Memoirs of a Bookbat: A YA Novel About an Avid Reader, Family Censorship, and the Hardest Choice

by Kathryn Lasky

Harper Jessup is an avid reader, and when her parents become “migrants for God” she must keep her books secret. As Harper grows older and realizes how valuable reading is to her, she comes to understand that her parents’ radical efforts in favor of educational censorship are related to a quest for control within their own family. And so Harper finds she must make the hardest choice of all. “Sure to be controversial, prepare for a stimulating conversation.”-- The New Advocate

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Books About Books, Realistic Fiction, Religion, Middle Grade, Friendship

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Kathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.

Reviews

[library_jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

We named our daughter Harper because of this book.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the newest installment in my "reread available juvy lit to survive the stress of finals" series. Initially, I was disappointed. Lasky varies her sentence structures so rarely that I found myself lulled practically to sleep at times, and I'm not sure how well the direct address worked outside her target age group. (Whether it works within her target age group I can no longer speak to.) That said, the plot -- about growing up an avid reader in a family of newly fundamentalist Christians who aspire to ban most books -- did ultimately become engrossing enough to win me over. I was a little disappointed with the terms of the ending; I wonder if more autonomy would have been outside the realism of Harper's character, or just a nice move toward an even stronger female protagonist. Also, I thought the constant use of references to other books became a little forced, although the portrayal of relationships to *authors* struck me as touching and well done. But overall, this is a semi-engrossing read, worth the minimal amount of time it takes to finish.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! A brave girl with a love of reading who will stop at nothing to think like an individual and find her own way.

[Taehee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because my parents are religious, they have said some things about reading certain books from time to time but it usually had been in a passing note- probably because they already have read the books before and enjoyed it (hehe)- and they let me decide for myself if I should keep this book a part of my memory or just put it in the "trash" part of my brain.

But what Harper's parents does to their children in this book goes as far as to make me feel like they're abusing their child mentally. I mean, with forbidding their child to read 99% of the books and not teaching them ahead about puberty, how do they expect their child to turn out to be?

I think part of growing up is from experiencing many things and deciding for myself it I want this knowledge/experience to stay with me or not. The way Harper's parents restrict their children in the name of religion makes me want to just rip the book in half. Yes, I think practicing religion is a good thing. However, when sharing religious beliefs turn into ignoring other peoples freedom, I think it's better to be without.

Sometimes when I visit a place in Korea kind of like the Times Square, I see people from different churches holding up signs saying that if I don't go to their church, I will burn in hell. Sometimes I get pestered with questions like what religion I believe in and regardless oft answer, they start explaining that I have to be saved and blah blah blah...

Up until now those words seemed like something I would tune out but reading about a child that was similar to me (as in reading habits) in that kind of environment was a surprising change of perspective because for me, libraries were always open to me, not something I had to sneak around and feel guilty for.

[Sam (Hissing Potatoes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't been this emotionally compromised by a book since I read Rilla of Ingleside in 2015. It was admittedly difficult to read through the religious hate (not that it's presented in any positive light). Harper grapples to find her own voice and opinions amidst her neglectful upbringing, her lack of friends from moving so much, the struggle of growing up and hitting puberty with parents who offer no guidance whatsoever (and often add to her confusion). Harper's journey is told in a perfect example of masterful literary crafting. I related to her love of books so much on a personal level, the way they can comfort and make readers think for themselves. The way she and Gray talk about books with each other is so familiar and heart-warming. This book is an ode and homage to the transformative power of literacy. The specific literary examples persisted as themes throughout the book, culminating in an epilogue of satisfaction and perfection. I spent at least the last third of the book with tears in my eyes. I know this review seems overly gushy, but this book hit me so hard in the feels.

[Austen to Zafón · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'ts been fun to mine the newest literature for tweens and teens, under the guise of "pre-reading" for my young son. This book was published long after my teen years. I enjoyed its portrayal of the out-there wing of the evangelical church, banning books they think might cause people to think or question. It's a poor faith that can't stand up to Judy Blume and books on natural history. The main character, a compulsive and enthusiastic reader, is believable, although she does sometimes have insights that are beyond her years. If you love to read and, in particular, you get a special thrill reading from the "banned books" list, this book is for you.

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have Harriet The Spy on your all-time favorite book list, you should have this on there, too.  I'm not comparing the two--other than the age and sex of the protagonist, the books are completely different--but rather, my reaction to them.  I read Harriet over and over, re-read as an adult, and would still be reading it now if I hadn't practically memorized the whole thing.



If I'd come upon Bookbat at the same age, 10 or so, I'd have done the same.  (might still) And it might have induced me to seek out and explore some of the books she mentions in here.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could give 4.5 stars. I reserve 5 stars for books I want on my bookshelf and would read again and again. This book, while not quite that, is riveting. I wish it had been around when I was an adolescent.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is hard. More than anything, it made me deeply sad, although I did enjoy much of it.

I have mixed feelings about this story because while I disagree with many of the actions of her parents and the groups they were part of, I don’t disagree with the heart behind their actions. It’s fine to want to raise your family with traditional, Christian values, and it’s fine to stand for what you believe in. Honestly, I really feel for Harper’s parents in this story, because they found stability, purpose, peace, and healing exactly where I did, only to be immediately mentored by cultish hypocrites. The saddest part of this whole story is how wholly Harper’s parents devoted themselves to these organizations without ever a twinge of conscience, common sense, or grace. There’s a whole lot of church hurt and religious trauma going on in this book-imagine a crazy, fringe group of legalistic, hypocritical “Christians” obsessed with micromanaging everybody’s personal choices and forcing society to reflect their values in the name of purging “blasphemy.” Again, it’s fine to want to give your children a traditional, Christian upbringing and it’s fine to stand on your beliefs, but you literally cannot and never should try to force, manipulate, convince, or brainwash other people into living according to beliefs that they don’t hold! I was angered and sickened to read about these “Christians” who did almost everything they absolutely should not do in the name of Christianity. Very disheartening. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned the pedophilic minister that her parents idolize and follow as if he were another apostle!

I would be lying if I said I didn’t laugh a little bit when the legalists occasionally got what was coming to them…

I have to mention this simply because of how shocking it was to me: in the name of protecting their children’s minds, some of the books these groups “outlawed” for kids were The Chronicles of Narnia!!! That one boggled my brain cells. Christian parents forbidding Harry Potter? That I have heard of, and experienced personally. But Narnia?! I think it was because of the magic and mythical creatures that it was outlawed by these groups, but still… Christians forbidding their kids to read The Chronicles of Narnia is peak insanity and completely unheard of to me. This may be the most flabbergasted I’ve ever been in my life!

Gray was another character that I had mixed feelings about, because while he cared about, encouraged, and believed in Harper, I wasn’t thrilled with every influence he had on her. Maybe that’s just because I do not understand the appeal of horror fiction in any way, shape, or form, and probably wouldn’t be thrilled to find out that a 14-year-old I cared about was reading horror fiction from the adult section of the library. He changed her life though, and for the better, so overall, I liked him and his personality.

I’m glad the book ended the way it did. Harper needed to get away from the crazies. Because of the heaviness of this story, I probably wouldn’t recommend it for anyone younger than 15; this book tackles a LOT of relevant, controversial issues, both directly and indirectly. Do not go into this thinking that it is just a light, fluffy story that you won’t have to devote any serious thinking to!

[JH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an amazing book.

On a meta level, I especially adored this because the main character Harper writes to her favorite author and she writes back. Kathryn Lasky, herself, was my favorite author when I was a child (Shadows in the Water and all the Starbucks family adventures were my absolute favorite books!) and I would write to her and she’d write back!

This book is about the power books can have when you’re growing up and learning about the world. The grown-ups in your life aren’t always right. Harper’s parents are extreme right-wing Christians who travel around the country trying to get textbooks banned. Harper sneaks around reading everything she can.

I loved the character of Harper and I loved this brilliant book!

[Suzanne Vogt Shimkus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Harper, the main character. She is so brave and logical when it comes to dealing with her crazy parents. Love that she forges her own path and doesn’t automatically believe in the hate spewed by those that should be teaching her right from wrong.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great YA book. What do you do if you believe something that is fundamentally different from what your parents believe? Excellent book for teenage book lovers.

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are quite a few books about books (or reading or the power of words), but I liked the angle this one took: what if you grow up in a religious family that thinks many books are "dirty" and even fights them?

In the end, it wasn't so much about the books (which made me go a little "meh") but a story about growing up and having to choose between your family and your books (/your freedom of thought). It was a nice read but considering the topic, I expected it to be more gripping, deeper, something. Maybe that's a flaw due to Lasky's rather simple writing. The ending was a little unsatisfactory - I thought Harper got an easy way out and didn't have to deal much withy any consequences at all.

[Neill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper Jessup moves a lot after her father loses his job and then her parents start fighting. In order to bring this under control they join a church and gradually become convinced that the church's truth should be everyone's. Harper, an avid reader, finds that her favourite activity is inappropriate – or at least her choice of books is. As her little sister, Weesie, becomes more and more accepting of her parent's direction, Harper is more and more alienated. Then she meets Gray, another reader, whose parents are much more open than Harper's. Harper needs to come to terms with her life.

[Liz B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, what a horrible cover (and title, for that matter) for such a good book.

This is a book about reading, and about how reading helps you think. Harper travels with her parents across the country; while they organize local churches to challenge books in schools, Harper reads and reads and reads--often reading exactly the kinds of books her parents and parents' friends are challenging.

I loved Harper's voice, and also the frequent references to favorite childhood books.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a girl growing up without a lot of money and parents who fight often, but she loves to read. But her parents' relationship improves when they find religion and they try to ban books all over the country. The main character, Harper, is moved around and forced to hide her books from her parents. She is struggling to find out how she can do what she wants with her life without destroying her family or her beliefs.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book! Harper's religious parents travel from school district to school district enrolling her just long enough to find something in her school's library to censor. Harper, however, likes to read, and finds that she likes to read some of the very books her parents disapprove of. In the end, she has to chose what path she will follow if she is to be true to her own beliefs. This is an eye-opening look at censorship and the freedom to read. Highly recommended!

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The overall point of the story was great, and there were some really interesting points here, but I feel like there was too much room for improvement. I imagine it is difficult to portray certain thought patterns from a young child's point of view, and since I read this as an adult, it just didn't carry as much weight as I hoped it would. It also didn't feel like it was something an average tween/young teen would read and get.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an amazing story of a young person keeping their beliefs intact even in the face of her parents trying there best to stop her. It is a horror story of books being banned. A young girl knowing what is right and trying to stay true to herself. Awesome book!!

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lasky's book is a truly enjoyable read; a must for every librarian. She attacks the issue of censorship, morality, freedom of speech, pursuit of happiness, oh, just pick a constitutional issue. Yet the story is well constructed and the writing superb.

I highly recommend this book.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An "oldie" YA book about what happens to a girl who has to deal with her parent's desire to censor literature in the name of "family values." It is a timeless topic and Lasky deals with it in a realistic and candid way. I love the main character. A great YA book!

[Jen Ammenti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought-provoking novel about a teenager who finds herself at a crossroads... allow herself to be silenced and stand by her parents or follow her own beliefs and leave behind all she has known. This novel exposes censorship on a variety of levels and will get teens fired up and talking.

[Hadiqa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I can write a letter too to the author and let her know how/why I love her book by heart. I can totally relate to this story. It provokes lots of sensitive feelings and thoughts inside reader's mind and I like that. :)

[Bookbat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in a single sitting. It was that good.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty awesome - my only quibble was the abruptness of the ending.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugg.

[Miami University Libraries]

King Library, Ground Floor, IMC, Juv: PZ7.L3274 Me 1994

About book banning

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, easy read that tells a compelling story that is frighteningly real and getting even more so.

[Maddie · Rating 1 out of 5]

CRAP, oh and propaganda as well!

[Nhadz Mohammad · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you grew up in a weird family like Harper's, then this book could be your key to freedom...