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A review by okiecozyreader
Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
medium-paced
3.5
My favorite book about banned books is still Alan Gratz’ BAN THIS BOOK. If you haven’t read it. I highly recommend it (for adults even though it’s middle grade).
In this book, Lula Dean has banned a bunch of books from the library and set out her own little free library with books she claims are more appropriate for readers. Little does she know that someone replaced copies of all of her books with the banned books (under their original covers). We are introduced to different members of the community who are all facing different issues and the books they get from her library end up touching them in (somewhat? surprising) ways.
I thought this one was overly heavy handed on ALL the conservative triggers (someone in my reading group labeled it as “satire,” which I can kind of see) - southern statues of confederate people, being “woke,” LGBTQ (and its relationship in the Bible), guns - all culminating in the idea of Lula Dean banning books from the library. I am not a fan of book banning 💯 and I appreciate that message in the book, but I felt like it was so many issues. I agree that reading books promotes empathy and I loved how these books ended up being meaningful to people. I am glad lots of people are loving this book. I wonder if it is preaching to the choir or if it has changed anyone’s mind.
“Hate is a disease.” Ch 5
“When you have everything, the only luxury left is taking things away from others.” Ch 5
“The worst thing you could do as a parent, she thought, was to shield young women from the ugliness of the world-then blame them when they did not see it coming.” Ch 9
“By saying the things they've been afraid to say and doing the things they've been afraid to do.” Ch 12
“When people like Lula hide all the books about rape, who do you suppose they're really protecting?” Ch 14
“…stories are the most powerful things in this world. They can mend broken hearts, bring back good memories, and make people fall in love.” Ch 32
“The books she'd put in that library had opened eyes, granted courage, and exposed terrible crimes. That's why they were dangerous-why so many people had wanted to hide them. “ ch 33
In this book, Lula Dean has banned a bunch of books from the library and set out her own little free library with books she claims are more appropriate for readers. Little does she know that someone replaced copies of all of her books with the banned books (under their original covers). We are introduced to different members of the community who are all facing different issues and the books they get from her library end up touching them in (somewhat? surprising) ways.
I thought this one was overly heavy handed on ALL the conservative triggers (someone in my reading group labeled it as “satire,” which I can kind of see) - southern statues of confederate people, being “woke,” LGBTQ (and its relationship in the Bible), guns - all culminating in the idea of Lula Dean banning books from the library. I am not a fan of book banning 💯 and I appreciate that message in the book, but I felt like it was so many issues. I agree that reading books promotes empathy and I loved how these books ended up being meaningful to people. I am glad lots of people are loving this book. I wonder if it is preaching to the choir or if it has changed anyone’s mind.
“Hate is a disease.” Ch 5
“When you have everything, the only luxury left is taking things away from others.” Ch 5
“The worst thing you could do as a parent, she thought, was to shield young women from the ugliness of the world-then blame them when they did not see it coming.” Ch 9
“By saying the things they've been afraid to say and doing the things they've been afraid to do.” Ch 12
“When people like Lula hide all the books about rape, who do you suppose they're really protecting?” Ch 14
“…stories are the most powerful things in this world. They can mend broken hearts, bring back good memories, and make people fall in love.” Ch 32
“The books she'd put in that library had opened eyes, granted courage, and exposed terrible crimes. That's why they were dangerous-why so many people had wanted to hide them. “ ch 33