Ban This Book

by Alan Gratz

  “You checked all of these out today?” Dad asked. He picked up The Hunger Games and flipped through it. “Whoa,” he said. “This seems pretty violent.” He closed it and read the back cover. “It says here the main character is sixteen.”

  “It was in the elementary school library,” I told him.

  “Yes, but Shelbourne Elementary goes up to sixth grade,” he said. “I think maybe I don’t want you reading this one just yet.”

  I gawked at my dad. “You’re—you’re banning that book? But we just got the school board to stop banning books!”

  “No,” Dad said. “You got the school board to stop banning everybody from reading books. As I seem to recall, we’re still your parents, and can tell you what you can and can’t do.”

  “But—but Rebecca’s parents let her read it!” I said.

  “Rebecca’s parents can let her do whatever they want,” Dad said. “How did that cute little girl on the TV put it, hon?” he asked my mom.

  “‘Nobody has the right to tell you what books you can and can’t read. Except your parents,’” Mom said, quoting what I’d said on TV back to me. There wasn’t much I could say to that. I was the one who’d said it. And I had to admit: this was exactly what I had fought for.

  Dad kissed me on the top of my head and put The Hunger Games on top of the bookshelf. “Just wait a couple of years. You’ll like it better then anyway.”

  I nodded. I wasn’t happy about it, but I respected their decision. Every now and then you had to break the rules to do the right thing, but a lot of times following the rules was the right thing.

  That made me think of something, and I smiled. Mrs. Spencer had banned my favorite book because she thought it would encourage kids to lie, steal, and be disrespectful to adults, and I had done all of those things. But it wasn’t any book that made me do all that; it was banning a book that made me lie, steal, and be disrespectful to adults. I thought that was pretty funny, and thought about saying so to my parents.

  So I did.

  Author’s Note

  Every book banned by the school board in this novel is the title of a book that has been challenged or banned in an American library at least once in the last thirty years.

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks for this one go to my agent, Holly Root, for championing Ban This Book (the first of what I’m sure will be many, many books together!), and to Susan Chang and Kathleen Doherty at Tor/Starscape for taking a chance on a very different kind of book for me and for them. Thanks to fellow Bat Cavers Gwenda Bond, Elle Cosimano, Megan Miranda, Beth Revis, Carrie Ryan, and Megan Shepherd for reading early chapters, and especially to Rebecca Petruck and Tiffany Trent, who read the whole thing. You all gave me terrific feedback. Thanks to my great friend Bob, and as always to my wife, Wendi, and daughter, Jo. And very special thanks to all the librarians out there who continue to stand up for education, entertainment, and freedom. Keep fighting the good fight!

  STARSCAPE BOOKS

  Reading & Activity Guide

  Ban This Book

  By Alan Gratz

  Ages 8–12; Grades 3–7

  About This Guide

  The following questions and activities are intended to enhance your reading of Ban This Book. The guide has been developed in alignment with the Common Core State Standards; however, please feel free to adapt this content to suit the needs and interests of your readers.

  PREREADING DISCUSSION TOPICS AND ACTIVITIES

    1. What does it mean to “ban” something? Have you ever encountered a ban in your home, school, or community? Can you think of something you would like to see banned? Can you think of something that you feel would be terrible to ban? Explain your answers.

    2. Family relationships play an important role in this story. Who are the members of your family? Are you the oldest, youngest, middle, or only child? Do you share a bedroom or study space? Do you have responsibilities, such as watching a baby cousin, or rules, such as staying out of an older sister’s bedroom? What are your parents’ or guardians’ expectations of you? What chore or family activity do you find difficult? What is your favorite thing to do with your family? Write a paragraph describing the best or most unique thing about your family. Illustrate your paragraph with a family photo or drawing.

    3. The main character in Ban This Book has a favorite book, which she has read many times. Do you have a favorite book? What makes this book special to you? How did you first discover this book? How many times have you read the story? Write a paragraph recommending this book to a friend, classmate, or family member. Explain what the story is about and why you think someone else should read it.

    4. How often do you visit your school library? Your local library? What is the last book you checked out of the library? With friends or classmates, make a brainstorm list of important needs you feel libraries serve in your school and community. If possible, visit your local library or go online to learn about upcoming library events you may want to attend with friends or family members.

  POSTREADING DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    1. To what does Amy Anne compare her favorite book on the first page of the novel? How does this comparison help you understand the character of Amy herself? What is Amy Anne’s favorite book and why does she love it? What do you think your favorite book (or your feelings about reading) might tell people about you?

    2. What things trouble Amy Anne about her family life? What advice might you give to Amy Anne about dealing with her sisters and about getting her parents to understand her concerns?

    3. What are the main reasons Amy Anne is upset by Mrs. Spencer’s decision to remove books from the school library? If you had been a student at Shelbourne Elementary, would you have been upset about this situation? Why or why not?

    4. The first School Board meeting happens in the chapter titled “Common Sense.” How does the description of the meeting room make you feel? How do Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Spencer challenge each other during the meeting, and what arguments do they use for and against the removal of library books? What does Amy Anne do (or fail to do) before the vote about removing books from the library?

    5. With whom is Amy Anne partnered for the Bill of Rights school project? What upsets her about this situation? With whom would she have preferred to be partnered?

    6. What is Amy Anne’s big idea in the chapter titled “The Big Idea”? Do you think it is a good idea? Why or why not? Which of Amy Anne’s classmates help the idea to grow even bigger until it becomes the B.B.L.L.?

    7. Were you surprised by Amy Anne’s attitude in the chapter titled “The Banana Room”? What thoughts or emotions is Amy experiencing in this scene? What order does Amy Anne receive from Principal Banazewski at the chapter’s end? How might you explain the difference between the words “banned” and “removed”?

    8. In “Tools of the Trade,” what does Amy Anne learn about library science that helps her improve the B.B.L.L.? Later, how does Amy Anne use the library’s “Request for Reconsideration” paperwork to make a point about the hazards of banning books? Do any of these elements of the story make you want to consider getting a doctorate in Library Science, like Opal Jones? Explain your answer.

    9. Who does Amy Anne hold responsible for getting her suspended? Who is really responsible and why? What emotions does Amy Anne feel when she learns this truth? What does it teach her about the power of books?

  10. What plan does Amy Anne make in the chapter “The Biggest Idea”? Which character surprises her by helping her make this plan?

  11. What book does Amy Anne mention to Mrs. Spencer that changes the direction of the second School Board meeting? How did Amy Anne discover Mrs. Spencer’s relationship to this book? How does this revelation affect your attitude toward Mrs. Spencer?

  12. In what ways can a family be seen as a small community? How are the roles of parents similar to (and different from) the roles of educators in
the school community and board members in a town community? What similarities and differences do you see between Amy Anne’s family and school communities and your own?

  13. Do you agree with Amy Anne’s statement that “… for all the amazing things books can do, they can’t make you into a bad person”? If you agree, then why does anyone believe that books can be dangerous?

  14. One important thing the author does is to create a banned books list that includes titles that Amy Anne doesn’t like, and even some that she feels uncomfortable reading. Why might this be important to the story? What do you think the author is trying to say about the things people choose to ban?

  15. In the course of the novel, Amy Anne learns to speak up for herself. What other characters find ways to better express themselves as the story comes to an end? How does the fight against banning books particularly help these characters find their own strengths? How might Ban This Book be read as a story about learning to express oneself through words, art, action, and even in the books we choose to take from a library shelf?

  POSTREADING WRITING, RESEARCH, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

    1. POINT-OF-VIEW: Ban This Book is told in first-person (“I”) by Amy Anne, a character who often finds herself unable to speak up for herself. Make a list of at least four moments in the story where Amy Anne stays silent. For each moment, write a short paragraph describing how the story might have been different had Amy Anne voiced a question or concern, what you think she would have said, and how the story might have changed had she spoken up.

    2. THEME: Throughout the novel, the author explores the question of “intentions.” What are “good intentions”? Do “good intentions” always lead to good outcomes? What should you do if a person with “good intentions” causes a bad situation? Cite examples from the story in which Amy Anne, her sisters, friends, and parents unintentionally cause harm. Write a paragraph explaining how Mrs. Spencer, the book-banning mom who school librarian Mrs. Jones also calls “a pillar of our fair community,” represents the tension between intentions and outcomes.

    3. RESEARCH & PRESENT: DAV PILKEY. In Ban This Book, real-life author Dav Pilkey visits Shelbourne Elementary. Go to the library to learn more about Dav and his books, making sure to read his 2014 online article entitled, “My Book Makes Kids Laugh, And It Was Banned Anyway” (www.huffingtonpost.com/dav-pilkey/captain-underpants-banned-book_b_5863980.html). Create an informational poster about Dav’s life and stories. Be sure to include a quote from his article, as well as an illustration of your own.

    4. TEXT TYPE: NARRATIVE. In the character of TREY McBRIDE, write a journal entry describing how you feel about Amy Anne’s battle with your mom and/or a journal entry about your dream of becoming a comic book artist.

    5. RESEARCH & CREATE: BOOK COVERS. In the chapter “What’s in a Name,” Amy Anne and her friends make up fake book titles, with M.J. designing corresponding covers. Using a graphic design program, colored pencils, or other visual art materials, create a new cover for your favorite book. Design a cover for one of the books on the American Library Association’s List of Challenged Children’s Books (http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/childrensbooks). Or, design a cover for Amy Anne’s made-up title, Friend or Foe. Create a classroom display of your custom-designed covers.

    6. TEXT TYPE: OPINION PIECE. The very first amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects citizens’ rights to “Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly,” reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (www.ushistory.org/documents/amendments.htm). Write a short essay answering the following questions: How do you think this amendment protects libraries specifically, and why it was important to include a mention of this amendment in Ban This Book? Does any argument justify limiting these rights? If so, who should have the right to set the limits? How are similar questions resolved in the novel?

    7. A READING COMMUNITY. As she works to get banned books back on her school library’s shelves, Amy Anne discovers that she is not alone. In fact, she is part of a community of booklovers that includes friends, classmates, and her school librarian. Can you recognize the booklovers in your home, community, or classroom? Join together to celebrate the printed word. Choose a date and time, and send out invitations. Plan activities, such as a book exchange, dramatic reading, or story character costume contest. Serve hot fudge sundaes (a treat mentioned in Amy Anne’s favorite novel, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler) or other book-themed treats. If desired, spread more book love. Host a book drive for a local family shelter; read aloud to younger siblings or classmates; celebrate Children’s Book Week (visit bookweekonline.com/for-kids for details); or make a giant “READ” poster to display in your community.

  Supports English Language Arts Common Core State Standards:

  RL.3.1-6; RL.4.1-6; RL.5.1-6; RL.5.9; RL.6.1-6; RL.7.1-4, 7.6

  SL: 3.1-3; SL.4.1-4; SL.5.1-4; SL.6.1-4; SL.7.1-4

  W.3.1-2; W.4.1-2; W.5.1-2; W.6. 1-2; W.7.1-2

  Also by Alan Gratz

  The League of Seven

  The Dragon Lantern

  The Monster War

  About the Author

  ALAN GRATZ is the author of many critically acclaimed books for children and teens, including Samurai Shortstop, an ALA Top Ten Book for Young Adults; Prisoner B-3087; The Brooklyn Nine; and the League of Seven trilogy (The League of Seven, The Dragon Lantern, The Monster War). A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Alan is now a full-time writer living in western North Carolina with his wife and daughter. Look for him online at alangratz.com, facebook.com/alangratz, and on Twitter as @AlanGratz, or sign up for email updates here.

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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  The Mystery of the Missing Book

  Did I Just Say That?

  My Favorite Book (And Why)

  Ponies and Pink Tutus

  It Speaks

  Common Sense

  Mixed-up Mrs. Frankfurter

  The Girl with the Mullet

  The Big Idea

  Not a Novel

  The Wendigo

  Our Own Little Book Club

  A Notable Note

  The Bigger Idea

  Violent Criminals

  Juvenile Delinquents

  Helen Comes

  The Banana Room

  B.B.L.L. Inc.

  Tools of the Trade

  Nowhere to Stomp To

  The Right to Bear Arms

  And, in this corner …

  Helen Comes Again

  What’s in a Name?

  Tra-la-la!

  A Present

  The Eyes Have It

  The Golden Hoard

  Princesses One through Nine

  New Customers

  My Biggest Mistake

  Busted

  Right and Wrong

  The Latest Casualty

  My Glorious Return

  The Mirror Universe

  The Biggest Idea

  Twenty-four Farts

  A Lawsuit Waiting to Happen

  Embracing the Chaos

  Disaster

  Runaway

  Malaria from Watermelons

  When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go

  Good Intentions

  In Which I Speak Up

  Agent Double-A

  The End

/>   Author’s Note

  Acknowledgments

  Reading & Activity Guide

  Also by Alan Gratz

  About the Author

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  BAN THIS BOOK

  Copyright © 2017 by Alan Grantz

  Reader’s guide copyright © 2017 by Tor Books

  All rights reserved.

  Cover design by Russell Trakhtenberg

  Cover images: locker by Inked Pixels/Shutterstock; book stack by LanKS/Shutterstock

  A Starscape Book

  Published by Tom Doherty Associates

  175 Fifth Avenue

  New York, NY 10010

  www.tor-forge.com

  The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

  ISBN 978-0-7653-8556-7 (hardcover)

  ISBN 978-0-7653-8557-4 (ebook)

  eISBN 9780765385574

  Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.

  First Edition: August 2017