gemmapz's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Delightful way to teach about critical thinking, the Bill of Rights and censorship. I particularly enjoyed the reference to the mirror, world librarian.
spillminttea's review
5.0
If you want to ban the book, you have to ban all the books. Why only specific that could caused a bad behavior? It's only parent psychic forget how to be kids afterwards.
lanica's review
3.0
I had a hard time getting into this book. The main character kept having long replies to other characters in her head, then the narrator would say, 'that's what I wanted to say...but didn't.' or something similar. Once or twice may have gotten the point across, but I almost didn't finish the book because I was tired of being tricked. I thought she was saying something, and was ready to move one, but then she'd say 'but I did't say anything...' which would break my concentration and pull me out of the story.
I am glad I finished the book, it has a good ending with a great message...but it was a hard slough to get to the midpoint.
Maybe others will not notice...maybe.
I am glad I finished the book, it has a good ending with a great message...but it was a hard slough to get to the midpoint.
Maybe others will not notice...maybe.
eleiser's review against another edition
5.0
My daughters and I loved this book! AmyAnn is my new hero. I think that this book needs to be required reading in schools! I told our librarians to put it front and center in their displays and tell everyone, young and old, to read it! AmyAnn and her friends might be 4th graders, but they definitely have a powerful message!
jaimebz's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
kayleigh_reads's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book honestly. I know if I was in Amy Ann's place I would be livid. It was so fun getting to read what she did and how her friends helped her. I loved so much of this book and am really glad that I got to read it. I really think everyone would enjoy this book and find it funny and cute.
dkragick's review against another edition
4.0
On a re-read because reasons, this is still super fun and still, unfortunately, mimics a certain school system.
This is definitely lower-grade YA, but very much relevant to my interests. Imagine a school system where one person's opinion dictates whether a book is allowed on the shelves. Oh wait. I don't have to imagine.
This is definitely lower-grade YA, but very much relevant to my interests. Imagine a school system where one person's opinion dictates whether a book is allowed on the shelves. Oh wait. I don't have to imagine.
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
4.75
This was a short read, YA ... but I think it packs a punch and even at 50+ years old I appreciated the points to ponder and think this could make for good book club discussion, even with the elementary school setting (the MC is a 4th grader).
So ... I had not read [book:From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler|3980] in my younger years, and knew it was featured in this book ... so I gave it a quick go before picking this book up. I don't know that it's necessary to be familiar with that story, but I do think it made it a bit more enjoyable/relatable. There are SO many books mentioned by name (one has to wonder how many of the older ones kids today are actually familiar with, many are award winners, but still ... Indian Captive, Sounder, The Indian in the Cupboard, My Teacher is an Alien, The Chronicles of Pyrain, Little House on the Prarie, Hatchet, The Great Brain, Island of the Blue Dolphins, My Side of the Mountain, Hattie Big Sky, The Sign of the Beaver ... then there were some that are newer, or have had recent comebacks (with movie tie-ins) Harriet the Spy, Coraline, The Giver, The Golden Compass, Bridge to Terabithia, The Face on the Milk Carton, A Day No Pigs Would Die, Matilda, Are You There God It's Me Margaret) it was fun to see which ones I recognized, had read, loved, etc. Ones I'd bought for my boys (Captain Underpants).
It was interesting to see this from a child's perspective (how can something I love be banned? Ah, the innocence ...) and to see the different emotions and growth. At first, I got a little annoyed at the inner dialogue (that we often didn't know was internal until after it was said and then qualified with "is what I WANTED to say, but what I did say was ..." but that was an important distinction (that she didn't say things/stand up for herself).
The ideas ... how SOMEONE can find SOMETHING wrong with every book out there, that INTENTIONS can be good, but still not be the best for everyone. I just recently finished [book:Take My Hand|55650158] which had a similar look at intentions. I liked here that Amy Anne was able to see that some of her initial thoughts (that Trey's mom was awful, that Trey had betrayed her) were not correct. It would be an interesting discussion as to what would have been the "correct" response (if Amy Anne had been able to speak up originally at the first meeting?), that theft and defying the school board weren't "right" ... I thought maybe the "freedom of speech" that was being studied, and the "right to assemble" might play a bigger part than it did.
One thing that was a frustration for me is a simple presentation problem ... I really wish books listed both a chronological chapter # AND the chapter heading. It's just a reference issue. If I am shifting between Kindle and Audio, and/or mentioning a specific spot for bookclub discussion, it's just hard when there aren't numerical chapters listed. I appreciate the chapter headings, but it IS easier to say "Chapter 12) rather than "the Our Own Little Book Club chapter ... can publishers not just include both? Chapter 12: Our Own Little Bookclub. Is there some reason to not include chapter numbers?
I had one additional frustration with this book ... not really with this book, but as I was Googling and looking up some other things, I came upon a website https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/search?q=%22ban+this+book%22 which had a "NOT RECOMMENDED" because "did he have to throw Native readers under the bus?" While the article does bring up some interesting points I might not have considered, it just felt ironically like it was picking on the smallest of points ... just exactly like the kids were doing to show how ridiculous it can be, that anyone can find something "bad" ... and that's just what this article, what this website, seems to be doing. On the one hand, author's get reamed if they don't attempt to be inclusive, and on the other hand, if they do try, they get raked over the coals for doing in "wrong" ... While this website "does not recommend" this book, I totally do! Even though it's "young" I think I'll throw it out as a recommendation for book club, and recommend to friends and family, as I'd love to know what they think of it. This is a book that will stay with me.
So ... I had not read [book:From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler|3980] in my younger years, and knew it was featured in this book ... so I gave it a quick go before picking this book up. I don't know that it's necessary to be familiar with that story, but I do think it made it a bit more enjoyable/relatable. There are SO many books mentioned by name (one has to wonder how many of the older ones kids today are actually familiar with, many are award winners, but still ... Indian Captive, Sounder, The Indian in the Cupboard, My Teacher is an Alien, The Chronicles of Pyrain, Little House on the Prarie, Hatchet, The Great Brain, Island of the Blue Dolphins, My Side of the Mountain, Hattie Big Sky, The Sign of the Beaver ... then there were some that are newer, or have had recent comebacks (with movie tie-ins) Harriet the Spy, Coraline, The Giver, The Golden Compass, Bridge to Terabithia, The Face on the Milk Carton, A Day No Pigs Would Die, Matilda, Are You There God It's Me Margaret) it was fun to see which ones I recognized, had read, loved, etc. Ones I'd bought for my boys (Captain Underpants).
It was interesting to see this from a child's perspective (how can something I love be banned? Ah, the innocence ...) and to see the different emotions and growth. At first, I got a little annoyed at the inner dialogue (that we often didn't know was internal until after it was said and then qualified with "is what I WANTED to say, but what I did say was ..." but that was an important distinction (that she didn't say things/stand up for herself).
The ideas ... how SOMEONE can find SOMETHING wrong with every book out there, that INTENTIONS can be good, but still not be the best for everyone. I just recently finished [book:Take My Hand|55650158] which had a similar look at intentions. I liked here that Amy Anne was able to see that some of her initial thoughts (that Trey's mom was awful, that Trey had betrayed her) were not correct. It would be an interesting discussion as to what would have been the "correct" response (if Amy Anne had been able to speak up originally at the first meeting?), that theft and defying the school board weren't "right" ... I thought maybe the "freedom of speech" that was being studied, and the "right to assemble" might play a bigger part than it did.
One thing that was a frustration for me is a simple presentation problem ... I really wish books listed both a chronological chapter # AND the chapter heading. It's just a reference issue. If I am shifting between Kindle and Audio, and/or mentioning a specific spot for bookclub discussion, it's just hard when there aren't numerical chapters listed. I appreciate the chapter headings, but it IS easier to say "Chapter 12) rather than "the Our Own Little Book Club chapter ... can publishers not just include both? Chapter 12: Our Own Little Bookclub. Is there some reason to not include chapter numbers?
I had one additional frustration with this book ... not really with this book, but as I was Googling and looking up some other things, I came upon a website https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/search?q=%22ban+this+book%22 which had a "NOT RECOMMENDED" because "did he have to throw Native readers under the bus?" While the article does bring up some interesting points I might not have considered, it just felt ironically like it was picking on the smallest of points ... just exactly like the kids were doing to show how ridiculous it can be, that anyone can find something "bad" ... and that's just what this article, what this website, seems to be doing. On the one hand, author's get reamed if they don't attempt to be inclusive, and on the other hand, if they do try, they get raked over the coals for doing in "wrong" ... While this website "does not recommend" this book, I totally do! Even though it's "young" I think I'll throw it out as a recommendation for book club, and recommend to friends and family, as I'd love to know what they think of it. This is a book that will stay with me.
jcarsrud's review
5.0
4.5 This would be a great read aloud for a 4th-6th grade class! What a great way to get students discussing books, libraries, and reading! Alan Gratz never disappoints.
melloyellow0920's review
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Very well done, well-developed characters, important & timely message
Everyone should read
Everyone should read