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Building 903
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Expected 29 Sep 26In the tradition of her bestselling, award-winning phenomenon, The Giver, Lois Lowry delivers a story about censorship, comfort, complicity, and the radical power of books to open portals and unlock our humanity through our most powerful the imagination.Twins Tessa and Theo live in a world ruled by the tyrannical Koziris, where there are no dangers or rebels... or so they've been told. In this world, citizens live long lives, and while many hate Koziris, they are comfortable and safe. So, when Tessa's brother disappears, nobody wants to discuss it. But then Miriam, their 135-year-old neighbor bound for the retirement community, slips Tessa a key—not only to her brother's disappearance, but to the source of all real magic . . . books. As Tessa and her parents begin their search for Theo, Tessa learns that books not only tell us stories—they open portals and unlock our humanity through our most powerful the imagination. Once that truth has been revealed, Tessa won't be able to rest until she has retrieved her twin and society itself has been transformed.
Two-time Newbery-winner Lois Lowry has crafted a narrative that feels at once prescient and in this world, the imagination is the revolution. Not only does Building 903 sit in the same resonant space as The Giver Quartet, but it is also a profound addition to Lois's enduring body of work—and a testament to the strength and value of her voice, vision, and legacy.
Two-time Newbery-winner Lois Lowry has crafted a narrative that feels at once prescient and in this world, the imagination is the revolution. Not only does Building 903 sit in the same resonant space as The Giver Quartet, but it is also a profound addition to Lois's enduring body of work—and a testament to the strength and value of her voice, vision, and legacy.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 29, 2026
524 people want to read
About the author
Lois Lowry
165 books23k followersTaken from Lowry's website:
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
PUBLISH DATE: September 29, 2026
Building 903 by Lois Lowry
5 Stars
There’s something quietly powerful about returning to a familiar voice and realizing it still has new things to say.
Building 903 feels, in many ways, like a thematic companion to The Giver, but it reads less like a repetition and more like a reflection. This is a story about control, comfort, and complicity; but more than that, it’s about what survives when access to stories is taken away. Lowry leans into the idea that books are not just objects, but vessels of memory, identity, and resistance. And here, that idea is explored with a calm, steady intensity that never feels heavy handed.
The world she builds is unsettling not because it is chaotic, but because it is orderly. Safe. Comfortable. That quiet trade off, freedom for ease, sits at the center of the story, and it’s where the emotional weight begins to gather. Through Tessa, we see what it means to question that comfort, and more importantly, what it costs to do so.
One of the most striking elements is how the novel treats storytelling itself. There are clear nods to the kinds of books that shape us; both the challenging and the comforting, and Lowry seems to be reminding readers that all stories, in their own way, expand what it means to be human. But she also complicates that idea. Not every story is told. Not every truth is shared.
By the time we reach the epilogue, the focus shifts in a subtle but profound way. The question is no longer just about censorship imposed by a system, but about the quieter, more personal act of choosing what to say and what to withhold. Tessa, now a storyteller herself, makes choices that echo what came before her, deciding which parts of the past are too complex, too painful, or perhaps too intimate to pass on.
That final note lingers. It suggests that even in a world where stories are reclaimed, they are never entirely complete. Some remain fragmented. Some remain hidden. And some, perhaps, are kept that way for a reason.
There’s also a reflective undercurrent running through the novel that feels deeply personal. Without ever stating it outright, the book hints at the idea that a writer’s body of work may extend beyond what is visible, and that not every story needs to be attached to a name to have meaning. It’s a quiet acknowledgment that storytelling, at its core, is bigger than authorship, it’s about connection, memory, and what we choose to leave behind.
Building 903 doesn’t end with clear answers. Instead, it leaves readers with questions, about truth, forgiveness, and the nature of stories themselves. It’s thoughtful, restrained, and quietly haunting in a way that stays with you long after the final page.
This is not just a return to familiar themes. It’s a meditation on them. And it feels, in many ways, like a full circle moment. I’m so incredibly grateful to have read this book and add it to my list of
Novels that mean so much to me.
PUBLISH DATE: September 29, 2026
BOOK TITLE: Building 903
AUTHOR: Lois Lowry
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins Children's Books | Clarion Books
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 224
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Building 903 by Lois Lowry
5 Stars
There’s something quietly powerful about returning to a familiar voice and realizing it still has new things to say.
Building 903 feels, in many ways, like a thematic companion to The Giver, but it reads less like a repetition and more like a reflection. This is a story about control, comfort, and complicity; but more than that, it’s about what survives when access to stories is taken away. Lowry leans into the idea that books are not just objects, but vessels of memory, identity, and resistance. And here, that idea is explored with a calm, steady intensity that never feels heavy handed.
The world she builds is unsettling not because it is chaotic, but because it is orderly. Safe. Comfortable. That quiet trade off, freedom for ease, sits at the center of the story, and it’s where the emotional weight begins to gather. Through Tessa, we see what it means to question that comfort, and more importantly, what it costs to do so.
One of the most striking elements is how the novel treats storytelling itself. There are clear nods to the kinds of books that shape us; both the challenging and the comforting, and Lowry seems to be reminding readers that all stories, in their own way, expand what it means to be human. But she also complicates that idea. Not every story is told. Not every truth is shared.
By the time we reach the epilogue, the focus shifts in a subtle but profound way. The question is no longer just about censorship imposed by a system, but about the quieter, more personal act of choosing what to say and what to withhold. Tessa, now a storyteller herself, makes choices that echo what came before her, deciding which parts of the past are too complex, too painful, or perhaps too intimate to pass on.
That final note lingers. It suggests that even in a world where stories are reclaimed, they are never entirely complete. Some remain fragmented. Some remain hidden. And some, perhaps, are kept that way for a reason.
There’s also a reflective undercurrent running through the novel that feels deeply personal. Without ever stating it outright, the book hints at the idea that a writer’s body of work may extend beyond what is visible, and that not every story needs to be attached to a name to have meaning. It’s a quiet acknowledgment that storytelling, at its core, is bigger than authorship, it’s about connection, memory, and what we choose to leave behind.
Building 903 doesn’t end with clear answers. Instead, it leaves readers with questions, about truth, forgiveness, and the nature of stories themselves. It’s thoughtful, restrained, and quietly haunting in a way that stays with you long after the final page.
This is not just a return to familiar themes. It’s a meditation on them. And it feels, in many ways, like a full circle moment. I’m so incredibly grateful to have read this book and add it to my list of
Novels that mean so much to me.
PUBLISH DATE: September 29, 2026
BOOK TITLE: Building 903
AUTHOR: Lois Lowry
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins Children's Books | Clarion Books
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 224
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Want to read
February 10, 2026I know this book is going to be iconic.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A deeply moving and quietly powerful read, Building 903 by Lois Lowry left a lasting impression on me long after I turned the final page. Lowry’s signature clarity and emotional depth shine through as she explores memory, identity, and the family with a gentle but unflinching hand. The narrative feels both intimate and expansive, weaving personal reflection with broader context in a way that is accessible to younger readers yet profound. I especially appreciated how the story invites readers to sit with difficult truths while still finding moments of humanity and connection. It is a beautifully crafted work that feels important. I would highly recommend to anyone who values thoughtful storytelling.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars rounded down
Tessa lives in a dystopian nation where both political rights and personal rights like literacy and freedom of religion have been stripped from the populace. Her brother Theo has recently disappeared, and everyone is expected to pretend like he never existed, but when her elder neighbor Miriam leaves her some boxes behind as she moves into Elder Care, she learns that books are truly magical and may be the solution to finding Theo.
I thought the worldbuilding in this book was well done. It’s sort of a hybrid of science fiction and fantasy, although the reason that books can act as portals to other universes was never really explained. If you like books where a sort of wonder is maintained and the reasons behind the fantasy mechanisms aren’t explained, that may not bother you, but if you more prefer things on the science fiction side that may be a problem for you.
There was a surprising amount of religious theming in this book as well. This would be good for children who want to read speculative fiction but still have their stories grounded in faith. The family also all clearly loves each other, and the adults (Tessa and Theo’s parents and their neighbor) are more useful in this book than they are in a lot of middle grade fiction. If you’re frustrated by middle grade protagonists always saving the world on their own without parents who believe something bad is happening, this book is the antidote to that.
I had a problem with both the pacing and with the gender dynamics in this book. The characters didn’t start solving the problem until about 3/4 of the way through the book, so it felt very rushed. It also seemed like the ending was too easy for a dystopian book. It also seemed somewhat anti-feminist to me, as Tessa’s brother and her father are written as genuises and they leave their wife and daughter out of a lot of things because they allegedly won’t understand them. Tessa and her mother are of normal intelligence, and they mostly solve things through their emotions. It’s little messages like this that can tell girls that they’re not smart enough for science and normalize young girls being left out of things they could understand if it was just explained to them.
This book would be good for parents who are looking for a speculative fiction book for their children that’s age-appropriate but still has faith as a strong theme. I’d recommend it to fans of Margaret Peterson Haddix’s The Shadow Children series or of The Chronicles of Narnia, but I wouldn’t say it’s as similar to The Giver as the marketing material implies.
Building 903 releases September 26 from Clarion Books. Thank you to Netgalley, Lois Lowry and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Tessa lives in a dystopian nation where both political rights and personal rights like literacy and freedom of religion have been stripped from the populace. Her brother Theo has recently disappeared, and everyone is expected to pretend like he never existed, but when her elder neighbor Miriam leaves her some boxes behind as she moves into Elder Care, she learns that books are truly magical and may be the solution to finding Theo.
I thought the worldbuilding in this book was well done. It’s sort of a hybrid of science fiction and fantasy, although the reason that books can act as portals to other universes was never really explained. If you like books where a sort of wonder is maintained and the reasons behind the fantasy mechanisms aren’t explained, that may not bother you, but if you more prefer things on the science fiction side that may be a problem for you.
There was a surprising amount of religious theming in this book as well. This would be good for children who want to read speculative fiction but still have their stories grounded in faith. The family also all clearly loves each other, and the adults (Tessa and Theo’s parents and their neighbor) are more useful in this book than they are in a lot of middle grade fiction. If you’re frustrated by middle grade protagonists always saving the world on their own without parents who believe something bad is happening, this book is the antidote to that.
I had a problem with both the pacing and with the gender dynamics in this book. The characters didn’t start solving the problem until about 3/4 of the way through the book, so it felt very rushed. It also seemed like the ending was too easy for a dystopian book. It also seemed somewhat anti-feminist to me, as Tessa’s brother and her father are written as genuises and they leave their wife and daughter out of a lot of things because they allegedly won’t understand them. Tessa and her mother are of normal intelligence, and they mostly solve things through their emotions. It’s little messages like this that can tell girls that they’re not smart enough for science and normalize young girls being left out of things they could understand if it was just explained to them.
This book would be good for parents who are looking for a speculative fiction book for their children that’s age-appropriate but still has faith as a strong theme. I’d recommend it to fans of Margaret Peterson Haddix’s The Shadow Children series or of The Chronicles of Narnia, but I wouldn’t say it’s as similar to The Giver as the marketing material implies.
Building 903 releases September 26 from Clarion Books. Thank you to Netgalley, Lois Lowry and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lois Lowry is back with yet another dystopian societal commentary. In this novel, the leader Koziris has created a society revolving around control and censorship; there are no books, music, trees or animals, and every move is monitored. Honestly, this story is somewhat of a modern adaptation of The Giver with a hint of Fahrenheit 451, but reframed for today's societal issues.
First of all, the world-building was impeccable. Lois Lowry is able to transport you into this extremely censored society in a way that makes it feel like the day-to-day norm. The way she writes modern, everyday items into obsolescence to show the regime’s hold on society is flawless. Lowry also shows the digitization of the world as something that’s written off as a natural progression, leaving behind playgrounds that are now treated as artifacts that children look down on.
The characters were likeable, but I felt like I didn’t know any of them. The main characters are a pair of twins, Tessa and Theo. The story also focuses on their parents and their neighbour, who leaves behind a book for Tessa. The main premise is that Theo goes missing before he has to be taken away from his family to join a government education program, which would mean never speaking to them again. Tessa finds out through her dad, who has been working on a secret communication device, that Theo is still alive, and they go out to find him while trying to keep everything hidden from the government.
Now, I understand that this book is for middle-grade readers, but even though I thought the world-building was brilliant, the characters and story fell flat for me. I understand why Lowry wrote this book, and I think it is a really relevant and timely read, but the plot itself was not working for me; it felt like a background character to Tessa’s discovery of everything that was banned, which gets very redundant the longer the story goes on.
All in all, it was a good book that I think many middle-grade readers would enjoy. I would just be looking for more depth in the plot and characters, but overall a great read.
Thank you to Lois Lowry, Clarion Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
First of all, the world-building was impeccable. Lois Lowry is able to transport you into this extremely censored society in a way that makes it feel like the day-to-day norm. The way she writes modern, everyday items into obsolescence to show the regime’s hold on society is flawless. Lowry also shows the digitization of the world as something that’s written off as a natural progression, leaving behind playgrounds that are now treated as artifacts that children look down on.
The characters were likeable, but I felt like I didn’t know any of them. The main characters are a pair of twins, Tessa and Theo. The story also focuses on their parents and their neighbour, who leaves behind a book for Tessa. The main premise is that Theo goes missing before he has to be taken away from his family to join a government education program, which would mean never speaking to them again. Tessa finds out through her dad, who has been working on a secret communication device, that Theo is still alive, and they go out to find him while trying to keep everything hidden from the government.
Now, I understand that this book is for middle-grade readers, but even though I thought the world-building was brilliant, the characters and story fell flat for me. I understand why Lowry wrote this book, and I think it is a really relevant and timely read, but the plot itself was not working for me; it felt like a background character to Tessa’s discovery of everything that was banned, which gets very redundant the longer the story goes on.
All in all, it was a good book that I think many middle-grade readers would enjoy. I would just be looking for more depth in the plot and characters, but overall a great read.
Thank you to Lois Lowry, Clarion Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Entering the world of the imagination was a little like...well, like what taking off in a spaceship might be. - Building 903
A long time ago, I remember reading The Giver by Lowry back in middle school. I only somewhat liked it, and I quickly forgot about it. Until, I taught it to a bunch of 7th graders, and I realized how impactful it really was. Now, Lowry has done it again.
Lowry has once again created a beautifully written dystopian society. A society where; books are illegal, animals are extinct, and an authoritarian dictator resides on the throne of the society's backs. This story follows a small but loving family in the form of Tessa and her twin Theo, and their dad and mom. Theo goes missing, and it's up to the family to save him. By the help of their neighbor, the family is able to not only learn what happened to Theo, but they soon learn about concepts that they've never known about before.
When one things of dystopia, they think of a world like Mad Max: destruction, anarchy, hurt- anger. But Lowry once again has proven that dystopia's can start as everything thinks it to be: a utopia. Lowry shows us that dystopia's can have order and structure to them.
One of the key concepts in this book is, quite simply, imagination. What is imagination? Is it a lie or is it real? Should this concept even exist in a society like theirs? Tessa and her family consider these questions and why they live in a society that no longer accepts this word.
Like that of Jonas from The Giver, Tessa and her family must find their own way through their society and learn what things really matter - and what things they will be silenced for.
A long time ago, I remember reading The Giver by Lowry back in middle school. I only somewhat liked it, and I quickly forgot about it. Until, I taught it to a bunch of 7th graders, and I realized how impactful it really was. Now, Lowry has done it again.
Lowry has once again created a beautifully written dystopian society. A society where; books are illegal, animals are extinct, and an authoritarian dictator resides on the throne of the society's backs. This story follows a small but loving family in the form of Tessa and her twin Theo, and their dad and mom. Theo goes missing, and it's up to the family to save him. By the help of their neighbor, the family is able to not only learn what happened to Theo, but they soon learn about concepts that they've never known about before.
When one things of dystopia, they think of a world like Mad Max: destruction, anarchy, hurt- anger. But Lowry once again has proven that dystopia's can start as everything thinks it to be: a utopia. Lowry shows us that dystopia's can have order and structure to them.
One of the key concepts in this book is, quite simply, imagination. What is imagination? Is it a lie or is it real? Should this concept even exist in a society like theirs? Tessa and her family consider these questions and why they live in a society that no longer accepts this word.
Like that of Jonas from The Giver, Tessa and her family must find their own way through their society and learn what things really matter - and what things they will be silenced for.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Once again Lois Lowry weaves heartfelt storytelling with complex and advanced topics written in an approachable and wholesome way for young readers. I love that she doesn't shy away from hard topics but instead broaches them in a way that gets kids thinking without going too far. Her writing, as usual, is beautiful, and though this book is short, it's tightly paced and highly compelling.
The main thing I loved about this book was that yes, it was a dystopian with (younger) teenaged protagonists, and yet both Tessa's parents were very much involved with her throughout the bok and actually helped her on her mission. They had a wonderful family dynamic, and stuck together until the end. Her brother's parts of the book were equally compelling, and I loved that family element, especially since we don't really get that in the majority of dystopians.
I really appreciated the hopeful note this book contained, and the equally hopeful ending it delivered. The books mentioned were another nice touch, and the world felt fleshed out. I grew very fond of Tessa and her brother and parents, and also of Miriam, her defiant and stubbornly lovable neighbor. Overall this was a very good read and I'm glad Lowry is still writing, because her books truly are a gift.
Content: It was really clean, actually! Some mild peril, mention of tattoos given as punishment, dystopian elements. I'm struggling even to think of anything else. I would feel perfectly comfortable handing this book to any kid over the age of about six, honestly. It would make a lovely read-aloud as well.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced reader's copy! I was not required to leave a positive review and all opinions are very much my own
The main thing I loved about this book was that yes, it was a dystopian with (younger) teenaged protagonists, and yet both Tessa's parents were very much involved with her throughout the bok and actually helped her on her mission. They had a wonderful family dynamic, and stuck together until the end. Her brother's parts of the book were equally compelling, and I loved that family element, especially since we don't really get that in the majority of dystopians.
I really appreciated the hopeful note this book contained, and the equally hopeful ending it delivered. The books mentioned were another nice touch, and the world felt fleshed out. I grew very fond of Tessa and her brother and parents, and also of Miriam, her defiant and stubbornly lovable neighbor. Overall this was a very good read and I'm glad Lowry is still writing, because her books truly are a gift.
Content: It was really clean, actually! Some mild peril, mention of tattoos given as punishment, dystopian elements. I'm struggling even to think of anything else. I would feel perfectly comfortable handing this book to any kid over the age of about six, honestly. It would make a lovely read-aloud as well.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced reader's copy! I was not required to leave a positive review and all opinions are very much my own
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First and foremost, I was incredibly excited to receive this ARC. The Giver and its quartet will always be in my top ten—they’re the reason I fell in love with reading as a child.
Let me start by saying that I did enjoy this novel, and I understand it was written for the same age range as The Giver. That said, I found myself wishing it had been a longer, more in-depth adult novel. I wanted more of the new, Fahrenheit 451-esque world that Lowry created.
As for the characters, I absolutely loved Tessa and her connection to her brother. I do wish we’d gotten a bit more backstory on Miriam, though she was still an enjoyable character.
Now, for what didn’t quite work for me: the resolution of the central conflict. Without giving anything away, it felt disjointed and not fully aligning with the tone the story had built up to that point. That was truly disappointing.
I also would have loved to follow Theo more closely on his journey, though I understand the story was geared toward a younger audience, therefore, shorter.
Overall, I’d give this a 3.75 (rounded up). I had a hard time putting it down, and I appreciated how poignant and relevant it felt in today’s society.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Let me start by saying that I did enjoy this novel, and I understand it was written for the same age range as The Giver. That said, I found myself wishing it had been a longer, more in-depth adult novel. I wanted more of the new, Fahrenheit 451-esque world that Lowry created.
As for the characters, I absolutely loved Tessa and her connection to her brother. I do wish we’d gotten a bit more backstory on Miriam, though she was still an enjoyable character.
Now, for what didn’t quite work for me: the resolution of the central conflict. Without giving anything away, it felt disjointed and not fully aligning with the tone the story had built up to that point. That was truly disappointing.
I also would have loved to follow Theo more closely on his journey, though I understand the story was geared toward a younger audience, therefore, shorter.
Overall, I’d give this a 3.75 (rounded up). I had a hard time putting it down, and I appreciated how poignant and relevant it felt in today’s society.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I try to set my expectations going in to a middle grade text just over 200 pages, but this book still left me wanting a bit more. Tessa and Theo are loveable characters, and their relationship and the way they come together despite having very different strengths and value, is endearing. But I didn’t feel the reader could get to the core of who Tessa and Theo are. There was a lost opportunity to expand on the people’s questioning and rebellion of the censorship they experienced. The central conflict was resolved abruptly, and while the rules of society were such a key element of the story, the final change of circumstances was on the periphery. Overall, a good book, but was hoping for greatness.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, Clarion Books for an ARC of Building 903 via NetGalley.
I almost never review children's books, but I have such fond memories of reading The Giver and Gathering Blue when I was young that I knew I wanted to read Lois Lowry's newest release too. The story was lovely and felt so timely and relevant to the state of our country today. Tess was a great main character, I admired her curiosity, bravery, and her love for her family. Although I found myself wishing for a longer and more detailed storyline, I think it is the perfect complexity for a middle-grade reader target audience.
4.5 stars, rounded up
I almost never review children's books, but I have such fond memories of reading The Giver and Gathering Blue when I was young that I knew I wanted to read Lois Lowry's newest release too. The story was lovely and felt so timely and relevant to the state of our country today. Tess was a great main character, I admired her curiosity, bravery, and her love for her family. Although I found myself wishing for a longer and more detailed storyline, I think it is the perfect complexity for a middle-grade reader target audience.
4.5 stars, rounded up
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Building 903 is a dystopian middle grade novel that takes place in the future United States. The head of state is a dictator who has banned books, religion and most of the original Bill of Rights. Tessa's twin brother has disappeared, her neighbor has been taken away and her father has shut himself in his workshop. Gifted with some mystery boxes by the neighbor, Tessa's world opens up to new possibilities. With the help of her parents, she defies the laws and sets out to find her brother. The book is interesting, a bit different, but entertaining. It is clean enough for any reader.
I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Lois Lowry always delivers. In a futuristic world, new laws are in place to protect the leader Koziris, including the complete banning of books and stories.
I loved this world built by Lowry, I was enamored by her characters. As someone who is transported to different worlds through books, I loved seeing where these contraband books took them.
Thank you to Clarion books and Edelweiss for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review
I loved this world built by Lowry, I was enamored by her characters. As someone who is transported to different worlds through books, I loved seeing where these contraband books took them.
Thank you to Clarion books and Edelweiss for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Building 903 is poignant tale of what life would be like without books, art, or music and is so relevant to what is happening right now. The characters are well thought out and the story line in engaging. I really enjoyed the secret language between Theo and Tessa and how it helped to get Theo home.
March 14, 2026
Wow!!!!! I couldn’t put this one down. Absolutely perfect for middle schoolers, this book follows a 14 year old girl living in the future and trying to find her missing twin brother. A brilliant exploration of stories, imagination, and what happens when they’re taken away. Must read!
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