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276th out of 676 books
—
2,021 voters
Memoirs of a Bookbat
Harper Jessup is an avid reader, and when her parents become “migrants for God” she must keep her books secret. As Harper grows older and realizes how valuable reading is to her, she comes to understand that her parents’ radical efforts in favor of educational censorship are related to a quest for control within their own family. And so Harper finds she must make the harde...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
April 1st 1996
by Graphia
(first published 1994)
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Dec 03, 2008
Mary
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those interested in the portrayal of fundamentalist christianity/ book-banning/ abortion in juvy lit
This was the newest installment in my "reread available juvy lit to survive the stress of finals" series. Initially, I was disappointed. Lasky varies her sentence structures so rarely that I found myself lulled practically to sleep at times, and I'm not sure how well the direct address worked outside her target age group. (Whether it works within her target age group I can no longer speak to.) That said, the plot -- about growing up an avid reader in a family of newly fundamentalist Christians w...more
Harper Jessup moves a lot after her father loses his job and then her parents start fighting. In order to bring this under control they join a church and gradually become convinced that the church's truth should be everyone's. Harper, an avid reader, finds that her favourite activity is inappropriate – or at least her choice of books is. As her little sister, Weesie, becomes more and more accepting of her parent's direction, Harper is more and more alienated. Then she meets Gray, another reader,...more
We named our daughter Harper because of this book.
I'ts been fun to mine the newest literature for tweens and teens, under the guise of "pre-reading" for my young son. This book was published long after my teen years. I enjoyed its portrayal of the out-there wing of the evangelical church, banning books they think might cause people to think or question. It's a poor faith that can't stand up to Judy Blume and books on natural history. The main character, a compulsive and enthusiastic reader, is believable, although she does sometimes have insigh...more
Aug 13, 2011
Tess
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult,
books-about-books
There are quite a few books about books (or reading or the power of words), but I liked the angle this one took: what if you grow up in a religious family that thinks many books are "dirty" and even fights them?
In the end, it wasn't so much about the books (which made me go a little "meh") but a story about growing up and having to choose between your family and your books (/your freedom of thought). It was a nice read but considering the topic, I expected it to be more gripping, deeper, someth...more
In the end, it wasn't so much about the books (which made me go a little "meh") but a story about growing up and having to choose between your family and your books (/your freedom of thought). It was a nice read but considering the topic, I expected it to be more gripping, deeper, someth...more
This was such a good book! Harper's religious parents travel from school district to school district enrolling her just long enough to find something in her school's library to censor. Harper, however, likes to read, and finds that she likes to read some of the very books her parents disapprove of. In the end, she has to chose what path she will follow if she is to be true to her own beliefs. This is an eye-opening look at censorship and the freedom to read. Highly recommended!
This is the story of a girl growing up without a lot of money and parents who fight often, but she loves to read. But her parents' relationship improves when they find religion and they try to ban books all over the country. The main character, Harper, is moved around and forced to hide her books from her parents. She is struggling to find out how she can do what she wants with her life without destroying her family or her beliefs.
A thought-provoking novel about a teenager who finds herself at a crossroads... allow herself to be silenced and stand by her parents or follow her own beliefs and leave behind all she has known. This novel exposes censorship on a variety of levels and will get teens fired up and talking.
An "oldie" YA book about what happens to a girl who has to deal with her parent's desire to censor literature in the name of "family values." It is a timeless topic and Lasky deals with it in a realistic and candid way. I love the main character. A great YA book!
Lasky's book is a truly enjoyable read; a must for every librarian. She attacks the issue of censorship, morality, freedom of speech, pursuit of happiness, oh, just pick a constitutional issue. Yet the story is well constructed and the writing superb.
I highly recommend this book.
I highly recommend this book.
A quick, easy read that tells a compelling story that is frighteningly real and getting even more so.
If you grew up in a weird family like Harper's, then this book could be your key to freedom...
Read for my Children's Lit class and adored it.
CRAP, oh and propaganda as well!
Honestly, what a horrible cover (and title, for that matter) for such a good book.
This is a book about reading, and about how reading helps you think. Harper travels with her parents across the country; while they organize local churches to challenge books in schools, Harper reads and reads and reads--often reading exactly the kinds of books her parents and parents' friends are challenging.
I loved Harper's voice, and also the frequent references to favorite childhood books.
This is a book about reading, and about how reading helps you think. Harper travels with her parents across the country; while they organize local churches to challenge books in schools, Harper reads and reads and reads--often reading exactly the kinds of books her parents and parents' friends are challenging.
I loved Harper's voice, and also the frequent references to favorite childhood books.
Ugg.
I wish I could give 4.5 stars. I reserve 5 stars for books I want on my bookshelf and would read again and again. This book, while not quite that, is riveting. I wish it had been around when I was an adolescent.
It is an amazing story of a young person keeping their beliefs intact even in the face of her parents trying there best to stop her. It is a horror story of books being banned. A young girl knowing what is right and trying to stay true to herself. Awesome book!!
Complex, concise, recommended. It's always wonderful to find an author who doesn't talk down to kids.
King Library, Ground Floor, IMC, Juv: PZ7.L3274 Me 1994
About book banning
About book banning
Pretty awesome - my only quibble was the abruptness of the ending.
I read this book in a single sitting. It was that good.
May 02, 2011
Katie Fitzgerald
marked it as read-childhood
No review.
May 02, 2013
Zoeeloise
marked it as to-read
Apr 29, 2013
Abeera
added it
Apr 15, 2013
Loretta
marked it as to-read
Apr 14, 2013
Debbie
marked it as to-read
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Kathryn Lasky is the American author of many critically acclaimed books, including several Dear America books, several Royal Diaries books, 1984 Newbery Honor winning Sugaring Time, The Night Journey, and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her latest book, Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 15: The War of the Ember, was released on November 1, 2008. Guardians of Gahoo...more
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