Kirsten Miller (1) (1973–)

I discovered Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books while browsing in Hoopla. I wasn't sure what to expect but suppose I imagined a cozy, small-town story. What I got was a detailed and insightful story of life in these divided days. Kirsten Miller starts with book banning but soon shows how hiding history goes much deeper than keeping people from reading books. I was hooked from the opening scene and shocked at several points even while I was laughing out loud. Miller can border on show more stereotyping her characters but just when you think you know them, you learn something new that complicates the person's perspective.

I listened to the audio and it was excellent. I have purchased four copies to leave in the little free libraries in Mt. Gretna. This was definitely my favorite book of 2025. show less

“What matters is never letting people tell you what to think. Don’t let them convince you that one way is right and another way wrong. Gather as much knowledge as you can, because information is power. And choosing how to use it is freedom. The more you know, the freer you will be.”

A timely novel that calls out the cult of ignorance, Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller is a brilliant novel.

After successfully petitioning the school board to remove dozens of show more ‘offensive’ books from the school library, Lula Dean places a carefully curated lending library in her front yard, encouraging the community to borrow the wholesome tomes Lula Dean personally recommends. Appalled by Lula Dean’s victory and her mother’s inability to do anything about it, Lindsey Underwood, on a brief visit home from college, protests by swapping a dozen or so of Lula Dean’s books for others that have been banned, disguised in the original offerings dust jackets. While Lula Dean congratulates herself on finally besting her high school nemesis, Barbara Underwood, and safeguarding the decency of the citizens of Troy, Georgia, Lindsey’s secret act of defiance, supported by mailman Delvin Crump, begins lighting fires all over town.

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books is intentionally provocative. With a mix of humour and pathos, Miller reveals the ways in which the disguised books have surprising effects on the residents who read them, from Dawn Dugan who finds the courage to leave her controlling, Nazi loving husband when she discovers The Diary of Anne Frank under the cover of Buffy Halliday Goes to Europe!, to Darlene Cagle who, after reading Speak hidden in the dust jacket for a Nancy Drew mystery, goes public with her experience of sexual assault as a high school cheerleader. These acts of individual rebellion, just two among many, spark a town wide revolution, bringing out the best in some, and the worst in others.

This is satire so there’s a degree of hyperbole, Miller doesn’t miss a single hot button social issue representing close to the extreme proponents of each, but while the nexus of events may be improbable, there’s plenty of truth at their heart, as current events demonstrate. This isn’t a novel about politics though but values, so any correlations between political affiliation and beliefs/behaviours are generally impositions of the reader (and perhaps something to contemplate).

Bold, funny, and insightful, I loved Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books. show less

"I choose vengeance. She’s the only mistress I serve."

Girls are disappearing. Girl's bodies are being found. When no one seems to take an interest because no one deems the girl's lives worthy enough, a small band of women are pulled together by matched anger and frustration to figure out what's going on and who these girls were.

This was wonderful. I loved our three MC's - Nessa, Herriet and Jo. They each had such strong personalities and I loved each of them for the compassion and witchy show more goodness they brought to the table. I also found the end to be realistic. I read this with a book club and we tried to find relevant, real world cases that seemed to maybe be inspiration for this one and, unfortunately, there were too many to narrow down. This is why the story is so good- relevant, well written with characters you love and vegeance so sweet. I don't know if I started off loving the cover but by the end, I couldn't imagine any other. I loved this one

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. show less

I placed a hold on The Women of Wild Hill the minute I heard about it — purely because of the author. I loved Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books (found it on the new books shelf at the library!) and The Change (which I recommended to other angry women I know), and the description of this one suggested more vibes like The Change. It totally delivered.

The Old One is tired of the patriarchy and she's using all her tricks to take it down: witches, weather, and wild beasties. The show more women of Wild Hill are descended from a Scottish line of witches and they've been waiting on The Three. Their mission: "Topple tyrants. Balance the scales. Protect the earth. Avenge the wronged." Seems reasonable to me.

I knew the setting was similar to The Change, but I didn't realize it was the same world until they mentioned Culling Point — and then Brigid met Harriet! I need at least one more book in this world because the feminine rage is raging and I am here for it.

The idea of the Old One and matriarchal lineages had me thinking of more than a few nonfiction reads — On Our Best Behavior, The Great Cosmic Mother, When God Was a Woman, The Woman with the Alabaster Jar. The female rage vibes are very much When Women Were Dragons and Lessons in Chemistry. I'm certain there are more books on witches I need to read, but I worry I'll be TOO angry about the treatment of women (and men) throughout history.

The message can feel a little heavy-handed at times, but given how rage-filled I've been about uber wealthy men lately, I didn't really mind. I want to know what happens next. show less