Ban This Book

Amy Anne hurriedly asks Alexis, who says she put the box in their mother’s office to get it out of her way for ballet. The box, though, is empty. Amy Anne panics and with a sickening feeling, goes to investigate the shredded paper heaps in the pony’s room. It is as she fears—Angelina shredded all 500 forms. Amy Anne is furious and screams that she hates the family. She throws clothes and her books into a suitcase and starts away, with Angelina clutching her leg. Her father asks if she is overreacting; this makes Amy Anne pause, then calmly tell them that she is fed up with being the one to make constant concessions for her sisters. She takes on their chores, gives up her space, puts up with plenty. She ends by pointing out that she lied about staying for after school clubs to gain a little privacy, peace, and quiet for herself. When she leaves, the others watch silently but let her go.

Amy Anne walks to the edge of the neighborhood, but she is not sure how to go much further. Her mother drives near, seeing her. She parks, gets out, and tells her they are all sorry for expecting her to make so many allowances. She convinces Amy Anne to come home, where Alexis and Angelina apologize. They made her new “papers” while she was gone and offer to fill more out if Mom makes new copies. Amy Anne knows that will not help: “[…] we would need every kid at Shelbourne Elementary to fill one out tomorrow by the end of day” (208). Then she realizes this is the solution. She asks her mother to print a thousand new blank forms and calls Trey to explain they will “runaway” from school the next day.

The next day, Amy Anne sneaks into the girls’ restroom upon arrival at school with her backpack filled with forms and snacks. Trey goes into the boys’ room equally equipped. Rebecca and Danny stay outside, putting notes in lockers that instruct students to ask to use the bathroom after checking out one or several library books. Once in the bathroom, with Amy Anne’s or Trey’s help, each student fills out at least one form. The day starts with Janna checking out all the Little House on the Prairie series; Amy Anne suggests she challenge them because one theorizes that malaria comes from eating watermelon. Soon, the stacks of completed forms are growing.

Rebecca visits Amy Anne near lunchtime to post her on the emptying shelves in the library. They are excitedly talking about the plan’s successfulness so far when Principal Banazewski enters. They lock themselves into a stall. Mrs. Banazewski knocks on the door and tells Rebecca she should return to class, but the lunch bell rings, and others come in. The principal gives up and leaves.

Amy Anne and the others are shocked to see they have at least 5,000 Request forms by the end of the day. They plan to meet up at the school board meeting that night. Amy Anne waits for her father to pick her up as Alexis plays on the new playground equipment. She notices how well-made and fun the new equipment is, then sees a plaque that notes how the PTA donated the playground. Names listed include Mrs. Sarah Spencer, President. Amy Anne realizes Mrs. Spencer is not a villain and that everyone has different sides.

Amy Anne nervously takes in the crowds and cameras. She sees Mrs. Jones and apologizes; Mrs. Jones hugs her, insisting it is not her fault. Amy Anne is the first to speak during public comment, and she presents the stack of 7,541 Request for Recommendation Forms. The members of the board begin to read the reasons aloud. Mrs. Spencer stands and asks to move on, as the forms are “clearly a joke” (227). They try to tell Amy Anne her speaking time is up, but Rebecca is next on the list to speak, and she cedes her time to Amy Anne, forewarning the board that the next 12 speakers will do the same. Amy Anne points out that “All reasons are silly to someone else […] What makes one person’s reason any sillier than another person’s reason?” (228). Amy Anne points out how the board wants no books at all that might scare, teach, shock, or entertain readers.

Mrs. Spencer tries to say that the books she wanted removed are different because they are harmful and will result in “menaces to society” (230). Amy Anne proves that Mrs. Spencer herself read one of the banned books, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, in 1982 five times. She knows this from the original sign-out card she found in the library copy. Then Amy Anne points out that Mrs. Spencer is quite a good person because of her charitable acts like the playground donation. Amy Anne also shares the drawings Trey made of the First Amendment rights. The board members sit silent and embarrassed. Mrs. Jones proposes they place the banned books back in the library and return to their already-approved process of using Request for Reconsideration forms and discussion. They submit this motion and pass it quickly.

Amy Anne participates in interviews after the meeting, including one that is nationally televised. In each, she repeats what she learned from Mrs. Jones: Parents should evaluate their own child’s reading choices, but not the choices of other children. Mrs. Jones makes Amy Anne an assistant librarian at school. Trey draws a series of comics he calls “First Amendment Comics” and they feature protagonist Agent Double-A.

Amy Anne’s parents surprise her by clearing out the office/exercise room and making it into a private bedroom for her. When she brings her books to a clean shelf, her father sees a copy of The Hunger Games; after flipping through it, he tells her to wait a few years before reading it. Amy Anne agrees to do so. She realizes that she was moved to lie and steal to fight the book banning—the very traits Mrs. Spencer said From the Mixed-up Files would instill in readers. Amy Anne thinks the irony in this is funny, and she shares it with her parents.