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!