Review: Banned Books, Crop Tops, and Other Bad Influences
Banned Books, Crop Tops, and Other Bad Influences
by Brigit Young
Roaring Brook Press, 2024
Category: Middle Grade
Reviewer: Merle Eisman Carrus
Buy at Bookshop.org
Rose has grown up in this small town all her life like her father before her, among a handful of Jewish families. Rose and Charlotte (who is not Jewish) have stuck together as best friends since grammar school. Now in middle school they continue to stand apart from the crowd, eating lunch together, volunteering at the animal shelter, and spending afternoons together.
Then Tali arrives at school, from New York City. She stands out in the way she dresses, the way she speaks out and is loud. She is willing to challenge authority. Rose is intrigued. Rose is surprised to find out Tali is also Jewish, when she spots her in synagogue during Yom Kippur services. Slowly Rose and Tali forge a common bond both because they are Jewish but also because Tali opens her eyes to some new ideas. Tali offers Rose a book to read about the Holocaust that turns out to be controversial.
The school board is under pressure to start banning library books. As the books are pulled from the library shelves, Tali starts a book club to read the banned books. Rose wants to participate, but Charlotte is against it. The rift pulls Rose away from her longtime friendship and introduces her to new friends and a different perspective on issues of war, racism, and diversity.
Rose’s parents are concerned about her new friends, but Rose continues to rebel against the norms she has known. This is a story of growing up and developing your own sense of self. Learning to balance friendship and a sense of right and wrong. When to follow the crowd and when to stand up for a belief or an opinion.
The book represents Judaism in an authentic way, mentioning the Jewish holidays, and bringing up the Holocaust in a simple context. It refers to the M.S. St. Louis not being able to land in the US during the war. Judaism is not the book's focus, but it's important in that the story is about being different, about choosing whether to hide your uniqueness or stand up proudly with self assurance and embrace your individuality.
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Reviewer Merle Eisman Carrus resides in New Hampshire and writes book reviews for the NH Jewish Reporter newspaper. and other publications. She is a graduate of Emerson College and received her Masters of Jewish Studies from Hebrew College. Merle is the National President of the Brandeis National Committee. She leads books discussion groups and author interviews. She blogs her book reviews at biteofthebookworm.blogspot.com.
Rose has grown up in this small town all her life like her father before her, among a handful of Jewish families. Rose and Charlotte (who is not Jewish) have stuck together as best friends since grammar school. Now in middle school they continue to stand apart from the crowd, eating lunch together, volunteering at the animal shelter, and spending afternoons together.
Then Tali arrives at school, from New York City. She stands out in the way she dresses, the way she speaks out and is loud. She is willing to challenge authority. Rose is intrigued. Rose is surprised to find out Tali is also Jewish, when she spots her in synagogue during Yom Kippur services. Slowly Rose and Tali forge a common bond both because they are Jewish but also because Tali opens her eyes to some new ideas. Tali offers Rose a book to read about the Holocaust that turns out to be controversial.
The school board is under pressure to start banning library books. As the books are pulled from the library shelves, Tali starts a book club to read the banned books. Rose wants to participate, but Charlotte is against it. The rift pulls Rose away from her longtime friendship and introduces her to new friends and a different perspective on issues of war, racism, and diversity.
Rose’s parents are concerned about her new friends, but Rose continues to rebel against the norms she has known. This is a story of growing up and developing your own sense of self. Learning to balance friendship and a sense of right and wrong. When to follow the crowd and when to stand up for a belief or an opinion.
The book represents Judaism in an authentic way, mentioning the Jewish holidays, and bringing up the Holocaust in a simple context. It refers to the M.S. St. Louis not being able to land in the US during the war. Judaism is not the book's focus, but it's important in that the story is about being different, about choosing whether to hide your uniqueness or stand up proudly with self assurance and embrace your individuality.
Are you interested in reviewing books for The Sydney Taylor Shmooze? Click here!
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