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"Why would anyone be afraid of a book? There are guns and snakes and all kinds of other stuff for sale that could actually kill you."

Why are people afraid of books? Mac asks this very question in "Attack of the Black Rectangles" by Amy Sarig King.

Mac and his friends, Denis and Marci, have just started sixth grade and have Laura Samuel Sett as their teacher. Ms. Sett has opinions on a lot of things and is very vocal in her support of her ideas. She has managed to change the tone of the town. There are curfews and limits on what color you can paint your house. There is no Halloween or junk food. There are rules for everything.

The kids are given the book "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen to read in class. As they are reading this book about the Holocaust, they notice that two pages have words blacked out. A copy of the book from the local bookstore reveals what was removed and it makes the kids angry and confused. Why does someone not want them to read those words?

Mac talks to his mom and grandpa about the issue and even writes a letter to Jane Yolen. However, Mac, Denis and Marci choose to solve the problem themselves. They approach their principal, who gives them the brush off. They then take their case to the school board and start a protest. The adults in authority seem to think there is nothing wrong with blacking out a few words. They still get to read the book. That isn't censorship, right?

What this book does really well is talk about the different types of censorship. The adults in this book are not banning the entire book. They are allowing kids to read it, just not the way the author intended. This is a different type of censorship and a more silent one that probably happens more often than we think.

This story is based on a real experience of the author, which makes it even more interesting. The passages that were blacked out of "The Devil's Arithmetic" seem innocent and in the context of the story are definitely not something that is titillating or shocking.

Ms. Sett is not an evil character. She genuinely believes that what she is doing is best for the town and for her students. Mac doesn't dislike her despite the blacked out books. She helps him when he is going through a difficult time with his absent father. Ms. Sett is a teacher and someone people like and respect, which gives her a lot of power. How she chooses to use that power is the debate of the book.

As Mac says, the truth can set you free even if it makes you uncomfortable or sad. Books are a window into other worlds and give insight into situations we may not experience ourselves. They can teach us sympathy and empathy and broaden our world views. Some people find that scary. Others find that exactly what they need.

Angie Bayne is the Assistant Director of Public Services atMissouri River Regional Library.

Read more from the original source:
From the Stacks: New novel demonstrates different types of censorship - Jefferson City News Tribune