Ban This Book

The atmosphere at school is completely changed Monday morning, and Amy Anne can tell right away: “Something was wrong here. Very, very wrong” (159). Mrs. Banazewski is at her locker; Mr. Crutchfield, the custodian, waits at the principal’s side with bolt cutters. Principal Banazewski demands that Amy Anne open her locker, but Amy Anne can only stand in the hall and cry. As everyone gathered stares, Mr. Crutchfield cuts off the combination lock, and the principal looks through the books. She tells the custodian to bring them all to the office. Amy Anne follows Principal Banazewski. She sees Danny, Rebecca, and many fellow students watching her walk away. Trey and his mother watch as well. Mrs. Spencer looks shocked and betrayed.

Amy Anne’s parents are amazed and surprised that she would take such actions. Principal Banazewski tries to get Amy Anne to confess that Mrs. Jones gave her the pulled library books and tries to get her to name others who helped her put together and circulate the collection. When that does not work, she says she will simply use the sign-out cards to see everyone involved: “We have a list of all the students who checked out books from her illegal little library” (163).