ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES, by A. S. King, Scholastic Press, Sept. 6, 2022, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 9-12)
A student decides to take action after discovering his school book has been censored in Amy Sarig King’s Attack of the Black Rectangles.
When Mac first opens his classroom copy of Jane Yolen’s The Devil’s Arithmetic and finds some words blacked out, he thinks it must be a mistake. But then when he and his friends discover what the missing words are, he’s outraged.
Someone in his school is trying to prevent kids from reading the full story.
But who?
Even though his unreliable dad tells him to not get so emotional about a book (or anything else), Mac has been raised by his mom and grandad to call out things that are wrong. He and his friends head to the principal’s office to protest the censorship… but her response doesn’t take them seriously.
So many adults want Mac to keep his words to himself.
Mac’s about to see the power of letting them out. —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press
If you are an adult who cares about your child’s ability to access books in their entirety, then you should read Attack of the Black Rectangles.
If you’re a kid who wants to read books the way the author intended them to be read, then you should read Attack of the Black Rectangles.
If you love to read, you should read Attack of the Black Rectangles.
Starting to see a pattern?
Attack of the Black Rectangles is born out of actual events. Jane Yolen’s The Devil’s Arithmetic was censored at King’s local elementary school in the exact same way as described in Amy Sarig King’s book. She, too, went to the principal who shrugged the issue off.
As important as the black rectangles are to this book, it’s not just about rectangles. It’s about family dynamics, mental health, friendship, adult-child relationships, trust, maturity and so much more.
King writes directly to her audience. She celebrates their intelligence through warm and accessible prose. Her writing is clear and inviting. Her characters are relatable. And her use of humor adds brightness.
Attack of the Black Rectangles is an excellent read that is also timely. I highly recommend it.
Copyright © 2022 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
