as the use of words like "masturbate" and discussions of sexuality—the narrative argues (as will middle school educators) that these are realities of modern adolescence, ones with which young readers are intimately familiar.

Molly and her friends love their book club with their teacher, but the teacher is put on administrative leave because some of their books supposedly have a triggering nature. Molly wants to do something to fight back. Someone writes to an author whose books have been banned but they can’t help. Then Molly says let’s find a Little Free Library and fill it with books from the teacher’s class. The group starts a social media account to let people know where books are. Their teacher says you can make a difference with one book at a time. Do they find out who complained? When Molly gives her graduation speech, what does she say that makes people proud?

In Mrs. Lewiston's cozy haven, avid readers like Mik, Kait, and our protagonist Molly find solace not only in books but also in candid discussions about their emotions, cleverly disguised as weather updates.

However, their sanctuary is disrupted when Principal Ms. Davis abruptly interrupts one meeting, leading to Mrs. Lewiston's sudden departure with her belongings. The reason? Allegations of providing inappropriate reading material to students.

For Molly, already grappling with the loss of her older brother and its lingering impact on her family, this upheaval strikes a deep chord. Just as her family begins to heal and considers a move, Molly becomes consumed by a new mission: combating book censorship in their community.

As Molly, Mik, and Kait rally together to raise awareness about the dangers of book banning, tensions mount. Will Molly's fervor for the cause unite them or ultimately drive them apart?

This middle-grade novel delves into themes of loss, resilience, and the power of friendship, with a candid portrayal of the challenges faced by today's youth. While some parents may take issue with certain language and themes—such as the use of words like "masturbate" and discussions of sexuality—the narrative argues (as will middle school educators) that these are realities of modern adolescence, ones with which young readers are intimately familiar. Recommended for middle-grade libraries, albeit with a cautionary note for parents.

This book looks at the ongoing book banning trend through the lens of a small Georgia town and family drama. Levy does an amazing job weaving together the stories of the families of this town, their drama and how just the right book title can change everything. I laughed and cried during this novel that manages to be timeless as well as a powerful insight into the current political climate. One of my favorite books so far this year!