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Property of the Rebel Librarian
Celebrate the freedom to read with this timely, empowering middle-grade debut in the spirit of The View from Saturday or Frindle.
When twelve-year-old June Harper's parents discover what they deem an inappropriate library book, they take strict parenting to a whole new level. And everything June loves about Dogwood Middle School librarian Ms. Bradshaw is suspended, an author appearance is canceled, the library is gutted, and all books on the premises must have administrative approval.
But June can't give up books . . . and she realizes she doesn't have to when she spies a Little Free Library on her walk to school. As the rules become stricter at school and at home, June keeps turning the pages of the banned books that continue to appear in the little library. It's a delicious secret . . . and one she can't keep to herself. June starts a banned book library of her own in an abandoned locker at school. The risks grow alongside her library's popularity, and a movement begins at Dogwood Middle--a movement that, if exposed, could destroy her. But if it's powerful enough, maybe it can save Ms. Bradshaw and all that she the freedom to read.
Equal parts fun and empowering, this novel explores censorship, freedom of speech, and activism. For any kid who doesn't believe one person can effect change...and for all the kids who already know they can!
When twelve-year-old June Harper's parents discover what they deem an inappropriate library book, they take strict parenting to a whole new level. And everything June loves about Dogwood Middle School librarian Ms. Bradshaw is suspended, an author appearance is canceled, the library is gutted, and all books on the premises must have administrative approval.
But June can't give up books . . . and she realizes she doesn't have to when she spies a Little Free Library on her walk to school. As the rules become stricter at school and at home, June keeps turning the pages of the banned books that continue to appear in the little library. It's a delicious secret . . . and one she can't keep to herself. June starts a banned book library of her own in an abandoned locker at school. The risks grow alongside her library's popularity, and a movement begins at Dogwood Middle--a movement that, if exposed, could destroy her. But if it's powerful enough, maybe it can save Ms. Bradshaw and all that she the freedom to read.
Equal parts fun and empowering, this novel explores censorship, freedom of speech, and activism. For any kid who doesn't believe one person can effect change...and for all the kids who already know they can!
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2018
55 people are currently reading
2680 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 609 reviews
November 16, 2024
I first heard about this book in my Little Free Library Stewards group on Facebook. After all, its main character had a little free library.
When I went to look for it at our library, it wasn’t available, but, it asked me if I would like to order it via Zipbooks? Well, since this was new to me, I said, why not?
*Zipbooks is a grant program through the state of CA that allows us to order a book directly from Amazon, read it, and then turn it in to the library system so that it can be added to the library collection. How exciting, is this? Right?
So, gratefully, I got the book, read it, and now I am going to review it, and turn it in so that others within the county can have the same experience.
What I loved about this book, is that it really is meant for kids age 8-12. So, I was a kid for a few days, okay?!
The subject matter was what was key – not just about little free libraries, but about the subject of banning books. So imagine this…
What if someone told you what you could and couldn't read? Would that be fair?
What if you got in major trouble for even having a book that was not endorsed by the school? Would that be fair either?
The answer to both of those questions should be NO! Right?
Well, this is exactly what is happening to June Harper. In the book. When she checks out a book from her school library that her parents deem inappropriate, it starts a snowball effect of bad things. First, an amazing librarian is put on administrative leave; second, a majority of library books were hauled out of the school library; and third, kids are getting suspended for even having an unapproved book in their possession. But, am I describing what is just happening in a book?
Anyway, I was intrigued to get this book, because of what I see happening today, around us. So, now, this book, is being dropped off to our local library for others to read.
Perhaps, we can find a way to recognize that no matter what – reading is important – education is important – let’s keep this value important to everyone. Thank you.
*Note: As of May, 2023 - the Zipbooks program is no longer available in CA. 😢
When I went to look for it at our library, it wasn’t available, but, it asked me if I would like to order it via Zipbooks? Well, since this was new to me, I said, why not?
*Zipbooks is a grant program through the state of CA that allows us to order a book directly from Amazon, read it, and then turn it in to the library system so that it can be added to the library collection. How exciting, is this? Right?
So, gratefully, I got the book, read it, and now I am going to review it, and turn it in so that others within the county can have the same experience.
What I loved about this book, is that it really is meant for kids age 8-12. So, I was a kid for a few days, okay?!
The subject matter was what was key – not just about little free libraries, but about the subject of banning books. So imagine this…
What if someone told you what you could and couldn't read? Would that be fair?
What if you got in major trouble for even having a book that was not endorsed by the school? Would that be fair either?
The answer to both of those questions should be NO! Right?
Well, this is exactly what is happening to June Harper. In the book. When she checks out a book from her school library that her parents deem inappropriate, it starts a snowball effect of bad things. First, an amazing librarian is put on administrative leave; second, a majority of library books were hauled out of the school library; and third, kids are getting suspended for even having an unapproved book in their possession. But, am I describing what is just happening in a book?
Anyway, I was intrigued to get this book, because of what I see happening today, around us. So, now, this book, is being dropped off to our local library for others to read.
Perhaps, we can find a way to recognize that no matter what – reading is important – education is important – let’s keep this value important to everyone. Thank you.
*Note: As of May, 2023 - the Zipbooks program is no longer available in CA. 😢
October 22, 2018
June Harper loves reading, and she’s constantly grabbing book recommendations from her school librarian, Ms. Bradshaw. However, when her overprotective parents find a book they claim contains inappropriate content, they take drastic steps to curtain her reading. Not only is her personal collection confiscated, but Ms. Bradshaw is suspended, the school library is weeded for content, and students can only read pre-approved materials.
For June, the restrictions are impossible. But after spotting a Little Free Library on her way to school, she hatches a plan to create her own library and soon realizes she’s not the only one who covets the freedom to read.
Author Allison Varnes deserves all the praise she can get for delivering such a solid piece of fiction that examines intellectual freedom and activism. Central to this success is the character of June Harper, who Varnes paints as such a wonderfully likable character. At first, she’s a kid who doesn’t want to cause disruptions, though she grows into leading a movement. She’s smart, funny, incredibly charming, and, I believe, highly relatable.
Relatability is important because June really grounds the story. The sections dealing with the school administration and parents might sound melodramatic if June wasn’t leading the action. That’s not to suggest the other characters aren’t believable. They are. I can completely picture overprotective parents editing texts for their children and ousting librarians who don’t conform to their agendas. As extreme people, in turn, they feel like extreme characters.
But June pulls all the focus as she maneuvers all the issues of middle school, including relationships, while also tackling censorship.
The story itself could easily fall into preachy territory in lesser hands, but here it feels more like a full story mixed with a celebration of books. June’s actions are complicated and there’s obvious inner turmoil. She struggles with disobeying her parents while relishing in her role as the rebel librarian. It’s compelling. For the best example of how gifted Varnes is as a storyteller, focus on the ending. Without going into spoiler territory, it is a beautiful blend of catharsis capped with the realism of activism.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
For June, the restrictions are impossible. But after spotting a Little Free Library on her way to school, she hatches a plan to create her own library and soon realizes she’s not the only one who covets the freedom to read.
Author Allison Varnes deserves all the praise she can get for delivering such a solid piece of fiction that examines intellectual freedom and activism. Central to this success is the character of June Harper, who Varnes paints as such a wonderfully likable character. At first, she’s a kid who doesn’t want to cause disruptions, though she grows into leading a movement. She’s smart, funny, incredibly charming, and, I believe, highly relatable.
Relatability is important because June really grounds the story. The sections dealing with the school administration and parents might sound melodramatic if June wasn’t leading the action. That’s not to suggest the other characters aren’t believable. They are. I can completely picture overprotective parents editing texts for their children and ousting librarians who don’t conform to their agendas. As extreme people, in turn, they feel like extreme characters.
But June pulls all the focus as she maneuvers all the issues of middle school, including relationships, while also tackling censorship.
The story itself could easily fall into preachy territory in lesser hands, but here it feels more like a full story mixed with a celebration of books. June’s actions are complicated and there’s obvious inner turmoil. She struggles with disobeying her parents while relishing in her role as the rebel librarian. It’s compelling. For the best example of how gifted Varnes is as a storyteller, focus on the ending. Without going into spoiler territory, it is a beautiful blend of catharsis capped with the realism of activism.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
June 12, 2018
I had high hopes for this one. Sadly, I was rather disappointed. The premise was promising; June, a seventh-grade girl rebels when her both parents and the school she attends embark on a book censorship program. However, the degree of their censorship was so extreme as to not be believable. While I do realize that was, perhaps, the point (a little junior Fahrenheit 451?) I personally need a book to be believable in order for me to buy into the story. It is difficult to imagine a librarian being laid off for providing students with books you are sure to find in most any public school library in America. Neither could I buy her parents taking away every single book she owned and insisting on reading them before returning them to her bookshelves. (Had they not read any of them before? Really? Not a single one?) When the books are returned they have been "edited" entire pages ripped out and endings rewritten. Anne Shirley serves bosom buddy Diana grape juice instead of raspberry cordial. Old Yeller lives happily ever after, he is not shot when he becomes rabid. (This one I could see the left doing because of the mention of a shotgun.)
Furthermore, the dialogue between young June and her love interest are too good. No one is that clever of a flirt, certainly not a pubescent girl with no previous dating experience. It must be nice to have someone tell you what to say to the boy you pine after. (Cyrano de Bergerac?)
On the positive side, this does serve as a testament to the power of literature. Unfortunately, it is poorly executed due to its lack of believability. I wish teenagers would go to such lengths in order to read but most are too busy with their electronic devices.
Furthermore, the dialogue between young June and her love interest are too good. No one is that clever of a flirt, certainly not a pubescent girl with no previous dating experience. It must be nice to have someone tell you what to say to the boy you pine after. (Cyrano de Bergerac?)
On the positive side, this does serve as a testament to the power of literature. Unfortunately, it is poorly executed due to its lack of believability. I wish teenagers would go to such lengths in order to read but most are too busy with their electronic devices.
January 21, 2018
Lots of references to classic and contemporary children's books and a pro-reading, pro-library message.
September 30, 2024
Please note that emotionally I really do want to very much like and appreciate Allison Varnes’ Property of the Rebel Librarian for what it is and attempts to show, because yes, I certainly find the premise of main protagonist June Harper fighting back against book censorship and its resulting ignorance both appealing and of course and naturally also important and necessary. However, unless I am reading a traditional fairy or a folk tale where I know right from the onset that the featured storyline will most likely be overly exaggerated, with especially extreme and cardboard thin villains of little to no nuance and character depth, I definitely and certainly always do require my fiction reading (and this equally pertains to novels clearly meant for younger readers) to be believable, with realistic plots and in-depth characters exhibiting both faults and laudable character traits, showing both positives and negatives.
And no, with this here novel, with Property of the Rebel Librarian presenting a realistic plot base has at least in my humble opinion not at all been achieved with regard to the book censorship author Allison Varnes is describing. For while the latter is indeed and certainly a real-world issue, the entire scenario of how in Property of the Rebel Librarian June Harper’s parents are in many ways single-handily able to get books unilaterally banned and the school librarian subsequently fired (with books removed en masse from the library or improved upon, in other words defaced), this is to and for my reading self all so extreme and one-sidedly over the top penned and rendered so as to be majorly unbelievable and totally unrealistic (and yes, in particular since Allison Varnes has her narrative not take place in the past but in contemporary, present day America, where there is supposed to exist the concept of and right to intellectual freedom and a librarian would thus realistically speaking not simply be able just to be fired, to be categorically suspended, for only having books on his or her shelves with which certain and even many individuals might disagree).
And therefore, albeit I do apologise for actually not being able to finish reading Property of the Rebel Librarian, the lack of narrative realism and Allison Varnes’ over-exaggeration with regard to her presented text (with regard to the book censorship story she tells), these issues truly have rather majorly and totally rubbed me the wrong proverbial way (and I really do have far too many books on my to-read shelf to spend my precious reading time with and on a novel that is for the most part simply making me growl with and in frustration and complain, for indeed, if a novel meant to be showing reality to and for me does not, yes, I tend to see majorly red so to speak).
And no, with this here novel, with Property of the Rebel Librarian presenting a realistic plot base has at least in my humble opinion not at all been achieved with regard to the book censorship author Allison Varnes is describing. For while the latter is indeed and certainly a real-world issue, the entire scenario of how in Property of the Rebel Librarian June Harper’s parents are in many ways single-handily able to get books unilaterally banned and the school librarian subsequently fired (with books removed en masse from the library or improved upon, in other words defaced), this is to and for my reading self all so extreme and one-sidedly over the top penned and rendered so as to be majorly unbelievable and totally unrealistic (and yes, in particular since Allison Varnes has her narrative not take place in the past but in contemporary, present day America, where there is supposed to exist the concept of and right to intellectual freedom and a librarian would thus realistically speaking not simply be able just to be fired, to be categorically suspended, for only having books on his or her shelves with which certain and even many individuals might disagree).
And therefore, albeit I do apologise for actually not being able to finish reading Property of the Rebel Librarian, the lack of narrative realism and Allison Varnes’ over-exaggeration with regard to her presented text (with regard to the book censorship story she tells), these issues truly have rather majorly and totally rubbed me the wrong proverbial way (and I really do have far too many books on my to-read shelf to spend my precious reading time with and on a novel that is for the most part simply making me growl with and in frustration and complain, for indeed, if a novel meant to be showing reality to and for me does not, yes, I tend to see majorly red so to speak).
June 20, 2018
If you are a book lover you have to read this book!!!
Interest Level: 3-6
What if someone told you what you could and couldn't read? Would that be fair?What if you got in major trouble for even having a book that was not endorsed by the school? Would that be fair either? The answer to both of those questions is NO! Well, this is exactly what is happening to June Harper. When she checks out a book from her school library that her parents deem inappropriate, it starts a snowball effect of bad things. First, an amazing librarian is put on administrative leave; second, a majority of library books were hauled out of the school library; and third, kids are getting suspended for even having an unapproved book in their possession. When June's parents take away ALL of her person books, she is left with only one book that she is forced to hide. Then June comes across a a small house on top of a wooden post that says it is a Little Free Library. June is ecstatic when she finds a book in there. Little does she know that when she takes that book (and many more) that she will break all the rules to defend the rite to read. Not only is she dealing with all of this, she is also dealing with middle school problems like best friends and boys. Will Ms. Bradshaw, the school librarian, get her job back? Will June get her first boyfriend, even at the expense of her best friend? Most importantly, will June be able to make a difference with her parents, the school system, and the PTSA? Will books still be banned or will June and all of the other students be able to read what they want? This is a must read!!
I have mentioned several times in my blogs that I am a fairly slow reader. Normally it would take me several days to read a 275 page book. Not this book!! I read this book in just a few hours. Once I started I could not put it down. I don't know if it's because it's such a fantastic book or if it's because this subject is a subject that I am passionate about. Kids should have the right to read what they want and just because you and I may not like a book does not give us the right to judge it. I was so proud of June and how she took a stand for the right to read even when it went against her "good girl" persona. If you are a book lover this book is a must read!!
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Interest Level: 3-6
What if someone told you what you could and couldn't read? Would that be fair?What if you got in major trouble for even having a book that was not endorsed by the school? Would that be fair either? The answer to both of those questions is NO! Well, this is exactly what is happening to June Harper. When she checks out a book from her school library that her parents deem inappropriate, it starts a snowball effect of bad things. First, an amazing librarian is put on administrative leave; second, a majority of library books were hauled out of the school library; and third, kids are getting suspended for even having an unapproved book in their possession. When June's parents take away ALL of her person books, she is left with only one book that she is forced to hide. Then June comes across a a small house on top of a wooden post that says it is a Little Free Library. June is ecstatic when she finds a book in there. Little does she know that when she takes that book (and many more) that she will break all the rules to defend the rite to read. Not only is she dealing with all of this, she is also dealing with middle school problems like best friends and boys. Will Ms. Bradshaw, the school librarian, get her job back? Will June get her first boyfriend, even at the expense of her best friend? Most importantly, will June be able to make a difference with her parents, the school system, and the PTSA? Will books still be banned or will June and all of the other students be able to read what they want? This is a must read!!
I have mentioned several times in my blogs that I am a fairly slow reader. Normally it would take me several days to read a 275 page book. Not this book!! I read this book in just a few hours. Once I started I could not put it down. I don't know if it's because it's such a fantastic book or if it's because this subject is a subject that I am passionate about. Kids should have the right to read what they want and just because you and I may not like a book does not give us the right to judge it. I was so proud of June and how she took a stand for the right to read even when it went against her "good girl" persona. If you are a book lover this book is a must read!!
Follow me:
Blog - Blazer Tales - https://blazertales.weebly.com/
Facebook - Laurie’s Library Place - https://www.facebook.com/LauriesLibra...
Instagram - laurieslibrary - https://www.instagram.com/laurieslibr...
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November 1, 2021Put the word "librarian" in the title, and of course I am going to check it out! This book would appeal to anyone who loves books and enjoys the freedom of reading (especially middle-grade readers, who are the author's intended audience).
In June Harper's middle school the parents (especially her own who are leading the charge!) have gone off the rails with banning all books from the Dogwood Middle School library that might have any potentially offensive or suggestive content, including any content that may give readers "the wrong idea" (such as any hint of children or teens showing rebellion).
It is an interesting premise and the book starts out as realistic fiction. However, as the actions of the parents and school community get more extreme, the book begins to read as a prequel to dystopian fiction -a community on the brink of complete censorship of its residents. That is until real-life news events (such as the 850+ book list Texas schools are currently being asked to check their shelves for) reminded me that this IS realistic fiction in some communities.
A good read for middle-grade readers who love books and appreciate intellectual freedoms.
~Diana F.
In June Harper's middle school the parents (especially her own who are leading the charge!) have gone off the rails with banning all books from the Dogwood Middle School library that might have any potentially offensive or suggestive content, including any content that may give readers "the wrong idea" (such as any hint of children or teens showing rebellion).
It is an interesting premise and the book starts out as realistic fiction. However, as the actions of the parents and school community get more extreme, the book begins to read as a prequel to dystopian fiction -a community on the brink of complete censorship of its residents. That is until real-life news events (such as the 850+ book list Texas schools are currently being asked to check their shelves for) reminded me that this IS realistic fiction in some communities.
A good read for middle-grade readers who love books and appreciate intellectual freedoms.
~Diana F.
June 27, 2019
Trigger warnings: shitty parenting, censorship.
3.5 stars.
So here's the thing: I loved the idea of this. I wasn't so keen on the execution.
It's a middle grade book, but it reads VERY young. And yet the protagonist is in the 7th grade. She's interested in boys and dating, she's a teenager, her problems are very much teenage problems. But it reads more like she's 10 or 11. Even when her parents and the school start censoring things, a lot of the books they're censoring are for much younger readers. Her parents at one point change the ending of Old Yeller so that he lives happily ever after, rabies-free. And you'd think at the age of 13, they'd be less concerned about books like Old Yeller and (based on my experience of the reading tastes of 13 year old girls) more concerned about Twilight, The Hunger Games, and Divergent.
Add in the fact that everything was very cut-and dried (the characters fell very clearly into two camps - in favour of decimating the library and discouraging reading OR sneaking around hiding books in an empty locker) with not a huge amount of depth to it and I liked this but didn't love it. Honestly, it's more like a 3 star book that gets an extra half star for the librarian's storyline because that was kind of adorable.
3.5 stars.
So here's the thing: I loved the idea of this. I wasn't so keen on the execution.
It's a middle grade book, but it reads VERY young. And yet the protagonist is in the 7th grade. She's interested in boys and dating, she's a teenager, her problems are very much teenage problems. But it reads more like she's 10 or 11. Even when her parents and the school start censoring things, a lot of the books they're censoring are for much younger readers. Her parents at one point change the ending of Old Yeller so that he lives happily ever after, rabies-free. And you'd think at the age of 13, they'd be less concerned about books like Old Yeller and (based on my experience of the reading tastes of 13 year old girls) more concerned about Twilight, The Hunger Games, and Divergent.
Add in the fact that everything was very cut-and dried (the characters fell very clearly into two camps - in favour of decimating the library and discouraging reading OR sneaking around hiding books in an empty locker) with not a huge amount of depth to it and I liked this but didn't love it. Honestly, it's more like a 3 star book that gets an extra half star for the librarian's storyline because that was kind of adorable.
August 28, 2018
First sentence: You're going to read a lot about me and the things I've done. Most of it's true. I can't help that, not that I'd want to. I would do the exact same thing all over again if I had the chance.
Premise/plot: June Harper loves, loves, loves to read, but when her parents catch her reading her latest check out from the school library, The Makings of a Witch, her worst nightmare begins. What is her worst nightmare? It's not that she's grounded, though that does happen a lot in this one. No, it's the fact that her parents strip her room of every single book, and not satisfied with that proceed to strip the school library of every single book as well.
June Harper a book glutton finds herself cut off from every source. But that won't stay the case. She discovers a free little library on her walk to school. She takes books...and shares them with other students. Thus becoming the REBEL LIBRARIAN.
My thoughts: I think a perfect ending for Property of the Rebel Librarian would have been her sitting with her parents at breakfast and saying I HAD THE CRAZIEST DREAM LAST NIGHT AND YOU BOTH WERE IN IT! IT WAS THE WEIRDEST THING. ALL BOOKS BECAME BANNED OVERNIGHT AND READING BECAME A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. IT WAS SO SCARY AND I COULDN'T FORCE MYSELF TO WAKE UP! THE WORST PART OF THE DREAM IS WHEN YOU RIPPED OUT PAGES FROM MY BOOKS.
It had all the makings of a great TWILIGHT ZONE episode. It was an eery alternate reality.
Unfortunately, that's not the ending. June Harper's reality is supposed to be believable to readers. It wasn't. Not even slightly. Her parents weren't just following their own convictions and practicing their parental rights. They were EVIL. And they were good at it--surprisingly good at it. Somehow convincing the principal, the school board, the PTA, the rest of the staff, and a good percentage of the student body that BOOKS WERE BAD and that the LIBRARY needed to be closed indefinitely because it was SUPER-DANGEROUS. No one apparently argued against June's parents. They were powerfully persuasive it seems! The whole community was united in a goal to make sure that their kids never opened a book unless it was a textbook.
A more thoughtful, more complex approach to the topic would have been a welcome read. Do people find books offensive at times? Yes. From all walks of life. Liberals. Conservatives. Atheists. Christians. Every shade of person in between. Though it may be tempting to paint one stereotype of a "book banner" lunatic, it wouldn't be fair or realistic. There is also a HUGE difference in my opinion between a book being assigned reading within a classroom AND a book being available--on the shelf--in the school library. On the one hand, every student would have to read a book, and on the other hand any book read would be completely voluntary. Some books circulate a lot. Some books not at all.
June's parents are generically opposed to books; if there's an inner motivation behind their objection readers remain clueless. They seek the removal of EVERY SINGLE BOOK in the school library so that the books can be evaluated for content. No profanity, no drugs, no violence, no rock/rap music, no witchcraft, no drinking, no smoking, no rebellion of any kind. The list is generic but incomplete. Did you notice what isn't included? Sex or sexuality. It seems odd that these two would have a vendetta against rock or rap music but be okay with the other. And they're not consistently strict. They care what June READS but not what she watches on TV.
The book also fails to be believable in another way. There seems to be no standards, guidelines, rules and procedures in place to deal with conflict and challenges. I'd be surprised at a library not having a collection development policy. And the school and school board should have clear, written-down procedures in place for what happens when a parent--or concerned citizen--objects to a book either a) in the school library in general b) in the classroom as an assigned reading. It is plausible that a parent could object to ONE book being in the library collection and have it successfully removed. At least temporarily removed until the conflict can be resolved and the book reevaluated. But the idea that a parent could have every single library book removed from the library altogether and have the books boxed up and shipped out is beyond ridiculous.
A book written that thoughtfully reflects a child's struggle in a difficult position would have been a great addition. A child who loves, loves, loves to read and welcomes words like she does oxygen. A child who loves her parents BUT doesn't understand their rules. There is no genuine struggle for June. Her parents are presented as that extremely evil. You might as well hang a sign over their front door saying ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE.
Premise/plot: June Harper loves, loves, loves to read, but when her parents catch her reading her latest check out from the school library, The Makings of a Witch, her worst nightmare begins. What is her worst nightmare? It's not that she's grounded, though that does happen a lot in this one. No, it's the fact that her parents strip her room of every single book, and not satisfied with that proceed to strip the school library of every single book as well.
June Harper a book glutton finds herself cut off from every source. But that won't stay the case. She discovers a free little library on her walk to school. She takes books...and shares them with other students. Thus becoming the REBEL LIBRARIAN.
My thoughts: I think a perfect ending for Property of the Rebel Librarian would have been her sitting with her parents at breakfast and saying I HAD THE CRAZIEST DREAM LAST NIGHT AND YOU BOTH WERE IN IT! IT WAS THE WEIRDEST THING. ALL BOOKS BECAME BANNED OVERNIGHT AND READING BECAME A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. IT WAS SO SCARY AND I COULDN'T FORCE MYSELF TO WAKE UP! THE WORST PART OF THE DREAM IS WHEN YOU RIPPED OUT PAGES FROM MY BOOKS.
It had all the makings of a great TWILIGHT ZONE episode. It was an eery alternate reality.
Unfortunately, that's not the ending. June Harper's reality is supposed to be believable to readers. It wasn't. Not even slightly. Her parents weren't just following their own convictions and practicing their parental rights. They were EVIL. And they were good at it--surprisingly good at it. Somehow convincing the principal, the school board, the PTA, the rest of the staff, and a good percentage of the student body that BOOKS WERE BAD and that the LIBRARY needed to be closed indefinitely because it was SUPER-DANGEROUS. No one apparently argued against June's parents. They were powerfully persuasive it seems! The whole community was united in a goal to make sure that their kids never opened a book unless it was a textbook.
A more thoughtful, more complex approach to the topic would have been a welcome read. Do people find books offensive at times? Yes. From all walks of life. Liberals. Conservatives. Atheists. Christians. Every shade of person in between. Though it may be tempting to paint one stereotype of a "book banner" lunatic, it wouldn't be fair or realistic. There is also a HUGE difference in my opinion between a book being assigned reading within a classroom AND a book being available--on the shelf--in the school library. On the one hand, every student would have to read a book, and on the other hand any book read would be completely voluntary. Some books circulate a lot. Some books not at all.
June's parents are generically opposed to books; if there's an inner motivation behind their objection readers remain clueless. They seek the removal of EVERY SINGLE BOOK in the school library so that the books can be evaluated for content. No profanity, no drugs, no violence, no rock/rap music, no witchcraft, no drinking, no smoking, no rebellion of any kind. The list is generic but incomplete. Did you notice what isn't included? Sex or sexuality. It seems odd that these two would have a vendetta against rock or rap music but be okay with the other. And they're not consistently strict. They care what June READS but not what she watches on TV.
The book also fails to be believable in another way. There seems to be no standards, guidelines, rules and procedures in place to deal with conflict and challenges. I'd be surprised at a library not having a collection development policy. And the school and school board should have clear, written-down procedures in place for what happens when a parent--or concerned citizen--objects to a book either a) in the school library in general b) in the classroom as an assigned reading. It is plausible that a parent could object to ONE book being in the library collection and have it successfully removed. At least temporarily removed until the conflict can be resolved and the book reevaluated. But the idea that a parent could have every single library book removed from the library altogether and have the books boxed up and shipped out is beyond ridiculous.
A book written that thoughtfully reflects a child's struggle in a difficult position would have been a great addition. A child who loves, loves, loves to read and welcomes words like she does oxygen. A child who loves her parents BUT doesn't understand their rules. There is no genuine struggle for June. Her parents are presented as that extremely evil. You might as well hang a sign over their front door saying ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE.
August 6, 2018
"When in doubt, go to the library." And if you don't have access to a rich and exciting library collection, do what June Harper does -- build your own! June has always loved books, but when the adults in her life try to restrict her access to them, they become even more precious (and powerful).
Packed with *kid power* and super fun references to books middle grade readers know and love (or will want to get to know!) parts of this story actually had me cheering out loud.
Fast paced, full of twists, lots of opportunity for discussion -- I predict this book will be topping a lot of library piles!
Packed with *kid power* and super fun references to books middle grade readers know and love (or will want to get to know!) parts of this story actually had me cheering out loud.
Fast paced, full of twists, lots of opportunity for discussion -- I predict this book will be topping a lot of library piles!
September 14, 2018
When seventh-grader June Harper’s parents decide her latest reading material is too inappropriate for her, they cause a chain reaction of events, from the firing of June’s beloved librarian to the removal of almost all the books in the Dogwood Middle’s library, to the new strict rules regarding what students can and cannot read. Devastated by and fed up with the new rules, June soon starts an underground library at her school, using an empty locker to trade the bookish goods. If discovered, June could lose everything and she must decide if the movement she’s begun is worth the consequences.
Oh y’all, I’m so conflicted when it comes to Allison Varnes’ middle-grade, Property of the Rebel Librarian. With a premise with so much potential and power I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, I found it disappointing.
I always like to start with the positives and Property of the Rebel Librarian certainly has those. The premise and message about censorship, the power and importance of books, and staying true to one’s self, are awesome, timely, relevant, and important and I applaud the author for tackling them. The heroine, June Harper, is, for the most part, an admirable, relatable, and likable main character who has some real character development and growth.
My main issue with Property of the Rebel Librarian is how unbelievable the whole thing feels. June’s whole world feels so contrived and paper thin. First, the characters, which are lacking when it comes to diversity, feel like they were all written to fit come cliched stereotypical boxes: mean girl? Check. ultra hip girl in nineties band t-shirts? Check. swoon-worthy, dreamy, effortlessly cool boy who always knows what to say? Check. average, girl next door girl who has multiple boys fawning over her? Check. Young readers are going to see right through these characters and think middle-schoolers don’t sound, act, or think like this.
If this were set in some kind of Stepford Wives- Fahrenheit 451 dystopian then the extremes it goes to when it comes to the censorship, book banning, and jumping on the bandwagon would make sense, but it’s not and it doesn’t. The extremes that June’s parents, the principle, the PTSA, and school go to and the extreme lack of questioning by anyone are so extreme it’s actually ridiculous. And again, young readers, who are so smart, are going to realize this.
And then there’s June’s parents and oh boy are they awful. Like, they come across as truly awful, lacking in any sense kind of people...and they are NOT supposed to be seen that way. I truly believe they’re meant to come across as loving parents who are trying to do what’s best for their daughter, but just make some mistakes. But y’all, they take June’s books and edit out any of the deemed “inappropriate” stuff ...they rewrote the ending of Old Yeller and edit Anne of Green Gables. Anne of freaking Green Gables?! They are so controlling of June and her older sister (who is in college) that they feel like they can tell their girls what they can and can’t study or major in. And June can’t read Harry Potter or watch the movies, but she can read The Crucible and watch Jaws? How does that make any sense?! June and her sister are absolutely terrified of making mistakes and disappointing their parents. This is NOT a healthy parent-child relationship, but it’s treated as if it is.
Again, this premise and the book’s message or so great, but the execution and delivery are severely lacking. I don’t ever want to discourage a kid from reading a book and I think there are younger readers who will like Property of the Rebel Librarian, but overall, there are SO many other wonderful middle-grade books out there that I would put in their hands first.
Oh y’all, I’m so conflicted when it comes to Allison Varnes’ middle-grade, Property of the Rebel Librarian. With a premise with so much potential and power I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, I found it disappointing.
I always like to start with the positives and Property of the Rebel Librarian certainly has those. The premise and message about censorship, the power and importance of books, and staying true to one’s self, are awesome, timely, relevant, and important and I applaud the author for tackling them. The heroine, June Harper, is, for the most part, an admirable, relatable, and likable main character who has some real character development and growth.
My main issue with Property of the Rebel Librarian is how unbelievable the whole thing feels. June’s whole world feels so contrived and paper thin. First, the characters, which are lacking when it comes to diversity, feel like they were all written to fit come cliched stereotypical boxes: mean girl? Check. ultra hip girl in nineties band t-shirts? Check. swoon-worthy, dreamy, effortlessly cool boy who always knows what to say? Check. average, girl next door girl who has multiple boys fawning over her? Check. Young readers are going to see right through these characters and think middle-schoolers don’t sound, act, or think like this.
If this were set in some kind of Stepford Wives- Fahrenheit 451 dystopian then the extremes it goes to when it comes to the censorship, book banning, and jumping on the bandwagon would make sense, but it’s not and it doesn’t. The extremes that June’s parents, the principle, the PTSA, and school go to and the extreme lack of questioning by anyone are so extreme it’s actually ridiculous. And again, young readers, who are so smart, are going to realize this.
And then there’s June’s parents and oh boy are they awful. Like, they come across as truly awful, lacking in any sense kind of people...and they are NOT supposed to be seen that way. I truly believe they’re meant to come across as loving parents who are trying to do what’s best for their daughter, but just make some mistakes. But y’all, they take June’s books and edit out any of the deemed “inappropriate” stuff ...they rewrote the ending of Old Yeller and edit Anne of Green Gables. Anne of freaking Green Gables?! They are so controlling of June and her older sister (who is in college) that they feel like they can tell their girls what they can and can’t study or major in. And June can’t read Harry Potter or watch the movies, but she can read The Crucible and watch Jaws? How does that make any sense?! June and her sister are absolutely terrified of making mistakes and disappointing their parents. This is NOT a healthy parent-child relationship, but it’s treated as if it is.
Again, this premise and the book’s message or so great, but the execution and delivery are severely lacking. I don’t ever want to discourage a kid from reading a book and I think there are younger readers who will like Property of the Rebel Librarian, but overall, there are SO many other wonderful middle-grade books out there that I would put in their hands first.
September 16, 2018
When June's parents find her reading a book about witches, they suddenly go to extremes to control her reading choices. Her dad is on the PTA, and he leads the charge to suspend the school librarian and clean the school library of any book that could be harmful to a child (or cause them to actually THINK). Even the books in June's own bookcase get a parental make-over. Pages are ripped out and notecards replace endings. (Old Yeller lives happily ever after.) Middle grade readers will connect with June's voice. She's smart and funny - the well-behaved child who never causes trouble who suddenly finds herself running an illicit library out of an empty locker and supplying banned books to her middle school classmates. In the back of the book is a list of books that have been banned or challenged. Students will enjoy looking it over to see what they've read! PROPERTY OF THE REBEL LIBRARIAN is a must-read for Banned Books Week and will make a great centerpiece for a school library display.
June 12, 2018
I finished this book in one sitting, staying up until one in the morning to do so. It’s a book about books! And banned ones! I was hooked! I love the way Varnes did such a great job capturing the point of view of a middle school girl, especially one with such controlling parents. She is frustrated, seeks their approval, is embarrassed by their actions, but loves them too…. They make a lot of parenting mistakes, but Varnes is careful to paint them carefully, taking care not to villainize them. This book made me remember what it feels like to be twelve. June captured my heart.
March 10, 2022
June, a 12 year old bookworm, brings home a book with the word "witch" in the title and her very strict parents freak out, confiscate it and all other books in her room, and the bring up the issue to the principle of her middle school. June got the book from the middle school library, and very shortly the librarian is suspended and nearly all books have been removed from the shelves to be reviewed by a panel. Teachers are told they cannot assign any reading outside of the approved curriculum, and students are threatened with detention if they are caught with an unassigned book. June loves book too much to roll over- she starts lending books to fellow students out of an empty locker, dubbing herself 'The Rebel Librarian'. This is a quick and easy read, which I would have enjoyed a lot at age 12.
However, I checked it out because I am a trans author of a book which had been facing a series of bans and challenges all around the country. The patterns that I am seeing in the current wave of book challenges is this: books with queer themes, books on the history of racism, books by POC authors, and books about sexual health, sex ed, and abortion are the books being hit the hardest. None of those topics ever come up in Property of the Rebel Librarian, and June's parents don't seem to have any particular political or religious stand point- their only motivation is an intense, manic desire to control their child for her "safety". Making the book bans in this middle grade novel more explicitly about queer books, trans books, books by POC authors etc would have made this narrative much more political- and possible made the book itself more vulnerable to the exact kind of book challenges that it talks about! I can see why the author chose to tell a simpler, smaller story. But I do think a lot of depth was lost to me, an adult reader, by making the logic behind the bans apolitical and rather tame.
However, I checked it out because I am a trans author of a book which had been facing a series of bans and challenges all around the country. The patterns that I am seeing in the current wave of book challenges is this: books with queer themes, books on the history of racism, books by POC authors, and books about sexual health, sex ed, and abortion are the books being hit the hardest. None of those topics ever come up in Property of the Rebel Librarian, and June's parents don't seem to have any particular political or religious stand point- their only motivation is an intense, manic desire to control their child for her "safety". Making the book bans in this middle grade novel more explicitly about queer books, trans books, books by POC authors etc would have made this narrative much more political- and possible made the book itself more vulnerable to the exact kind of book challenges that it talks about! I can see why the author chose to tell a simpler, smaller story. But I do think a lot of depth was lost to me, an adult reader, by making the logic behind the bans apolitical and rather tame.
December 29, 2018
I know a lot of kids who will really identify with June Harper. Whenever I discuss the topic of banned books with tweens at work, they get really worked up about it! It is definitely an issue they feel passionately about, and this story does a wonderful job of showing how the students fight back. The censorship here does seem a tad extreme though - I wish the author had either pumped the brakes and pulled it back to a more realistic depiction of how books end up challenged, or swung fully in the other direction and made this a surprise dystopia or alternate world story. I love the mentions of so many classic and modern books that will have readers thinking "oh I love that one, too!" - it grounds the book into the real world.
June 5, 2018
I am so grateful that I got to read an ARC of this book! I absolutely loved everything about Rebel Librarian! This was an easy read and I was hooked from the beginning. I can't wait to get copies for my library and share this with students.
Awesome job, Allison Varnes!
Awesome job, Allison Varnes!
July 31, 2019
I just want to Thank Allison Varnes for writing this Very Important book about censorship!!!!
Everyone, regardless of age, should READ this book - especially in these divisive times.
It all starts when June Harper's parents catch her reading "The Makings of a Witch" (according to Allison this is a fictitious title) - her parents do not approve of this book, up until this very moment in June's life, she's never been told she can't read a book. Her parents take all of her personal books from her room - when they are returned, after her parents have read each and every book - all the books have been altered to her parents point of view --- Old Yeller doesn't die of Rabies, he lives happily ever after, REALLY?
What starts out as just her problem, becomes the problem of the entire Middle school she attends, and the entire community she lives in..... The school board has taken on censorship, the school librarian is put an administrative leave until the board can decide what to do with Ms. Bradshaw.
Then the library is emptied of any and all books that "they" deem inappropriate for the students. About the only thing they didn't do was burn the books like in Germany or in the book "Fahrenheit 451".
Walking to school, alone, one day, June decides to take the long way and discovers a "FREE LIBRARY" in the yard of someone - who is that watching her from behind the blinds? So starts the occupation of the "Rebel Librarian". Her usual friends desert her, however, kids of all grades who have never noticed her before come to her, when it is discovered she has some copies of books on the BANNED list.
There were moments that this book made me REALLY ANGRY! As a librarian, I wanted to strangle the parents, and all the adults who believed they could use MIND CONTROL over the students - sure we know that sometimes books may be beyond some readers' scope, but to say you can't read something because it doesn't fit with your view of the world or doesn't have a happy ending.....
I appreciated that Allison listed all the books she referred to at the end of the book - and at one time or another many of them have been challenged in public and school libraries.
Everyone, regardless of age, should READ this book - especially in these divisive times.
It all starts when June Harper's parents catch her reading "The Makings of a Witch" (according to Allison this is a fictitious title) - her parents do not approve of this book, up until this very moment in June's life, she's never been told she can't read a book. Her parents take all of her personal books from her room - when they are returned, after her parents have read each and every book - all the books have been altered to her parents point of view --- Old Yeller doesn't die of Rabies, he lives happily ever after, REALLY?
What starts out as just her problem, becomes the problem of the entire Middle school she attends, and the entire community she lives in..... The school board has taken on censorship, the school librarian is put an administrative leave until the board can decide what to do with Ms. Bradshaw.
Then the library is emptied of any and all books that "they" deem inappropriate for the students. About the only thing they didn't do was burn the books like in Germany or in the book "Fahrenheit 451".
Walking to school, alone, one day, June decides to take the long way and discovers a "FREE LIBRARY" in the yard of someone - who is that watching her from behind the blinds? So starts the occupation of the "Rebel Librarian". Her usual friends desert her, however, kids of all grades who have never noticed her before come to her, when it is discovered she has some copies of books on the BANNED list.
There were moments that this book made me REALLY ANGRY! As a librarian, I wanted to strangle the parents, and all the adults who believed they could use MIND CONTROL over the students - sure we know that sometimes books may be beyond some readers' scope, but to say you can't read something because it doesn't fit with your view of the world or doesn't have a happy ending.....
I appreciated that Allison listed all the books she referred to at the end of the book - and at one time or another many of them have been challenged in public and school libraries.
May 8, 2018
As soon as I saw "Rebel Librarian" in the title, I knew I had to read this and it did not disappoint! This book made me angry, happy, sad, and hopeful. I felt like I was back in history with the book banning on a massive level, but sadly these are the mindset of many people today. I was glad that the ending didn't wrap everything up in a nice bow, but left the readers hopeful that some changes will be made. This book will open up a great discussion with children who read it. I kind of want there to be a sequel, so I can see what June is up to next, but at the same time, I felt that the whole story was told and there isn't a need for a sequel. Great job to the author and I look forward to reading more by her!
August 11, 2018
I was given an ARC to review and had no idea what to expect. What a wonderful story! It explores sensitive topics like censorship and activism with a fast-moving, always entertaining plot. The MC June is respectful and feisty at the same time, and has to figure out how to navigate her love for reading and the topic of banned books. I loved the way the author was able to take a heavy subject and make it realistic and appealing for middle grade students. This book will not only inform readers, but I'm sure there are many MG students who will personally understand June's frustration when her reading list is limited. This should be in every library as an open door for discussion. Highly recommended.
July 19, 2018
Read this book! Then tell every librarian, teacher, child, and parent you know to Read This Book!
The story isn't a new one, but the message is vital: the rule-following good girl becomes a rebel when she experiences censorship that she believes is unfair and unacceptable. The parents in this book were pretty horrible and extreme, but there are people like them in our world who try to control not just what their own kids think and read, but what every child in a school or library district is allowed to think and read.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for sending me this ARC and for promoting the freedom to read by publishing this book.
The story isn't a new one, but the message is vital: the rule-following good girl becomes a rebel when she experiences censorship that she believes is unfair and unacceptable. The parents in this book were pretty horrible and extreme, but there are people like them in our world who try to control not just what their own kids think and read, but what every child in a school or library district is allowed to think and read.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for sending me this ARC and for promoting the freedom to read by publishing this book.
July 12, 2018
This was so good. I was afraid it would be like Ban This Book by Alan Gratz, but it really was not. When June’s parents find a book librarian gave her to read, they take it and all her personal books away and begin a crusade to censor books at her middle school. I loved all the titles included and the many great quotes contained within. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.
April 17, 2018
This book does a great job of introducing the topic of book censorship in a thoughtful way. I was rooting for June from the very beginning! The story is quick-paced, and it will be a great springboard for thought-provoking discussions among students.
September 16, 2019
Seventh-Grader June Harper is more of a band geek than a rebel. She accepts her parents' strict rules: no dating, no cell phones, G-rated movies, early bedtimes, band practice after school. Mr. and Mrs. Harper have been extra hyper focused on June ever since her older sister Kate left for college. June looks forward to visiting the school library every day before school when the librarian, Ms. Bradshaw, helps June choose a new book. June loves reading more than anything. She loves being taken away to worlds that don't exist outside the imagination, meeting new people and learning new ideas. Which is why it comes as a horrible shock when her parents forbid her from reading a book they deem inappropriate. What's worse is when they learn June got the book from the school library! The Harpers take away June's books and force the school to confront their policies on reading material. Ms. Bradshaw is put on leave and the school enacts new rules about approved reading. June is miserable! As days goes by without the school returning books, June becomes more and more miserable, despite the coolest boy in 8th grade wanting to date her. Then she discovers a Little Free Library in her community and suddenly reading is fun again. It turns out June isn't the only middle schooler who misses the library and she becomes the Rebel Librarian, a superhero helping kids subvert the rules in the name of freedom to read. How long can she keep it up before she's caught and what happens then?
5 stars for the message about freedom to read! Minus a star for the boy drama and lack of authentic boy voice.
The plot is gripping. I could not put this book down. I was right there with June feeling everything she felt. I was appalled at the actions of the parents, administration and school board. You think that could never happen in real life but I'm certain the story is based on different schools around the country that have tried these draconian tactics. I wanted to stand up and cheer for Joan at the end. I did not like the boy drama at all. Middle School boys are a)not that cool, b)don't talk like these characters or act like these characters and c)don't like girls their own age (unless boys have changed a lot since I was a kid). I also don't think the boy drama was necessary to the plot. It teaches kids how to choose the right partner but it also skews the audience older.
I want to pause and say thank you to my parents and teachers for never ever censoring what I read! The only comment I've ever gotten "What are you reading?!" from my Dad came when I was in my 30s and reading an old CLEAN Regency romance because the lame publisher wanted to make the cover titillating and of course the dress styles of the day show lots of bosom. I'm proud to have read many of the books on June's list and many others that have been banned and challenged. I wasn't even aware some of these books had been banned. I will provide a list at the end.
June is my superhero! She's a great kid. I'm not sure I would be so brave. I would just go to the public library or decide that if the books are deemed inappropriate I won't like them. That us, until I learned her parents censored
! (yes, seriously! Why? Because Anne serves Diana red current wine at tea and gets Diana drunk.) Then it would be full on rebel! Like June, I don't understand banning books the kids have already read! While I do think it's up to each child's parents to determine what that child reads, I don't understand why the parents didn't pre-read books before giving them to her and why they chose to censor books they HAD read. Some of these books were written for their age group and are enormously popular. Other books are classics and considered "quality literature." I would be so proud of June if she were my daughter! She's smart, brave and a good kid. Ms. Bradshaw is also my hero. A newly minted librarian, she has made a huge difference in June's life and is a nurturing adult who can be a mentor and friend without the uncoolness of being a parent.
The principal is weak and caves in to ONE set of parents who are very involved in the school. The school then turns into a totalitarian regime, which is ironic because the Honors English class is reading The Crucible, which is in fact not about the Salem Witch Trials of 400 years ago but about events that happened only 60ish years ago. The principal doesn't seem to know what the play is about or it would not be allowed! The PTSA doesn't seem to include the S- the students but randomly makes decisions based on what June's dad says. The school board is completely awful. They're anonymous adults who are for the establishment. This is a weak part in the novel but the end shows that the adults are not ALL 2D drones working for the man.
The other kids are all either super awesome or really awful. Boys have come between June and her bff Emma. Emma is interested in Matt but she sure seems interested in Graham too and Graham is showing interest in June. Emma's behavior towards June is pretty awful, especially when the boys are around. I was surprised at the reason June listed for why she chose to hang out with Emma in the first place. Graham is a spoiled rich kid, a former bad boy who wants to reform because his parents have bribed him. I think he's interested in June because she's a good girl who will go a long way to rehabbing his image. Like June I think he comes across as too slick and his jokes aren't funny. Graham is not someone I would want to date. Matt, on the other hand, is a very nice boy. When he's older he'll be a swoony hero in his own romance someday but for now he does NOT sound like a middle school boy!
Minor characters include Abby Rodriguez, an older girl who would never look twice at June. Abby is really cool and I like her a lot. Madison, June's former bff, now frenemy, is justified in holding a grudge against June but she is apparently rude to everyone. I feel kind of sorry for her and feel she could be a cool, edgy character. Colby is another unrealistic cool boy who loves to read.
Overall, I find this book is a must read for tweens and adults. Read it together and figure out an understanding. Parents, you have to trust your kids and the adults who look after them at school.
I don't know why this town doesn't have a public library. They could have gotten all or most of these books at the public library unless their parents cut up their library cards.
June's Library
The Crossover
Six of Crows
Doll Bones
Blubber
Poppy Mayberry, The Monday
Sticks & Stones
Matilda
Because of Winn-Dixie
Better Nate Than Ever
Coraline
The Graveyard Book
George
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
The Outsiders
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
EngiNerds
A Snicker of Magic
Rules
Number the Stars
Bob
Bridge to Terabithia
Pax
The Lightning Thief
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life
Holes
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill
Goosebumps Boxed Set
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Wolf Hollow
Brown Girl Dreaming
other titles mentioned
Wishtree
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Beezus and Ramona
Lily and Dunkin
Old Yeller
Twilight
The Crucible
Anne of Green Gables
Monster
Junie B. Jones Boxed Set
The Little Prince
The Hobbit or There and Back Again
The Velveteen Rabbit
5 stars for the message about freedom to read! Minus a star for the boy drama and lack of authentic boy voice.
The plot is gripping. I could not put this book down. I was right there with June feeling everything she felt. I was appalled at the actions of the parents, administration and school board. You think that could never happen in real life but I'm certain the story is based on different schools around the country that have tried these draconian tactics. I wanted to stand up and cheer for Joan at the end. I did not like the boy drama at all. Middle School boys are a)not that cool, b)don't talk like these characters or act like these characters and c)don't like girls their own age (unless boys have changed a lot since I was a kid). I also don't think the boy drama was necessary to the plot. It teaches kids how to choose the right partner but it also skews the audience older.
I want to pause and say thank you to my parents and teachers for never ever censoring what I read! The only comment I've ever gotten "What are you reading?!" from my Dad came when I was in my 30s and reading an old CLEAN Regency romance because the lame publisher wanted to make the cover titillating and of course the dress styles of the day show lots of bosom. I'm proud to have read many of the books on June's list and many others that have been banned and challenged. I wasn't even aware some of these books had been banned. I will provide a list at the end.
June is my superhero! She's a great kid. I'm not sure I would be so brave. I would just go to the public library or decide that if the books are deemed inappropriate I won't like them. That us, until I learned her parents censored
! (yes, seriously! Why? Because Anne serves Diana red current wine at tea and gets Diana drunk.) Then it would be full on rebel! Like June, I don't understand banning books the kids have already read! While I do think it's up to each child's parents to determine what that child reads, I don't understand why the parents didn't pre-read books before giving them to her and why they chose to censor books they HAD read. Some of these books were written for their age group and are enormously popular. Other books are classics and considered "quality literature." I would be so proud of June if she were my daughter! She's smart, brave and a good kid. Ms. Bradshaw is also my hero. A newly minted librarian, she has made a huge difference in June's life and is a nurturing adult who can be a mentor and friend without the uncoolness of being a parent.The principal is weak and caves in to ONE set of parents who are very involved in the school. The school then turns into a totalitarian regime, which is ironic because the Honors English class is reading The Crucible, which is in fact not about the Salem Witch Trials of 400 years ago but about events that happened only 60ish years ago. The principal doesn't seem to know what the play is about or it would not be allowed! The PTSA doesn't seem to include the S- the students but randomly makes decisions based on what June's dad says. The school board is completely awful. They're anonymous adults who are for the establishment. This is a weak part in the novel but the end shows that the adults are not ALL 2D drones working for the man.
The other kids are all either super awesome or really awful. Boys have come between June and her bff Emma. Emma is interested in Matt but she sure seems interested in Graham too and Graham is showing interest in June. Emma's behavior towards June is pretty awful, especially when the boys are around. I was surprised at the reason June listed for why she chose to hang out with Emma in the first place. Graham is a spoiled rich kid, a former bad boy who wants to reform because his parents have bribed him. I think he's interested in June because she's a good girl who will go a long way to rehabbing his image. Like June I think he comes across as too slick and his jokes aren't funny. Graham is not someone I would want to date. Matt, on the other hand, is a very nice boy. When he's older he'll be a swoony hero in his own romance someday but for now he does NOT sound like a middle school boy!
Minor characters include Abby Rodriguez, an older girl who would never look twice at June. Abby is really cool and I like her a lot. Madison, June's former bff, now frenemy, is justified in holding a grudge against June but she is apparently rude to everyone. I feel kind of sorry for her and feel she could be a cool, edgy character. Colby is another unrealistic cool boy who loves to read.
Overall, I find this book is a must read for tweens and adults. Read it together and figure out an understanding. Parents, you have to trust your kids and the adults who look after them at school.
I don't know why this town doesn't have a public library. They could have gotten all or most of these books at the public library unless their parents cut up their library cards.
June's Library
The Crossover
Six of Crows
Doll Bones
Blubber
Poppy Mayberry, The Monday
Sticks & Stones
Matilda
Because of Winn-Dixie
Better Nate Than Ever
Coraline
The Graveyard Book
George
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
The Outsiders
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
EngiNerds
A Snicker of Magic
Rules
Number the Stars
Bob
Bridge to Terabithia
Pax
The Lightning Thief
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life
Holes
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill
Goosebumps Boxed Set
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Wolf Hollow
Brown Girl Dreaming
other titles mentioned
Wishtree
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Beezus and Ramona
Lily and Dunkin
Old Yeller
Twilight
The Crucible
Anne of Green Gables
Monster
Junie B. Jones Boxed Set
The Little Prince
The Hobbit or There and Back Again
The Velveteen Rabbit
February 25, 2019
I was near to near to tears, shock, and outrage as l began this book....it was a timely read, as l read it just before Banned Book Week.
I could not imagine a world such as the one the central character, June Harper was apart of. By the end my admiration for June and her fellow school mates had grown and l was also left pondering the thought, along with June “ of your one person when you read a book, and then you change, does the book become different? Do the words stretch to fit the NEW version of who you are?” ( p.266)
Highly recommended for intense in and out classroom discussions on Freedom of choice!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I could not imagine a world such as the one the central character, June Harper was apart of. By the end my admiration for June and her fellow school mates had grown and l was also left pondering the thought, along with June “ of your one person when you read a book, and then you change, does the book become different? Do the words stretch to fit the NEW version of who you are?” ( p.266)
Highly recommended for intense in and out classroom discussions on Freedom of choice!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
January 1, 2019
I did not like this book but I read it anyway because I wanted to see some redeeming qualities by the end. There wasn't any. That's why I put it on my omg-really shelf. Then I put it on my sandys-trigger shelf because it has so-called "adults" who think they know what's best for EVERY kid and bans most of the fiction books in the school library. Where are the adults who read books together with their kids and talk about the books? Where are the adults with common sense? They weren't in this book. The only adult I liked was the librarian who was fired for letting kids read books. So the kids at school can only read textbooks and approved books. But they are reading The Crucible in class!?! Like I said earlier I was hoping for some change of hearts in the adults at the end of the book and that would have been a good ending but nothing changed. The books are still banned and June's parents are still being hard-asses about what June can and can not read. Plus where is the public library? Try pulling this shit there. Wouldn't happen.
Here are some notes I wrote down while reading this book. There are a lot of things I wrote down and I will try and keep the cuss words down to the two in the above paragraph. Then I do have a book to recommend.
page 4 - June's parents do not approve of a book she read. The Makings Of A Witch is a fictional book but I would like to read it. June is 12 years old and has already read this book so why ban her from reading a book that she has already read? But to ban a book because they think it's too scary for her? Did I mention June is 12 years old? I was reading Stephen King books at that age.
page 8 - June is grounded for reading this book. Grounded for reading a book. I can't even....
page 9 - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Such a good book. One of the only good things in this book is not in the story but at the end. The author has a list of books mentioned in the story and titles in June's locker library.
page 30 - "Dismissed. Swatted away like a pesky mosquito buzzing around her ear." It's only page 30 and I am so mad at this book. I would have said - why did you have me when you clearly hate me? I know, it's petty but still.
page 30 - Wow. Talk about petty. The offended parents took every book from June's book case.
page 48 - So now it's not only books that are banned at school. No more bacon bits and rolls, only whole wheat crackers.
page 55 - Yay! A free little library. I love those things.
page 66 - I hate EVERY "adult" in this book except the librarian, and she is gone.
page 67 - Graham tells June that "maybe you could stop reading those books for a little while." Maybe Graham can stop breathing for a little while.
page 95 - Why isn't there a parent in this god-forsaken place who will let their kid read Harry Potter or Diary of a Wimpy Kid? And why aren't people talking about the books that the kids can read?
page 113 - Graham is wearing a Student Club for Appropriate Reading button. You know some "adult" came up with that.
page 123 - "Books or me." - Graham. Graham needs to hit the road. Bye-bye.
page 142 - OMG! The most hated part of this book for me. The "adults" (June's parents) give back her books. But wait, the books are different. Some pages have been ripped out and some have index cards with rewrites. Old yeller is cured and lives happily ever after. The fart jokes in Diary of a Wimpy Kid are covered. June's jaw drops. So does mine.
page 150 - The one good thing in this book is Matt giving June his copy of The Velveteen Rabbit.
page 171 - June's sister Kate, who is in college, tells the "parents" that she is changing her major from pre-med to a degree in education. She wants to teach English. Here is what the "parents" say: The "dad" turns to June and says, "You better not get any bright ideas! We've worked too hard for you to just throw it all away." Then "mom" says, "and those who can't do, teach. Everyone knows that." Seriously? Really?
At this point I wrote: There isn't anything these parents can do to change the fact that I hate them with so much passion. They will never change and I feel so bad for June.
So like I said nothing has changed but at least June figures out she wants to be a librarian when she grows up. It's a shame she has to wait until she grows up to be exposed to all the books she should have access to now.
My recommendation is this: don't read this book unless you want to be angry, instead read Ban This Book by Alan Gratz. It came out last year and it's so much better than this book.
Here are some notes I wrote down while reading this book. There are a lot of things I wrote down and I will try and keep the cuss words down to the two in the above paragraph. Then I do have a book to recommend.
page 4 - June's parents do not approve of a book she read. The Makings Of A Witch is a fictional book but I would like to read it. June is 12 years old and has already read this book so why ban her from reading a book that she has already read? But to ban a book because they think it's too scary for her? Did I mention June is 12 years old? I was reading Stephen King books at that age.
page 8 - June is grounded for reading this book. Grounded for reading a book. I can't even....
page 9 - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Such a good book. One of the only good things in this book is not in the story but at the end. The author has a list of books mentioned in the story and titles in June's locker library.
page 30 - "Dismissed. Swatted away like a pesky mosquito buzzing around her ear." It's only page 30 and I am so mad at this book. I would have said - why did you have me when you clearly hate me? I know, it's petty but still.
page 30 - Wow. Talk about petty. The offended parents took every book from June's book case.
page 48 - So now it's not only books that are banned at school. No more bacon bits and rolls, only whole wheat crackers.
page 55 - Yay! A free little library. I love those things.
page 66 - I hate EVERY "adult" in this book except the librarian, and she is gone.
page 67 - Graham tells June that "maybe you could stop reading those books for a little while." Maybe Graham can stop breathing for a little while.
page 95 - Why isn't there a parent in this god-forsaken place who will let their kid read Harry Potter or Diary of a Wimpy Kid? And why aren't people talking about the books that the kids can read?
page 113 - Graham is wearing a Student Club for Appropriate Reading button. You know some "adult" came up with that.
page 123 - "Books or me." - Graham. Graham needs to hit the road. Bye-bye.
page 142 - OMG! The most hated part of this book for me. The "adults" (June's parents) give back her books. But wait, the books are different. Some pages have been ripped out and some have index cards with rewrites. Old yeller is cured and lives happily ever after. The fart jokes in Diary of a Wimpy Kid are covered. June's jaw drops. So does mine.
page 150 - The one good thing in this book is Matt giving June his copy of The Velveteen Rabbit.
page 171 - June's sister Kate, who is in college, tells the "parents" that she is changing her major from pre-med to a degree in education. She wants to teach English. Here is what the "parents" say: The "dad" turns to June and says, "You better not get any bright ideas! We've worked too hard for you to just throw it all away." Then "mom" says, "and those who can't do, teach. Everyone knows that." Seriously? Really?
At this point I wrote: There isn't anything these parents can do to change the fact that I hate them with so much passion. They will never change and I feel so bad for June.
So like I said nothing has changed but at least June figures out she wants to be a librarian when she grows up. It's a shame she has to wait until she grows up to be exposed to all the books she should have access to now.
My recommendation is this: don't read this book unless you want to be angry, instead read Ban This Book by Alan Gratz. It came out last year and it's so much better than this book.
January 4, 2019
June Harper loves books and is devastated when her parents and school go full dictatorship and start banning books. The librarian is dismissed, the library is emptied and the students will get punished if found with books. June's books are also confiscated at home even though she has already read them all. June is inspired by a little free library in her neighborhood and starts her own library in an empty locker at school. Soon half of the students are borrowing books from her. The other half are part of a student anti-reading group. June becomes the Rebel Librarian and keeps getting books into kids hands, but of course the school is going to find out and put a stop to things. But can they really stop kids from reading?
At one point June asks "aren't there any reason adults here?" and I have to concur. This is like mass hysteria and I don't get it. The parents and school administration/board were extremely extreme and fairly unrealistic. There are generally policies in place to prevent this kind of mass hysteria. This actually seemed like a dystopian read except it is contemporary fiction and nothing futuristic at all. I don't think I could have hated parents more than I hated June's. They were completely unreasonable and had no redeeming qualities. The people in this story reminded me of stories I have read of Nazis and those that resisted them. Except there didn't seem to be any resistance in the adults. You can't tell me that there weren't more open minded parents in that school who wanted their kids to read what they wanted.
The only redeeming thing about this book was June herself. I actually adored her. I liked her passion for books and her determination to do what is right no matter what her parents think. I also appreciated the fact that she didn't give up on her parents even though they were completely unreasonable. I would have thrown the fit of all fits if my parents would have returned my books with pages torn out and edits made. There were also some pretty weird inconsistencies in the story. Like the fact that they can't read Newbery Winners and classics, but can read The Crucible in class. There is also the fact that June's parents don't want her to read books but let her watch things like Jaws.
The majority of the time reading/listening to this book I was clenching my teeth in anger and seething with anger. But I was also cheering for June the entire time and happy that this experience helped her figure out who she was and who others are around her. She found her true friends and found out the truth about her previous friends. And she realizes she is going to be a librarian when she grows up. I approve, just not of this book.
At one point June asks "aren't there any reason adults here?" and I have to concur. This is like mass hysteria and I don't get it. The parents and school administration/board were extremely extreme and fairly unrealistic. There are generally policies in place to prevent this kind of mass hysteria. This actually seemed like a dystopian read except it is contemporary fiction and nothing futuristic at all. I don't think I could have hated parents more than I hated June's. They were completely unreasonable and had no redeeming qualities. The people in this story reminded me of stories I have read of Nazis and those that resisted them. Except there didn't seem to be any resistance in the adults. You can't tell me that there weren't more open minded parents in that school who wanted their kids to read what they wanted.
The only redeeming thing about this book was June herself. I actually adored her. I liked her passion for books and her determination to do what is right no matter what her parents think. I also appreciated the fact that she didn't give up on her parents even though they were completely unreasonable. I would have thrown the fit of all fits if my parents would have returned my books with pages torn out and edits made. There were also some pretty weird inconsistencies in the story. Like the fact that they can't read Newbery Winners and classics, but can read The Crucible in class. There is also the fact that June's parents don't want her to read books but let her watch things like Jaws.
The majority of the time reading/listening to this book I was clenching my teeth in anger and seething with anger. But I was also cheering for June the entire time and happy that this experience helped her figure out who she was and who others are around her. She found her true friends and found out the truth about her previous friends. And she realizes she is going to be a librarian when she grows up. I approve, just not of this book.
August 28, 2018
Intermediate, middle grade
This book made me so mad! How could adults stand by and allow books to be banned? I was so emotionally involved in this book!
June Harper is a middle schooler with a positive relationship with books and her school librarian. June's parents decide that some of the books she is reading are inappropriate. New and old books are removed from the school library. The librarian is fired. The library closes. What will June do without her books? What will the rest of the students do? June becomes the rebel librarian, providing books undercover to the other students. Will she get caught?
I have already preordered this title for my middle school library. I can't wait to promote it!
This book made me so mad! How could adults stand by and allow books to be banned? I was so emotionally involved in this book!
June Harper is a middle schooler with a positive relationship with books and her school librarian. June's parents decide that some of the books she is reading are inappropriate. New and old books are removed from the school library. The librarian is fired. The library closes. What will June do without her books? What will the rest of the students do? June becomes the rebel librarian, providing books undercover to the other students. Will she get caught?
I have already preordered this title for my middle school library. I can't wait to promote it!
June 13, 2018
Property of the Rebel Librarian was a fantastic read! I enjoyed reading how June took matters into her own hands when she was not allowed to read books of her choice. So many great books are mentioned as are Little Free Libraries.
I read an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
#collabookation
I read an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
#collabookation
September 12, 2018
Oh, man.
I don't think I've ever walked away from a book SO ANGRY! I've always heard about those types of parents that are really strict about what their kids can/can't read, but its never gone further than "don't bring those books in my house" type situations. This book takes it a step further with June's mom complaining to the principal about her daughters book being "too scary" and having an unsavory topic such as witchcraft in it. All of this complaining winds up with the school librarian fired, the school board taking away any and all books with unsavory topics including, but not limited to, witchcraft, paranormal, and childhood rebellions.
To make matters even worse June's parents take her own personal library books away until they can read every. single. one. of. them. What starts out as a tiny act of rebellion leads to a full scale war on the school board and parents. That's pretty much all I can say without getting spoilery, and boy do I want to rant and bitch. Sorry guys.
In the end, this book was absolutely fantastic. I recommend it to anyone and everyone who firmly believes that no one of any age should be limited in what they can read. The world is boundless where reading is concerned. So many new worlds and characters to expand your imagination. It's a place to fall in love over and over, a place to hide from everything that seems wrong in your life; a light in your darkness.
I don't think I've ever walked away from a book SO ANGRY! I've always heard about those types of parents that are really strict about what their kids can/can't read, but its never gone further than "don't bring those books in my house" type situations. This book takes it a step further with June's mom complaining to the principal about her daughters book being "too scary" and having an unsavory topic such as witchcraft in it. All of this complaining winds up with the school librarian fired, the school board taking away any and all books with unsavory topics including, but not limited to, witchcraft, paranormal, and childhood rebellions.
To make matters even worse June's parents take her own personal library books away until they can read every. single. one. of. them. What starts out as a tiny act of rebellion leads to a full scale war on the school board and parents. That's pretty much all I can say without getting spoilery, and boy do I want to rant and bitch. Sorry guys.
In the end, this book was absolutely fantastic. I recommend it to anyone and everyone who firmly believes that no one of any age should be limited in what they can read. The world is boundless where reading is concerned. So many new worlds and characters to expand your imagination. It's a place to fall in love over and over, a place to hide from everything that seems wrong in your life; a light in your darkness.
April 9, 2019
Very much enjoyed this audiobook, even though I question the believability of some aspects. Still, the love of books and reading shines through strongly, and the audiobook performance is great. There's also a little middle grade love square, and that was super fun.
Also, every single parent in that damn school is the absolute worst, especially June's parents. If you want your children to be intelligent, let them read what they want. That level of over-protectiveness honestly disgusts me.
Also, every single parent in that damn school is the absolute worst, especially June's parents. If you want your children to be intelligent, let them read what they want. That level of over-protectiveness honestly disgusts me.
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