They say life imitates art, which certainly seems to be true in the case of Ban This Book.
Alan Gratz’s middle-grade novel features a spunky fourth grader who establishes a secret library in her locker for books that her school board has pulled from the shelves. A Kirkus reviewer called Gratz’s novel “a stout defense of the right to read.”
Unfortunately, kids in Indian River County, Florida, won’t be reading it.
According to a report in the Tallahassee Democrat, the Indian River County School Board has pulled Ban This Book off shelves in the district. In the formal motion, board members stated that they disliked its numerous shoutouts to specific titles that have been removed from school shelves and further accused Gratz’s novel of “teaching rebellion of school board authority.”
Gratz responded in an interview with USA Today Network–Florida, describing the decision as “incredibly ironic.”
“They banned the book because it talks about the books that they have banned and because it talks about book banning,” he said. “It feels like they know exactly what they’re doing and they’re somewhat ashamed of what they’re doing and they don’t want a book on the shelves that calls them out.”
The school board voted 3-2 to remove the book. Two of the pro-removal votes came from members whose campaigns were supported by Moms for Liberty, a national conservative group that is leading the charge for book banning in school libraries. The third came from Kevin McDonald, who was recently appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace a member who had been on DeSantis hit list of school board members statewide.
Despite the Indian River County vote, Ban This Book is far from the most incendiary title among book banners. Even BookLooks.org, a book-rating website often cited by activists challenging books in schools, only gives Ban This Book” a mild “1” rating (out of 5) for inappropriateness.
“This book encourages activism of young children,” the website said in its “summary of concerns.”
Surely the author would agree.
Marion Winik hosts NPR’s The Weekly Reader podcast.
