The Year They Burned the Books

Okay so I have a few issues with this book.

1) When main character, Jamie, is talking to her parents the author refers to them (in Jamie's mind) as Mr. Crawford and Mrs. Crawford instead of Mom and Dad.

2) This is not actually about book burning but it is about censorship.

3) It deals with A LOT of controversy, such as LGBT issues and condom distribution.

4) IT IS SO OUTDATED.

I understand the need for a book like this, especially in the LGBT community.

I'm sure in 1999 (when this book was published) it was better suited for that audience, but I feel as a whole our outlook has changed quite a bit, whether that be better or worse, I'm not sure.

The basis of the book is a school newspaper editorial written in response to the school nurses distributing condoms to students on Friday in an attempt to promote safer sex. The editorial was pro-condom, whereas the op-ed was supposed to counteract the editorial. However, the op-ed was never written and caused quite a stir in the new school committee.

This created an excuse for school board member, Lisa Buel, to create a group through her church called Families for Traditional Values (FTV), which is against basically EVERYTHING. This group doesn't agree with the condom distribution, the sex education curriculum, or homosexuality.

The school paper catches wind and begins trying to counteract FTV with a renegade newspaper, one that cannot be shut down if the school doesn't agree with what they are publishing.

There is so much drama between the two parties (FTV and the school paper committee).

This book kind of irked me, far more than it probably should have.

 I understand the need for more LGBT books.

I understand the need to stop censorship.

I understand what this book was trying to do, but it was so extreme.

It really bothered me, and I apologize to anyone who disagrees with me.

I tried to keep my mind as open as possible, but I just could not handle it.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy of The Year They Burned the Books