July 1, 2019
Gr 8 Up-When private school senior and self-proclaimed book nerd Clara Evans discovers her principal's list of "contraband media," she rebels by peddling explicit materials from her school locker. Except the contraband she's putting into students' hands are books-The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Eleanor & Park, Speak, The Chocolate War, and a host of other copies removed from the school library. Soon she's circulating dozens of banned titles at lunch, between classes, and after school, even though the new school policy promises harsh punishment for students caught with the prohibited books. While Clara has always found reading to be a transformative experience, now her love of books has become revolutionary. Her smart, funny voice and rebellious streak alternate with moments of doubt as she finds herself at times in over her head. And when one of her most beloved books is connected to a tragedy involving another student, it causes her to question everything. If stories are powerful, is she now responsible? One of the many highlights of this book is the way in which the different characters respond to censorship and the cost of rebellion. As her initial feelings of righteous indignation are challenged by the complexity of the lived experiences of others, Clara and readers start to understand that protest takes many forms, especially when the stakes are high. VERDICT Wry, thought-provoking, rebellious, and predicated on the belief that the right book changes everything. This book is a school librarians' dream, and the well-told story of a frustrated teen fighting for social justice will be a hit with young people, too.-Erin Downey, Boise School District, ID
Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from August 1, 2019
A high school senior takes censorship to task in this engrossing literary love letter. Clara Evans doesn't just love books. They are the language of her life. When she finds out that Lupton Academy--the prestigious Chattanooga private school she attends--has been secretly banning books for years, she realizes that she has a duty to fight back. With the help of the school librarian; her best friend, LiQui Carson; and unexpected allies, she forms an underground book club designed to send the message that literature belongs to everyone. In this compulsively readable novel, Connis (The Temptation of Adam, 2017, etc.) demonstrates deep reverence for literature's ability to create community and challenge our beliefs. Only a true believer could craft a work of such relevance and heart, and every facet of this novel, from chapter headings designed as censored books to finely etched characters and witty teen-speak dialogue, proves this author's worth as a champion of literature. Clara's relationships with major and minor characters feel as authentic as the novel's Tennessee setting, which provides a backdrop for exploring class inequality within the private school world. As Clara--a working-class student competing for a college scholarship--sets out to change her school, she finds herself confronting her own prejudices. An absence of clear physical descriptions makes race difficult to determine. A timely read that will ultimately prove timeless. (Fiction. 13-18)
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