Property of the Rebel Librarian

I'm a rule follower to a fault. But this is one type of rebel I could align with – a Rebel Librarian! Before we get into what I love about this book, let's get one minor distraction out of the way. It's not really that negative and most middle grade students will likely not even notice the improbability surrounding the magnitude of books banned . Very drastic measures were taken in the library with regard to removal of “banned” books, which were challenged by parents in the school. In reality, librarians have additional resources that would have been implemented compared to what the librarian in the story was able to accomplish. But as I stated, I don't think it detracts from the moral of the story. Now to get to it! This book made me want to stand up and cheer for the main character, June Harper. She respected authority while also challenging it. She had to make important decisions about who to align herself with. She asserted herself and stood up for what she believed – the right to read books of all kinds. I think this is a great read for 5-7th graders, although it is listed as middle grade. There is a bit of relationship drama that is more early YA, but nothing a mature middle grader can't handle. As a book lover, little library hunter and mom to two daughters (age 6 and 10), this book is one that I will be purchasing for them to read. This would also make for a great discussion book for classrooms, families or kids book club. It introduces many topics that are important in our current culture, but brings them to a level that is understandable for middle grade to young adults. It has themes that embrace empowering young girls to stand up for what they know is right, encourages reading of diverse books and developing unlikely friendships. After reading this book, I would like to cheer aloud for the Rebel Librarian in us all! Stand up for the freedom to read!

There is nothing more dangerous seventh grader June Harper's life than.... books. At least, that's what her parents and really almost every adult in Dogwood would have you believe. When her uber strict parents get the librarian suspended and the school makes sure all of the good– I mean “terrible,” books are removed from the library (e.g. The Lightning Thief, Goosebumps, Holes, The Crossover, etc.), June finds herself at a crossroads. Will she sit down and accept the restricted, vanilla life her parents and the school have forced upon her and her peers or will she be the hero that Dogwood Middle does not deserve, but desperately needs?

I describe this book as “Fahrenheit 451.. but for children.” I loved this book– not only do we see growth in June as a character in her relationships with her peers, but we also see her grow stronger in her convictions to stand up for what she believes in and stand up for herself, especially when the adults in her life, namely her parents, were being so absurd she might as well have called them Camus and Kierkegaard instead of Mom and Dad.

(..... get it? because... they were absurdists.)

There were parts of this book where my mouth literally fell open at how crazy her mom and dad were being (like when they were bad mouthing the teaching profession– ohhhhhhh not a thing someone with a BS in education wants to hear; I was shooting daggers at my car radio). But that's alright because the last conversation June has with her dad at the end of the book– that last line from her– tooootally made up for having to listen to her mom say that becoming a teacher was throwing your life away.

I often think to myself, it's 2018 why are people still banning and challenging books?
It's never made sense to me, actually.
This book does not shed a light on that part of the issue at all. In fact, I think June's parents are barely a step above Matilda's. They are cruel- all in the name of raising their child in the “right” way. It's not just books, btw. They eat giant bowls of ice cream in front of her too.
Overall it's a great story.
I wanted to get back to it right away, I cared about June's plight.
It has some issues. The characters are one dimensional stereotypes, the “love interest” is ridiculously perfect, and no one comes to the defense of these kids until it's too late. Fear of repercussion for not following the status quo IS covered here. Vanes did that well.
I also want to point out a very important scene:
Graham tries to manipulate June into following the rules, offering a relationship with himself as a carrot. And June barely blinks as she openly chooses books over Graham. I mean, she can see she's being gaslighted. She ends it immediately. Well done for a 13 year old!
I want other readers to read that scene and handle a-holes who do that in the exact same manner.
Honestly, this is worth reading just for that one bit alone.
I also loved seeing the titles of some many other books get mentioned (I wrote them down! I'm mad that I have read as few of them as I have!) Shout out to Bob! I loved that book!
I'm also highly tempted to put a Free Little Library out front of my house now.