54 pages • 1 hour read
The Day They Came to Arrest the Book
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Book Brief
176
Novel • Fiction
United States • 1970s
1982
YA
13-18 years
Super Short Summary
In Nat Hentoff's The Day They Came to Arrest the Book, students, teachers, and parents at George Mason High School confront a heated debate over the inclusion of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the curriculum due to its racial slurs and depiction of the maltreatment of Black enslaved people, sparking discussions on censorship and freedom of speech that garner national attention. This book contains direct quotes from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that include the n-word.
Contemplative
Challenging
Informative
Suspenseful
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
542 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Nat Hentoff's The Day They Came to Arrest the Book has garnered mixed reviews. Critics praise its thought-provoking exploration of censorship, free speech, and intellectual freedom, with compelling characters driving the narrative. However, some note that the dialogue feels occasionally didactic and certain plot points lack subtlety. Overall, it remains a relevant and engaging read.
Who Should Read The Day They Came to Arrest the Book?
Readers who would enjoy The Day They Came to Arrest the Book by Nat Hentoff are typically interested in themes of censorship, intellectual freedom, and student rights. This book is ideal for fans of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and The Giver by Lois Lowry, as it delves into conflicts over banned books and free speech in a school setting.
542 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Gordon McLean and Steve Turney
Gordon McLean and Steve Turney
Gordon opposes the use of Huckleberry Finn in class due to its offensive language, while Steve, the only Black student remaining in the class, argues against censorship and for evaluating the book’s merit himself.
Deirdre Fitzgerald
Deirdre Fitzgerald
A new librarian at George Mason High, Deirdre is a staunch advocate of the First Amendment, opposing censorship and arguing for the importance of exposing students to varied ideas.
Principal Michael “Mighty Mike” Moore
Principal Michael “Mighty Mike” Moore
As the principal of George Mason High, Mike is seen as an unsupportive administrator who prefers to quietly comply with parental demands and pressure faculty to avoid controversy.
Nora Baines
Nora Baines
A high school history teacher who teaches 19th-century American history, Nora is passionate about free speech and the right to select her curriculum, often expressing her opinions forcefully.
176
Novel • Fiction
United States • 1970s
1982
YA
13-18 years
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