Review: Answers in the Pages

Answers in the Pages
By David Levithan
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. 170 pages. Fiction.

When Donovan leaves his school book out, his mom and community quickly freak out about whether the main characters are gay or not. As Donovan's mom seeks to ban the book, Donovan begins to question why a book should be banned, if at all. As readers follow Donovan's story, we also get an opportunity to read sections of the actual book itself that Donovan is reading, as well as another perspective of Gideon and Roberto, two boys working on an English project. These three stories blend, diverge, and offer readers varying points of view to relate with.

I loved how Donovan's mom wasn't portrayed as ignorant, but as caring and wanting what's best for her son. The censorship discussions in this book were very informative, and the three storylines all came together in a satisfying conclusion. The writing is beautiful, and there are several quotes that eloquently explained the relationships between people, books, and censorship. This book is an amazing read for anyone interested in learning about prejudice, identity, and acceptance.

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