This book won’t burn by Samira Ahmed Review (Gifted, AD)

Hello Readers,

Thank you, Katy, and Atom, for sending me a copy of This book won’t burn by Samira Ahmed for free in exchange for an honest review. As this is a publication day review my post will be spoiler free. 
Happy Publication Day
 
Title: This book won’t burn
Author: Samira Ahmed
Genre: Social Suspense
Pages: 384
Cover:
 


Synopsis:

After her dad abruptly abandons her family and her mom moves them a million miles from their Chicago home, Noor Khan is forced to start the last quarter of her senior year at a new school, away from everything and everyone she knows and loves. Reeling from being uprooted and deserted, Noor is certain the key to survival is to keep her head down and make it to graduation. But things aren’t so simple. At school, Noor discovers hundreds of books have been labelled “obscene” or “pornographic” and are being removed from the library in accordance with a new school board policy. Even worse, virtually all the banned books are by queer and BIPOC authors.  Noor can’t sit back and do nothing, because that goes against everything she believes in, but challenging the status quo just might put a target on her back. Can she effect change by speaking up? Or will small-town politics and small-town love be her downfall? 
 
Miniature Review
This Book Won’t Burn is a realistic story about censorship, oppression and book-banning and bigotry in small town America and is eye-opening. I am lucky that I live somewhere where I can read what books I like and they don’t seem to get banned for mentioning race, gender identity or even sexual identity.
 
After Noor's Dad abandons his family, her mum moves Noor and her younger sister from Chicago to book-banning country. When Noor goes to the library and learns some of her favourite books are being removed because they are "pornographic and woke". Noor can't keep silent and what starts as a simple desire to read slowly becomes a revolution. Noor, along with her new friends, tries to fight the challenges and is met with hate and violence.
 
I have read several books that are banned in the states, and I have no idea why I didn’t find anything “wrong” with them.  I am living for the fact that Samira mentioned numerous titles that are currently banned in parts of the United States throughout the book. Don’t mind me adding these to my TBR. I think I will implode from the irony if this book gets banned.
 
Even though it's difficult to read at times but don’t be too disheartened this book remains hopeful and inspiring at times. The politics of this book are not at all subtle and I understand if that’s not everyone’s thing. The hate and racism that our protagonist endures is difficult to read. However, her courage and resilience mean you can’t help but root for her even more.

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