Same Page - by Elly Swartz

Book Synopsis

From the beloved author of Hidden Truths comes a novel about take-charge sixth grader Bess Stein, who brings together friends and a group of rockstar librarians called the Book Warriors to fight a book ban happening at her middle school.

Bess Stein is more than ready to be 6th grade class president. She's got tons of ideas--including a book vending machine--and her new friend June is beside her as vice-president. Together, they're unstoppable.

But when the books the girls want included in the vending machine come under fire, Bess is stunned. How can one person believe they have the right to decide what other people can read? It turns out that June's mom is leading the fight, and now everything's a mess.

Bess misses June--but she wants to make sure kids who might like these books get the chance to read them, even if it means she and June can't be friends. With such different opinions, will they ever be on the same page?

Review Quotes

"I wish I were Bess's librarian. I'm grateful she cares so deeply and passionately about story and advocates for libraries, librarians, and readers." --John Schu, teacher-librarian and New York Times bestselling author of Louder Than Hunger

"A timely, and relevant story readers will enjoy and learn from." --Becky Calzada, Co-Founder TX FReadom Fighters

"Swartz skillfully incorporates sensitive depictions of Bess's anxiety and the comfort she finds in her Jewish faith and her dog, Barnaby, to tackle tween friendship drama and growing pains with nuance." --Publishers Weekly

"A timely and powerfully emotive story that is a perfect read for a budding reformer or activist." --Booklist

About the Author

Elly Swartz lives in Massachusetts and is happily married with two grown sons, a beagle named Lucy, and a pup named Baxter Bean. Hidden Truths, called a "realistic fiction at its best" in a starred review by SLJ, was her latest novel. She is also the author of Dear Student, Finding Perfect, Smart Cookie, and Give and Take, novels for middle-grade readers.