BAN THIS BOOK by Alan Gratz: a MUST read!

I found BAN THIS BOOK on the Banned Books Table at my local library, the wonderful Memorial Hall Library in Andover, MA. My first impression from scanning the table was how many of the books I’d read and enjoyed (Harriet the Spy! Diary of a Young Girl! Really?!?) This slim middle grade novel stuck out from the title alone, though I wasn’t familiar with it. Naturally, I checked it out!!

(BAN THIS BOOK was published in 2017 by Starscape/Tom Doherty Books, targeted for ages 8 and older. It was banned by the Indian River County, Florida school board in July, 2024. Check out the response by author Alan Gratz in this CNN interview.)

Upon arriving home, I sat in my reading chair and cracked it open. This is what I found, proclaimed in bold print: “It’s a battle of the books- and Amy Anne is determined to win!” Yes!! Here’s what some reviewers have to say:

“Quick paced and with clear, easy-to-read prose, this is a book poised for wide readership and classroom use.”―Booklist

“A stout defense of the right to read.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Gratz delivers a book lover’s book that speaks volumes about kids’ power to effect change at a grassroots level.” ―Publishers Weekly“

I completely agree with these glowing reviews. Still, this book exceeded my expectations by miles upon miles!

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to the KEY CHARACTERS. Trust me, they are truly unforgettable!

Main character Amy Anne Ollinger is nine years old and absolutely adores reading (as the book cover can attest). Her favorite school library book, read umpteen times, is From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg.
Crazytown: AKA, Amy Anne’s family. She has two face-licking rottweilers named Flotsam and Jetsam, and two younger sisters she refers to as Thing 1 and Thing 2. The youngest, Angelina, acts like a pony, and middle child Alexis is ballet-obsessed and whines nonstop. The busy parents don’t seem to realize how much pressure they heap upon Amy Anne’s shoulders, and Amy Anne lacks the courage to speak up for herself.
Mrs. Jones: School Librarian of Shelburne Elementary and staunch protector of the right to read. All in all, a polka dot-wearing superhero who recognizes a kindred spirit in Amy Anne.
Mrs. Sarah Spencer: A highly opinionated, deeply passionate believer that letting kids (and their parents) choose books is downright dangerous. She calls removing books from library shelves common sense, not censorship. All in all, both a villain and a do-gooder, whose staunch mission, oft misguided, is to protect the safety of children.
Amy Anne’s book stealing/procuring brigade: BFF Rebecca, who espouses sage lawyerly advice; Danny, a popular boy with great hair, a fan club, and a love of reading; Trey, who would rather draw than pay attention in class. Most troubling, Sarah Spencer is his mother. Amy Anne doesn’t know if she can trust him, so neither does the reader!

(Memorial Hall Library’s Banned Books Table from October 2025)

Drumroll, please! Here are some PLOT HIGHLIGHTS!

Reading is Amy Anne’s refuge, so imagine her shock when she discovers that her favorite book has been removed from the school library shelves. Now imagine how shock turns to ire when the missing book toll keeps climbing ever higher. She goes to a School Board meeting to protect the right to read, but understandably, lacks the courage to speak up in front of the adult crowd.
She leads a campaign at school to make the missing books available to the kids who want to read them. Her solution? She turns her locker into a secret Banned Books Locker Library. The hardest part is getting the books, but many students pitch in.
Amy Anne tries to reason with Principal Banana (Banazewski), but it’s a lost cause. The principal parrots the School Board’s ruling that the books removed were inappropriate. A highly disappointing response, but one that’s all too common.
Distrust of Trey reaches a fever pitch when his request of a Captain Underpants book, the series that sent his mother on her book banning rampage, leads to exposure of Amy Anne’s Banned Books Locker Library. Amy Anne gets suspended for 3 days, and worse, Mrs. Jones gets fired.
Alas, I can’t share more, or I’ll give it all away! Instead, I’ll list the burning questions:
Will Amy Anne finally gain the courage to stick up for herself and the right to read?
Will Mrs. Jones get her job back?
Is Trey a filthy rat or a friend?
Are the books ever restored to the school library shelves?

To the author’s credit, none of the characters (except the dogs) are one-dimensional, and all experience some level of growth. While I mentioned the highlights, I urge you to read this book to get ALL the juicy details. Including discovering which famous author visits Shelbourne Elementary!

This is such a quick and engaging read, but funny though it is at points, it also addresses how much students suffer from book banning, however well intentioned those bans are. The ways Amy Anne and her friends react to books being removed from library shelves is fresh, brave, outrageous, yet always respectful. This book engenders the idea that everyone should protect the right to read, no matter what age or stage they are in.

If you don’t know where to start to protect the right to read, you’ll be relieved to learn there are great post-reading discussion questions, plus writing, research, and community activities at the end of BAN THIS BOOK. Kudos to Alan Gratz! He’s an award-winning author of books for children and teens, and I now count myself among his fans. To learn more about him and his books, go to www.alangratz.com.

I would absolutely love to get your answers to these two questions:

1) What is your favorite banned book?

2) What actions have you taken or ideas do you have to respectfully protect the right to read?