Genre: Young Adult Fiction
A tense, unapologetic YA thriller about book bans, power, and resistance that proves silencing stories is never as simple, or as safe, as it sounds. Noor is the protagonist of the book. She is smart, angry, and principled. She’s the kind of character who reminds you that resistance is exhausting and disheveled.
This book pairs really well with current real-world debates about “appropriate” books in schools. I loved this book because it tackles real-world battlegrounds we’re facing right now and powerfully shows why banning books does far more harm than good. It’s YA, but adults who care about free expression will get just as much out of it.
Melissa Pugliese is a Special Education Teacher at Pawling High School, where she supports both the English and Social Studies curricula as a co-teacher. Missy is a past presenter at NCTE and an avid reader, especially at her cabin in Maine during summer vacation.