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September 30, 2024
As newly elected president of the sixth grade in her rural Pennsylvania town,
idealistic Bess Stein is excited to start the school year. She’s developed new methods to calm her anxious thoughts, and even though it feels like her BFF Emmy is pulling away, new friend and vice president June is by her side. Bess is excited to make good on her campaign promise of installing a book vending machine in the library, but after realizing that the appliance is missing some titles, she’s horrified to learn that a parent complained about “inappropriate” selections. Together with a group of local librarians, Bess brainstorms ways to persuade the community of the value of the challenged books. Upon discovering that June’s mother is the one stirring up controversy, Bess assumes that June will speak up on her behalf and is devastated when she refuses. Though conversations surrounding the important issue of book banning are hampered by a didactic tone, Swartz (Hidden Truths) skillfully incorporates sensitive depictions of Bess’s anxiety and the comfort she finds in her Jewish faith and her dog, Barnaby, to tackle tween friendship drama and growing pains with nuance. Main characters read as white. Ages 10–up. Agent: Andrea Cascardi, Trans-
atlantic Literary.

December 1, 2024
Pennsylvania middle schooler Bess Stein is the new sixth grade class president, and she has a lot of plans. Bess is working with the school librarian, Mr. Jasper, and the class vice president, June Myer, a recent transplant from Texas, to choose titles for the new book vending machine, one of her campaign promises. Bess, who's Jewish, hopes to include volumes about the Holocaust; her great-grandmother was a survivor. Everything starts off well, until June's mother becomes aware of the titles on offer and objects to the inclusion of those she considers "inappropriate, indecent, and offensive" and ones that are "divisive"--in other words, books representing diverse perspectives and identities. Bess, who's supported by her family and the Book Warriors, a group of local librarians and educators, challenges the conservative Mrs. Myer and those who sympathize with her cause. Many other topics vie for space and aren't fully developed, including explorations of friendship drama, antisemitism, hints of romance between Bess and June's brother, Bess' younger brother's anxiety, and the Steins' family dog. Bess is strong-willed, capable, and idealistic, but she isn't always understanding of others' weaknesses (for example, June's struggles with her mother's attitudes). June, for her part, never fully comes alive as a character. Swartz handles important topics in a convincing manner, but the empathetic storytelling unfortunately contains repetitious elements. Main characters are cued white. An uneven treatment of a critical and timely subject. (author's note)(Fiction. 10-12)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2025
Grades 4-7 Sixth-grader Bess Stein and her new close friend, June, successfully ran their student council campaign on the pledges of no-homework Wednesdays, a new panini press, and a book-vending machine. At the same time, Bess is developing a crush on June's older brother and navigating changing friendship dynamics with her longtime best friend, Emmy. When Bess learns the books chosen for the vending machine have been challenged by June's mom, this creates a rift between the girls. June is hesitant to speak out, while Bess is ready to fight for the right to read, armed with the Jewish-star necklace worn by her great-grandmother who survived the Holocaust, mindfulness techniques, and the support of fellow Book Warriors group members. The narrative beats of the story are delivered at a pace to keep even the younger skew of readers engaged. Exploring experiences related to antisemitism, Swartz has written a timely and powerfully emotive story that is a perfect read for a budding reformer or activist.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.