A review by tonyaf
Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have read a lot of new 2024 book releases this year from a wide variety of genres. Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller might be the most important of the many that I've read. It's also one of the absolute best. 

 Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books takes place in Troy, Georgia where Lula Dean - the resident Karen - has recently started challenging school and library books. To replace the books she's campaigned to remove, Lula puts a selection of approved books in the Little Free Library in front of her home. However, someone else soon replaces Lula's conservative books with the ones Lula has fought to ban, sneakily hidden under the dust jackets of Lula's supposedly "wholesome" books. 

In the book's first half, each chapter feels like reading a short story. Every chapter focuses on a different set of characters and how a book changes their way of thinking. The stories are all interconnected and merge in interesting ways as the book progresses but because of this setup, the novel is a fast-paced and fun read. I, for one, flew through this faster than I've read any other book this year! I could not put it down! 

The story also has a light and humorous tone. The book deals with a multitude of heavy subjects but it never feels depressing or cynical. In fact, the story is full of optimism and hope. 

The characters are all realistic and layered. As someone who lives in a small Southern town, some of these characters even feel like people I may know. I appreciated the understanding and compassion Kirsten Miller clearly took in writing these complicated characters. I especially enjoyed watching as several characters grew and changed thanks to the power of stories. 

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller is timely, relevant, and inspiring. It's about the power of books and how information and education drive progressive change. It encourages positive action and understanding in the face of ignorance and hatred. It's a much-needed book that is funny and light while still taking on heavy political topics.