Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

 

Do you have a favorite banned book?  A LOT of my favorite books have been banned at one time or another.  In honor of banned books week this past week, I’m finally posting a review of a book I read and loved in August.

Lula Dean has never read the books she wants to ban, but she has heard that they contain dangerous ideas.  She takes her outrage out by getting many, many books banned.  She becomes a local celebrity for “saving” the children.  She puts a little library of books she deems appropriate in front of her house.  Her lifelong nemesis, Beverly Underwood, has a daughter named Lindsay.  Lindsay goes to Lula Dean’s little library and puts banned books within the slip covers of the appropriate books.  What will the town readers think when they read the banned books?

My thoughts on this book:

·       Different characters in town read different banned books that open their eyes to a wider world view, and it changes their lives.

·       This was a well-crafted social satire novel.  It was very engaging and humorous.

·       I enjoyed all the different characters and subplots.

·       It was fun seeing what different books that have been banned in the US were found in the little library and how they changed lives.  For example, the wife of Nazi sympathizer reads a copy of The Diary of Anne Frank.

·       This book is very timely and deals with current issues.  Do not read this if you don’t like to read about politics.

·       The citizens of the small town have different politics, but they can explore their differing opinions and change their perspectives.

·       There is a great author’s note at the end that discusses her inspirations, being from the South herself.  There is also a list of the books named in the chapters and whether they are banned.

·       This book is very inclusive in the types of characters that live in the small town.

Overall, Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books is a timely social satire that was a great read.

Book Source:  Review copy from NetGalley. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.