Suggested Reading - by Dave Connis (Paperback)

About the Book

In this hilarious and thought-provoking contemporary teen standalone that's perfect for fans of Moxie, a bookworm finds a way to fight back when her school bans dozens of classic and meaningful books. Clara Evans is horrified when she discovers her principal's "prohibited media" hit list. The iconic books on the list have been pulled from the library and aren't allowed anywhere on the school's premises. Students caught with the contraband will be sternly punished. Many of these stories have changed Clara's life, so she's not going to sit back and watch while her draconian principal abuses his power. She's going to strike back. So Clara starts an underground library in her locker, doing a shady trade in titles like Speak and The Chocolate War. But when one of the books she loves most is connected to a tragedy she never saw coming, Clara's forced to face her role in it. Will she be able to make peace with her conflicting feelings, or is fighting for this noble cause too tough for her to bear?

Book Synopsis

In this hilarious and thought-provoking contemporary teen standalone that's perfect for fans of Moxie, a bookworm finds a way to fight back when her school bans dozens of classic and meaningful books.

Clara Evans is horrified when she discovers her principal's "prohibited media" hit list. The iconic books on the list have been pulled from the library and aren't allowed anywhere on the school's premises. Students caught with the contraband will be sternly punished.

Many of these stories have changed Clara's life, so she's not going to sit back and watch while her draconian principal abuses his power. She's going to strike back.

So Clara starts an underground library in her locker, doing a shady trade in titles like Speak and The Chocolate War. But when one of the books she loves most is connected to a tragedy she never saw coming, Clara's forced to face her role in it.

Will she be able to make peace with her conflicting feelings, or is fighting for this noble cause too tough for her to bear?

"Suggested Reading is a beautiful reminder that there is nothing simple about loving a book." --David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland

Review Quotes

"Suggested Reading is a beautiful reminder that there is nothing simple about loving a book. I suggest you read it." - David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland

"Audiences will fall in love with this genuine and funny exploration of reading as an act of resistance." - Randy Ribay, author of After the Shot Drops and Patron Saints of Nothing

"Thought-provoking and impossible to put down." - C.J. Redwine, New York Times bestselling author

★"[An] engrossing literary love letter...Only a true believer could craft a work of such relevance and heart, and every facet of this novel, from chapter headings designed as censored books to finely etched characters and witty teen-speak dialogue, proves this author's worth as a champion of literature. A timely read that will ultimately prove timeless." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

★ "[An] engrossing literary love letter...A timely read that will ultimately prove timeless." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Wry, thought-provoking, rebellious, and predicated on the belief that the right book changes everything.... the well-told story of a frustrated teen ¬fighting for social justice will be a hit with young -people." - School Library Journal

"In this thought-provoking novel, Connis tackles themes of censorship, resistance, and the power of the written word through a diverse cast of characters, bold prose, and humor that breaks up even the darkest moments." - Booklist Online