A little unbelievable with some of the dialogue between the parents and the student. A great premise that will open up great conversations in many classrooms on what type of books should be allowed in a classroom.

June is a good kid with strict parents. She always follows the rules, so when her parents ground her for reading a book they don't like, it comes as a big surprise to her. Then suddenly things snowball and her parents and the rest of the PTA are banning books and getting the school librarian fired. That's when June decides to fight back with her own illicit locker library. This is a great book for any kid who loves to read as much as June does.

June Harper loves reading, and she’s constantly grabbing book recommendations from her school librarian, Ms. Bradshaw. However, when her overprotective parents find a book they claim contains inappropriate content, they take drastic steps to curtain her reading. Not only is her personal collection confiscated, but Ms. Bradshaw is suspended, the school library is weeded for content, and students can only read pre-approved materials.

For June, the restrictions are impossible. But after spotting a Little Free Library on her way to school, she hatches a plan to create her own library and soon realizes she’s not the only one who covets the freedom to read.

Author Allison Varnes deserves all the praise she can get for delivering such a solid piece of fiction that examines intellectual freedom and activism. Central to this success is the character of June Harper, who Varnes paints as such a wonderfully likable character. At first, she’s a kid who doesn’t want to cause disruptions, though she grows into leading a movement. She’s smart, funny, incredibly charming, and, I believe, highly relatable.

Relatability is important because June really grounds the story. The sections dealing with the school administration and parents might sound melodramatic if June wasn’t leading the action. That’s not to suggest the other characters aren’t believable. They are. I can completely picture overprotective parents editing texts for their children and ousting librarians who don’t conform to their agendas. As extreme people, in turn, they feel like extreme characters.

But June pulls all the focus as she maneuvers all the issues of middle school, including relationships, while also tackling censorship.

The story itself could easily fall into preachy category in lesser hands, but here it feels more like a full story mixed with a celebration of books. June’s actions are complicated and there’s obvious inner turmoil. She struggles with disobeying her parents while relishing in her role as the rebel librarian. It’s compelling. For the best example of how gifted Varnes is as a storyteller, focus on the ending. Without going into spoiler territory, it is a beautiful blend of catharsis capped with the realism of activism.

Can you imagine your life without (uncensored) BOOKS?? For June Harper, the answer is a resounding NO! So when her school suddenly begins censoring and removing books from the library and her parents do the same to her own books, well, June is not having it. Instead, with the help of a mysterious Little Free Library around the corner, she starts her own secret library in locker 319. Soon lots of kids are interested and June becomes - wait for it - the Rebel Librarian. In the vein of Vivian from Moxie and Making from The First Rule of Punk, June is an awesome girl standing up for injustice. Loads of great messages in this book, plus mystery and even a little romance. And I loved all the literary references (there's even a catalog of June's library at the back 🙌). An excellent book middle graders will be sure to love.

This was a great story along the lines of Ban This Book. June is a great protagonist. Her parents and the school board and administration are infuriating. And there are no easy solutions to this one. But there are also some excellent stand-up-and-cheer moments, too. A great book to get kids fired up about reading and book choice.

Today (September 18, 2018) is Property of the Rebel Librarian's release day! I completely recommend purchasing it, reading it, and then sharing it with your students and/or children! Allison Varnes is brilliant at making her readers feel self-confident and enjoy a good laugh. The message is clear; little people can do big things, one person can make a difference, and books should not be censored.

From the publisher: When twelve-year-old June Harper's parents discover what they deem an inappropriate library book, they take strict parenting to a whole new level. And everything June loves about Dogwood Middle School unravels: librarian Ms. Bradshaw is suspended, an author appearance is canceled, the library is gutted, and all books on the premises must have administrative approval.

But June can't give up books . . . and she realizes she doesn't have to when she spies a Little Free Library on her walk to school. As the rules become stricter at school and at home, June keeps turning the pages of the banned books that continue to appear in the little library. It's a delicious secret . . . and one she can't keep to herself. June starts a banned book library of her own in an abandoned locker at school. The risks grow alongside her library's popularity, and a movement begins at Dogwood Middle--a movement that, if exposed, could destroy her. But if it's powerful enough, maybe it can save Ms. Bradshaw and all that she represents: the freedom to read.

Equal parts fun and empowering, this novel explores censorship, freedom of speech, and activism. For any kid who doesn't believe one person can effect change...and for all the kids who already know they can!

Next week (September 23-29, 2018) is Banned Books week. Banned Books Week is the annual celebration of the freedom to read. The event is sponsored by a coalition of organizations dedicated to free expression. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

This would be the perfect read aloud to make those aware of books that have been banned due to their material of various sorts and encourage those to speak out for those books that have been silenced.

Reviews Published I would like to thank Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I read this book as a part of my #BookaDay Reading Challenge, inspired by Donalyn Miller. My goal is to read at least one children's literature book every weekday and share my thoughts here on my blog. Please feel free to subscribe or connect with me on social media to follow my journey through the books I read. Until next time ...

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes is a great read! Any title involving reading and/or libraries is one I want to explore. I found this story to be very entertaining and full of lessons around friendship, growing up, censorship, standing up for ones rights - especially the right to read. June’s parents find an unacceptable library book and then take away all of her books and don’t give them back until they have read them cover to cover. And wait until you read about how they were returned! This story gives the reader a glimpse into issues around censorship and although some scenarios may be extreme, it was appropriate and necessary to make a point. As June struggles to make sense of what is going on, you will also be trying to figure out how this could happen. This is definitely an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
I was given an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this 9/18/18 release. When June’s parents find a library book that she checked out and insist that it’s too scary for her, she offers to return it. They have other plans. Suddenly, the school library is closed, the librarian is placed on administrative leave, and a group of community members and students have wiped out any books that contain “inappropriate” content. June, appalled, starts running a library out of an empty locker. Before long, she finds herself in over her head.
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I wanted to love this book. The librarian is the hero and the story shows the dangers of censorship. However, I found the whole thing a bit implausible. Not a single adult, aside from the librarian, protests censorship. I simply can’t see an entire school and community of teachers standing for it. Not to mention the fact that the library is immediately closed based on one complaint. While I appreciate that the characters are of a relatable age to middle school (that’s my one beef with Ban This Book), I just didn’t love it like I wanted to.

I received a digital copy of this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book releases September 18th, 2018.

Oh, man.

I don’t think I’ve ever walked away from a book SO ANGRY! I’ve always heard about those types of parents that are really strict about what their kids can/can’t read, but its never gone further than “don’t bring those books in my house” type situations. This book takes it a step further with June’s mom complaining to the principal about her daughters book being “too scary” and having an unsavory topic such as witchcraft in it. All of this complaining winds up with the school librarian fired, the school board taking away any and all books with unsavory topics including, but not limited to, witchcraft, paranormal, and childhood rebellions.

To make matters even worse June’s parents take her own personal library books away until they can read every. single. one. of. them. What starts out as a tiny act of rebellion leads to a full scale war on the school board and parents. That’s pretty much all I can say without getting spoilery, and boy do I want to rant and bitch. Sorry guys.

In the end, this book was absolutely fantastic. I recommend it to anyone and everyone who firmly believes that no one of any age should be limited in what they can read. Limits are boundless where reading is concerned. So many new worlds and characters to expand your imagination. It’s a place to fall in love over and over, a place to hide from everything that seems wrong in your life; a light in your darkness.
Spoilers Below:

I don’t even know if I can accurately describe how angry the school board, and June’s parents and friends have left me feeling as a result of reading this book. I think I’ll start with June’s parents.

These stinkers take her personal collection - OF BOOKS SHE’S ALREADY READ, and tell her she can’t have them back until they read them and approve them. Around 58% they return the books, and the reader is left feeling happy that her parents at least approve of her favorites. BUT NOPE! They decided to RIP OUT pages, black out lines, and even resort to GLUING note cards over existing text to change the entire freaking story line. *sigh* I just… I can’t. Her parents maintain the attitude that June is essentially a criminal for having read such appalling literature, and go even further to make her feel like poop when they find out that she is the Rebel Librarian and tell her she must apologize to the whole community for doing something so wrong.

Every time June listened to her parents I wanted to scream. There is nothing worse than preventing a young mind from exploring, learning and reading. Even if you deem those topics unsavory to YOU. You do not get to decide what is good for others, and it was beyond frustrating to see innocuous books get the boot from their library for the most dumb things. When June FINALLY took a stand in the end and told the school board, and her parents what for I was hooping and hollering internally. June is a character after my own heart - except that I would have given my parents what for A LONG time ago, and most certainly would not have taken their punishments lying down.

Graham. Hoo boy. Talk about a controlling piece of dirt, and at only 13. He quickly takes on a sort of parental role over June and attempts to tell her what she can and can’t do in order to be his “girlfriend” while essentially cheating (or the 13 year old version of it) on her with her best friend. Who also decides to ditch her during this whole thing. June finally stands up to Graham and tells him to shove off. Books are far more important than he is. <i> Again, a girl after my own heart here. </i>

The school board winds up firing the librarian for daring *gasp* to provide such illicit materials to children, even after the media coverage and backlash; which saddened me quite a lot. I was hoping that they would be forced to take her back on due to a violation in the law. She was a dear sweet woman, and I hated that she got so little page time.

I absolutely adored the fact that June spoke up about wanting to become a librarian when she was older and defying her parents demands that she go to medical school later.

Librarian: No. absolutely no. Under no circumstances will I recommend this book for purchase, or promote it through readers advisory. If you want something with this theme go read Ban This Book, by Alan Gratz. It's a better book anyway.
Reader: Look I'm a librarian. As far as I'm concerned people who attempt to ban books or control the reading of others are among the worst sort of monsters. And this book, those monsters win. Oh, it tries to be all, rah, rah kid power, but that's NOT WHAT HAPPENS!
Spoiler Alert! In the end, the kids monstrous parents win, the librarian stays fired, the library books stay removed, the little free library in her locker is destroyed, and the girl gets grounded. About the only semi-good part of the ending is when she gets to tell her dad that she's going to be a librarian (aka basically saying a big old take that to his evil censoring self.)
'So yeah. I despised this book.

This book brings up a great discussion on banning and censoring books. So many emotions. I hope all will read this and find someone to discuss it with.

The Rebel Librarian
When you think of banned books, you typically think about foreign countries and history, right? Control freaks. Because knowledge is power. And the more people know the more likely they are to stand up for themselves and others. You wouldn’t necessarily expect it in a middle American Middle school, though, would you? This is a powerful book about libraries (both authorized and underground).
📌I was recently given a copy of The Rebel Librarian by NetGalley, and I’m sharing it with you!
Property of The Rebel Librarian


This book had me hooked within a couple of chapters. June is a middle school “good girl” caught with a scary book. Her parents are shocked that there could be anything objectionable in children’s books.
The broken trust here is painful for everyone. Reactions, both the knee-jerk and the calculated variety, shatter trust in all directions.
As a Daughter
As a daughter and a bookworm, I totally sympathize with June. Discipline for me as a kid was taking away my books. It’s very painful. But nothing to the extreme that she endures! As a matter of fact, when I was in my 20s, working at a church, one member thought that I should NOT be reading these books, even though I was borrowing them from the Children’s Ministries Director.
As a mom
Being a mom, I get the overprotective instincts. (can’t explain exactly what I mean here without spoiling the plot) But I pray that I would be able to realize that I cannot and should not put my boys in a bubble for life!
Instead, I try to answer the questions and have open discussions even now, so that they can be comfortable with bringing their questions to me later when it’s big things! Although if watching a particular movie is leading to poor behavior and language, I definitely take it away.
And then there’s more broken trust and betrayal between friends, which shows off the loyalty of the few.
Type: Chapter book, 5th Grade and up.
Highlights:
-Loyalty and betrayal,
-parenting/overprotectiveness,
-A great way to personalize study of the American Revolution, in my opinion, although it technically has absolutely nothing to do with the Revolution!

Hey, I wanna be a rebel librarian just like June. Brave June and her friends stand up to her parents, the school, and practically the whole town to try and stop books from being banned in her school library. Of course the quickest way to get someone to read a book is to tell them they can't.

This is a nice book about June, who is in middle school and loves to read. When she brings home a book her parents object to, they take a series of steps they believe will protect her, including taking her personal library and editing it for objectionable material, having books removed from her school library and getting the school librarian suspended. June gets really angry and starts thinking of how she might be able to get around her parents edicts. It's a really good story with a fairly predictable plot line. I think kids are going to like this one a lot.

Wow! I devoured Property of the Rebel Librarian in just over a day. While it spoke to me on a deeply personal level being that I was also a book loving marching band member in middle school, I think that many students will admire June for her tenacity in this novel. It’s a perfect middle grade read; I’m not sure that my elementary school students will be as deeply connected to it as if they were to enjoy it in a couple of years, but the message here runs deep - June is going to stand up for what she believes in and she won’t let anybody get in her way. I was hesitant at first and thought that the concept of banned books might be glossed over or even glorified, but while the school’s reaction may have seemed drastic, the descriptions of how the adults acted, and especially the school board, were very realistic to this teacher! I found myself rooting for June the whole time, and the other plot points like her friendships, sisterhood, boy interests, and her beloved teacher librarian all kept me engaged. Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

I had the opportunity to read a NetGalley digital ARC of this middle grade fiction novel in exchange for this review. This book takes a look at book censorship at a middle school that has everyone on edge, and kids that love to read are made to feel like troublemakers. This is somewhat of a cautionary tale of how trying to keep a tight rein on the types of books kids read can get way out of hand.
June Harper, a seventh grader a Dogwood Middle School, loves to read just about any book she can get her hands on. When her parents discover that she’s been reading a book that they disapprove of, they start a crusade at her school to eliminate all books that don’t meet their very strict guidelines. The school librarian is suspended and most of the books are removed from the school’s library. New rules are put in place that severely restrict what kids can read and harsh penalties are inflicted on any student caught with unapproved reading materials in their possession.
June and her new friends are determined to continue reading, so they start an underground library of their favorite novels. They promise each other to stay tight-lipped about the book loaning, but when school officials start getting suspicious, things really heat up for these kids.
There’s quite a bit of suspense for readers trying to find out how these kids are going to get around these insane rules that have been instituted “for their own good.” Book lovers will also get a treat of seeing some of their favorite titles become part of the Rebel Librarian’s collection. The author helped those who would like to check out some of these books with a list of the titles at the end of the book.
I think this book will be enjoyed by middle grade kids who already enjoy reading books, especially some of the ones that are traded back and forth by the students at Dogwood Middle School. I also think that kids that enjoy reading about others’ defying unfair rules will have a good time with this book.

Some books just beg to be read. Property of the Rebel Librarian is a book that will appeal to any book lover, librarian, or teacher. It left me cheering for June and her friends and shaking my head at some ridiculous ideas that people have about books.

June Harper loves to read. She looks forward to her time going in to the school library and chatting about books with Ms. Bradshaw. But when her over-protective parents find her with a book that they don’t approve of, they take their disapproval to extremes. Soon they have taken away all of June’s books so they can read them themselves, have gotten the librarian suspended, and start a massive censorship issue at the school including a rule of no reading any book that isn’t pre-approved.

I loved June and her friends, especially the group of friends that she never knew existed for her. In wanting to still be able to read what they wanted, June becomes the Rebel Librarian, providing reading material to a wide array of students.

While the book goes to some extremes and is over the top at times, it still touches this want-to-be librarian at heart. Not a perfect book, but still one that I absolutely adored reading and would encourage tons of people to read, even if they just enjoy the power June realizes she has.

Property of the Rebel Librarian is a love letter to the library (and books in general) and it absolutely warmed my heart.
June is an avid reader and a library "groupie." But suddenly her parents and some of the staff at her middle school disapprove of the books being offered in the school library. A ban on many beloved books is placed.
What worked for me: as I said, this is a love letter to books, and an introduction into banned books and activism. I enjoyed June, the relationships, book references, and the resolution.
What didn't work: I found the reasoning behind the ban to be vague, but it didn't prevent me from enjoying the book.
Thank you to Net Galley for an early copy. This one is out 9/18, perfect timing for Banned Books Week! I will absolutely be getting a copy for my class library.

I loved this story of a young girl experiencing censorship at home and at school. While I have read other reviews that describe it as over-the-top, I found the setting, the story, the experience realistic. This book would be an empowering read for children ready to learn more about their right to read.