Book Review
Ban This Book
by Alan Gratz
Read if you're interested in education, ethics, or books for child.
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7.5
VerdictRecommended
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Book Summary
This book follows a fourth-grader named Amy Anne Ollinger who creates a 'banned book' library out of her locker in response to her favorite book being removed from the school library. It explores themes of censorship, free speech, and standing up for what you believe in, particularly for children.
What it does well
- — Promotes critical thinking and questioning of authority, aligning with the Christian call to 'test everything' (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
- — Encourages courage and standing up for what is right, even when it's difficult, reflecting biblical heroes who stood firm in their convictions.
- — Highlights the importance of access to information and different viewpoints, which can foster intellectual and spiritual growth.
Watch for
- — While the book champions the right to read, it doesn't always distinguish between beneficial and detrimental content, which a Christian worldview would emphasize.
- — The inherent message of defying authority, even if well-intentioned, could be misinterpreted by younger readers without proper discernment, potentially undermining biblical principles of respect for governing authorities (Romans 13:1).
- — The narrative focuses solely on the perspective of the students in favor of keeping books, with less nuanced exploration of the concerns or motivations of those seeking to remove books (though not necessarily endorsing censorship, understanding different viewpoints is key).
Verdict
Recommended with discussion. Christian readers, particularly parents and educators, can use this book as a springboard to discuss intellectual freedom, discernment in reading choices, respecting authority while also standing for biblical truth, and the importance of engaging with different ideas through a Christian lens. It's an excellent tool for teaching media literacy and critical thinking.
ALIGNMYREAD RECOMMENDATION
“Recommended with discussion. Christian readers, particularly parents and educators, can use this book as a springboard to discuss intellectual freedom, discernment in reading choices, respecting authority while also standing for biblical truth, and the importance of engaging with different ideas through a Christian lens. It's an excellent tool for teaching media literacy and critical thinking.”
Biblical alignment
- —Promotes critical thinking and questioning of authority, aligning with the Christian call to 'test everything' (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
- —Encourages courage and standing up for what is right, even when it's difficult, reflecting biblical heroes who stood firm in their convictions.
- —Highlights the importance of access to information and different viewpoints, which can foster intellectual and spiritual growth.
- —Emphasizes the value of reading and literature, which can be a tool for learning about the world and understanding diverse perspectives.
- —Shows the power of individual action and community mobilization for a good cause.
Areas of concern
- —While the book champions the right to read, it doesn't always distinguish between beneficial and detrimental content, which a Christian worldview would emphasize.
- —The inherent message of defying authority, even if well-intentioned, could be misinterpreted by younger readers without proper discernment, potentially undermining biblical principles of respect for governing authorities (Romans 13:1).
- —The narrative focuses solely on the perspective of the students in favor of keeping books, with less nuanced exploration of the concerns or motivations of those seeking to remove books (though not necessarily endorsing censorship, understanding different viewpoints is key).
- —It could be simplistic in its portrayal of censorship, as some books genuinely contain content inappropriate for specific age groups or educational settings, and a Christian perspective would advocate for responsible curation.
Discussion
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