The Year They Burned the Books

Rating:
Summary: eye-opening
Review: "The Year They Burned the Books" was one of the most realistic and eye-opening books I have ever read. Jamie, the main character in Ms. Garden's wonderful novel, struggles with the how, when and if of coming out of the closet. At the same time, the school board is voting to re-evaluate the school's sex-ed material, stressing abstience and showing pre-marital sex and homosexuality as being immoral and anti-God. Jamie is the editor-in-chief of her school's newspaper, and through the paper, she fights with her first amendmet right to make her point heard in the midst of all the chaos and divided opinions. This is an excellent book, showing how the differences in people's thoughts on morality can split them apart.

Rating:
Summary: Ripped from the headlines
Review: Author Nancy Garden has received critical acclaim for her work, including the American Library Association's Margaret A. Edwards Award for her lifetime contribution in writing for young adults.

Garden is no stranger to the issues presented in this book. First, she understands what is to be gay youth. Secondly, she knows what it is to be the target of censorship. Her book _Annie on my Mind_ was burned on the steps of the Kansas City School Board building (1993) and removed from the shelves in Olathe, Kansas.

Although printed 6 years ago, it feels as though it were ripped from today's headlines. Homophobia is rampant and using hatred and/or fear of homosexuals is perfectly acceptable in today's political climate. Recently an Alabama state legislator introduced a bill to bar the use of state funds "for the purchase of textbooks or library materials that sanction, recognize, foster, or promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle." The bill would also remove items already in libraries and prohibit theatrical productions at state-funded institutions of such classics as Tennessee Williams's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or the appearance of classroom speakers who discuss homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle.

In today's political climate I recommend everyone read _The Year they Burned Books_ for a look at the affects of censorship. It's an easy, yet thought provoking read. This is one fictional story that is relevant today.


Rating:
Summary: Chiiling, But Real
Review: Book burning and censorship are things that should be addressed more often in schools. It is sad that only a few volumes are in print that zero in on the topic. "The Year They Burned the Books" is one of the best. I only wish the author had done more to develop the antagonists. As vile as Nancy Garden painted them, the reality of people like that is much worse. Our young people are mature enough to know that not all adults will defend their rights to think and read. Any child who has searched a school library in vain for a book they really needed to read knows this. Even in major cities like New York, even in enlightened schools, libraries do not stock books on their shelves that address every student's need. The solution that the young people in this book created for themselves should be an inspiration for students in every school. This is one book which should be available for any student who wants to stand up for his or her right to have ideas.

Rating:
Summary: Chiiling, But Real
Review: Book burning and censorship are things that should be addressed more often in schools. It is sad that only a few volumes are in print that zero in on the topic. "The Year They Burned the Books" is one of the best. I only wish the author had done more to develop the antagonists. As vile as Nancy Garden painted them, the reality of people like that is much worse. Our young people are mature enough to know that not all adults will defend their rights to think and read. Any child who has searched a school library in vain for a book they really needed to read knows this. Even in major cities like New York, even in enlightened schools, libraries do not stock books on their shelves that address every student's need. The solution that the young people in this book created for themselves should be an inspiration for students in every school. This is one book which should be available for any student who wants to stand up for his or her right to have ideas.

Rating:
Summary: Oy vey!!!
Review: Could there be anything else in this book? Censorship, homophobia, the religious right, sexuality, suicide--I can't think of a book that attempts to tackle so many issues at once. Not that Garden doesn't handle all of the issues well. I am particularly impressed with how she works in a minor physical altercation--a level of homophobia not seen in her earlier novels, and, I suspect, a reaction to the homocide of Matthew Shepard the same year. This novel raises many questions and is a must read for gay and straight teenagers.

Rating:
Summary: Oy vey!!!
Review: Could there be anything else in this book? Censorship, homophobia, the religious right, sexuality, suicide--I can't think of a book that attempts to tackle so many issues at once. Not that Garden doesn't handle all of the issues well. I am particularly impressed with how she works in a minor physical altercation--a level of homophobia not seen in her earlier novels, and, I suspect, a reaction to the homocide of Matthew Shepard the same year. This novel raises many questions and is a must read for gay and straight teenagers.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing book
Review: I literally just finished reading this book,and i thought it was amazing.As a teenager in a small town, I could relate to the characters,especially Jamie. This book was so interesting I couldn't even put it down!I recommend this book to absolutley anyone, and especially to teenagers.It's by far my favorite book ever!

Rating:
Summary: Still Reading, but book is breaking on me!
Review: The physical construction of this book (hardback) is highly inferior to any hardbacks I have come across in a long while! Seems like the publisher skimped on the binding or something. Granted, this has nothing to do with the story itself, but I'd be quite disappointed had I purchased this book myself. As it stands now, the library's copy I am reading will be hard-pressed to make it through two more circulations intact! Promising story, poor quality book!

Rating:
Summary: A Controversial Story
Review: The Year They Burned the Books is about a group of high school students who run the school newspaper. When the paper's editor, Jamie Crawford, writes an editorial supporting the new Health Ed curriculum, which includes condom distribution, a controversy erupts. Jamie and her friends' views are opposed by fellow students, the new school board member, and even Jamie's good friend, Nomi. Can Jamie still keep her friendship with Nomi while coming to terms with her own beliefs and sexuality? I liked this book because most of the characters and situations were realistic and believable.
The only things I didn't like were Lisa Buel's comments; they really made me mad. In this case for me, being fair to everyone was difficult. Something that confused me was why some of the kids were so Bible-obsessed. I have never seen kids like that in my life. Also, I don't remember any passage in the Bible saying homosexuality was evil. What Bible were they reading?

Rating:
Summary: Nancy Garden has done it again!
Review: THE YEAR THEY BURNED THE BOOKS is another wonderful novel by Nancy Garden. It is somewhat different than Annie on My Mind and Good Moon Rising in that the main focus isn't on a relationship, but instead is about what happens when a group of conservatives try to censor the school health curriculum, as well as the newspaper. It is another coming out story, and the wonderfully portrayed characters provide a vivid and realistic picture of what it is like to be young and gay, and to have to fight for what you believe in. Anyone concerned with issues of censorship should definitely read this book, whatever side of the issue they are on. It is eye-opening, and heart-opening.