THIS BOOK WON'T BURN

Kausar Mohammed passionately narrates this timely story of book banning, homophobia, and racism. Recently abandoned by her father, 18-year-old Indian American Noor Khan has been uprooted from her Chicago home and gone to live in a small town far away with her mom and younger sister. Noor is one of only a few Muslim students at her new high school, where she learns that the library is removing hundreds of books, mostly by LGBTQ+ and BIPOC authors. Along with other marginalized students, Noor fights back against censorship and hate. Mohammed expressively channels Noor's determination and feistiness, especially during run-ins with the school principal and the board chair. While the story's message can be a bit heavy-handed, the result is a thought-provoking listening experience. V.T.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2024]