Ban This Book: A Novel by Alan Gratz
Hello, Readers!
This week 5th graders are discussing Ban This Book: A Novel by Alan Gratz. In my opinion, Gratz is a master at developing determined, realistic characters to whom readers can relate, and he does it again with the cast of characters in Ban This Book.
It all started the day Amy Anne Ollinger tried to check out her favorite book in the whole world, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, from the school library. That’s when Mrs. Jones, the librarian, told her the bad news: her favorite book was banned! All because a classmate’s mom thought the book wasn’t appropriate for kids to read.
Amy Anne decides to fight back by starting a secret banned book library out of her locker. But soon things get out of hand, and Amy Anne finds herself on the front line of an unexpected battle over book banning, censorship, and who has the right to decide what she and her fellow students can read.
In the end, her only recourse might be to try to beat the book banners at their own game. Because after all, once you ban one book, you can ban them all…
Source: https://www.alangratz.com/writing/ban-this-book/
Possible Discussion Questions:
- How do you feel and what is your reaction when someone tells you that you cannot do something?
- What does it mean to be a "banned" book? Do you think some books should be banned from libraries? Why or why not?
- Describe Amy Anne. How does her personality help and hinder her at the same time? How does she change throughout this story?
- What troubles Amy Anne about her family life? What advice might you give Amy Anne about dealing with her sisters and about getting her parents to understand her concerns?
- What are the main reasons Amy Anne is upset Mrs. Spencer's decision to remove books from the school library?
- What are "good intentions"? Do good intentions always to good outcomes? Share an example from the story to make your point.
- What is the B.B.L.L.? Do you think it was a good idea? Why or why not?
- Who does Amy Anne hold responsible for getting her suspended? Who is really responsible, and why?
- Amy Anne says, ". . . for all the amazing things books can do, they can't make you into a bad person." Agree or disagree, and why?
- The list of banned books used by the author in this story includes some books Amy Anne doesn't like reading as well as some she feels uncomfortable reading. Why would Gratz think it was important to use a list like this?
- What message do you think author Alan Gratz wanted readers to consider after reading this book?
Curriculum Connections:
- Social Studies: The Constitution and Bill of Rights, The First Amendment
- Celebrate Children's Book Week and Every Child a Reader
- Find out some of the books that have been challenged or banned throughout history
- Learn about Banned Books Week.
What 5th Grade Book Club Members Thought:
- Our rating: 4.5 out of 5 - We really enjoyed reading and discussing this book.
- "My favorite part was when Amy Anne started the B.B.L.L. an then went insane with banning books." --Alex
- "I wondered how Amy Anne sat in the bathroom for one whole day." --Vibha
- "Why would people ban books that have the slightest degree of violations without policy? That doesn't make sense." --Alex
- "My favorite part was when she played 'hookie'." --Alexa
- "I want to talk about how her favorite book is real!" --Katie
- "One question I wondered was why are there lockers in 4th grade?" --Sophie
- "My favorite part was when Trey's mom lost to Amy Anne." --Aditi
- "Did this happen to the author?" --Aditi
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