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!

Welcome to the sweet little town of Appleton, Illinois, population, 83. Appleton Elementary School has a new librarian, after 14 years with no school library. Her name is Rita B. Danjerous. Principal Noah Memree hired her but he barely remembers that fact. Her library is in a broom closet and there are no books so Rita brings her own collection. This collection includes a mysterious section of green dot books. Students do not have to use their library card, they instead just quietly slip the book of choice into their backpack and return it when finished. These books seem to answer some questions a patron might have but are too embarrassed or shy to ask. Ivanna Beprawpa doesn’t like this at all and she is the school board president, actually she is the whole school board. Oh the new librarian does have an ally in the school secretary, Gladys Friday.
Then there is ten-year-old Reid Durr who is staying up way too late reading a book from the ever controversial “green dot” collection. This kind of behavior MUST BE STOPPED! Ivanna Beprawpa , as the new school board president, has single handedly mandated a student dress code that includes white gloves and bow ties all if which are only available at her shop.
Scandals abound! Pun abound! Oh and don’t miss Picklegate.
But, reader, be impressed with Appleton’s fifth-grade sleuths who are determined to the get to the funniest, most rotten core of the issues in their humble town.
The entire book is written in emails, post it notes, demerit notes, letters, memos, etc., and some most interesting newspaper articles edited and published by Etta Toryal and written by Sarah Bellum.

I received a digital ARC from Net Galley. This was a great story of friendship, moving, and censorship. I love the Klise's format of letters and emails.