This novel is usually recommended for students in grades four through seven, but many older readers relate well to it also. The young protagonist and relatively simple plot belie the book's complexity and sensitivity. Kate's wellorganized, fast-paced narration and the realistic portrayal of community action and interaction quickly draw the reader into the plot of the story. Within the limits of this tightly focused plot, Miles deftly creates characters the reader cares about. Although Miles emphasizes the action revolving around the censorship crisis, rather than the psychological depth of her main characters, she accurately conveys the attitudes and language of modern, suburban middle-school students. Realistic dialogue —which includes humorous slang, as well as references to the television show "Saturday Night Live" and to purveyors of popular culture such as the Monty Python comedy troupe—places the story in a familiar contemporary context.

While some...