Ban This Book

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. In Chapter 29, Amy Anne compares herself to Smaug the Dragon.

• What does this metaphor communicate about Amy Anne and her books? (topic sentence)
• Explain where this metaphor comes from.
• Give at least three details from the story that support your idea about what the metaphor communicates about Amy Anne and her books.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how the metaphor’s meaning helps support the larger meaning of the whole novel.

2. Amy Anne feels responsible when Mrs. Jones gets fired.

• Is Amy Anne right to feel guilty about Mrs. Jones losing her job? (topic sentence)
• Give at least three details from the story that support your opinion about whether or not Amy Anne should feel guilty.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how this incident helps support the larger meaning of the whole novel.

3. Ban This Book not only mentions the titles of many specific books but also uses allusions to a number of other texts.

• What is the purpose of referring to so many real-world books? (topic sentence)
• Give at least three details from the story that support your opinion about the author’s purpose.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how these references to real-world books support the larger meaning of the whole novel.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Why did Gratz title the book Ban This Book? How does the title point to important plot events and the book’s theme? Why is the title phrased like a command? Whom do you think this command might be aimed at? Would Gratz really want this book to be banned? Why might a book like this be the target of a book banning? Write an essay in which you analyze the different meanings of the book’s title. Support your ideas with details from the story’s plot.

2. In Chapter 23, Amy Anne makes an allusion to a Dr. Seuss story. (You can watch a reading of this story here if you are unfamiliar with it.) What point is Dr. Seuss making in this story? Are there times when it is right to stick by your ideas and refuse to budge? Is it always true that sticking by your own ideas means ignoring the rest of the world? When is compromise important? How does the Dr. Suess story relate to Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Spencer? Write an essay in which you explain the meaning of the Dr. Seuss story, and then analyze how well it does or does not represent what happens between Mrs. Spencer and Mrs. Jones. Support your ideas with details from the story’s plot and its characterization of Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Spencer.

3. What does Amy Anne take away from her conversation with Jeffrey about the “Mirror Universe”? What questions does this idea raise in her mind? How does it help her understand herself and other people a little better? Write an essay that analyzes what the idea of the Mirror Universe contributes to Amy Anne’s growing understanding of both other people and herself. Support your ideas with details from the story’s plot and its characterization of Amy Anne and other characters.