Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books

So clever! I thought this might be a puff piece with sweet little ol' Southern characters, but it is a very calculated, carefully crafted book with some zingers, in addition to sweet (or not) little ol' Southern characters. The author really digs in to the current culture wars and skewers the hypocrisy and group-think that has gained steam in recent years. The premise is Lula Dean is looking for respect in her little town of Troy, GA - her family lost its fortune and footing after the mill closed a generation earlier, and when she finds a 'pornographic' cook book on the public library shelves, she has found her platform: Book Banning! The public and school libraries are gutted for all the reasons currently popular, and also because it show more will also needle Lula's nemesis, Beverly Underwood, the school board president. Lula sets up a Little Free Library with 'appropriate' books: Our Confederate Heroes, The Art of the the Deal, Contract with America, The Southern Lady's Guide to Etiquette, etc. Things stack up the way you'd expect - except Beverly's (gay) daughter Lindsay pulls a prank - switching out all the books with banned ones, but retaining the original covers. So when a townsperson grabs an 'appropriate' book, they are in for a surprise - but for all who do, they keep it to themselves! However, an enlightened attitude begins to permeate the town, due to what folks have been reading. Lots of fun, individual stories unfold here as we get to know more characters and real, specific books are explored, which is always fun to recognize. Things come to a head when the two opposing women run for mayor, with a Confederate statue of the town founder at stake. Great story-telling and embedded social commentary. While there is a little gloss of things coming together just so, the book also has an edge of realism that sharpens the mightier-than-the-sword pen. Compelling! I didn't want it to end. show less

Funny, poignant and a tale that seems to be as old as time, yet especially timely right now. Small town southern life at it's finest and probably most realistic. You've got all the gossip, all the "bless your heart" energy and all the pearl clutching you'd expect. The bottom line is book banning is stupid, useless and disrespectful. The larger picture, it's just a symptom of a much larger "hate disease" that seems to be running rampant lately and must stop. Told in a very non-preachy way with a cast of characters you won't soon forget, you need to read this book.

Lighthearted, clever book about a serious subject. Among the (t00) many residents of Troy, Alabama, the few that really resonated with me weren't the easily identifiable villains or heroes. Instead, I gravitated towards the few characters who struggled with the issue, trying to reconcile their conservative and religious backgrounds with their dawning realization that ignorance and hate pose more of a threat to their children than [b:Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.|59365703|Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.|Judy Blume|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1675288783l/59365703._SX50_.jpg|4121].

True fact: The suburban St. Louis school district in which I live (serving 17,000 students) is currently show more considering measures that prohibit classroom discussions on gender identity, and allow any district resident to call for bans on particular books and classroom materials. So on the one hand, I appreciate a novel in which a small town's citizens band together to defeat censorship. But I am living the real thing and I'm afraid that the situation is only going to get worse. Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books triggered me as much as it comforted me. show less

Cheesy but ever so pleasing.

A beautiful liberal fairy tale has the right book reaching the right person at the right time, shuts down book banners , and imagines a happy ending sure to charm any person who loves the first amendment or sees the word "woke" as a good thing.

It's all very simplistic, sure. Conveniently, all the banners are egomaniacs, hypocrites, homophobes, Nazis, or, occasionally, reasonable but misled people one earnest conversation away from seeing the light. Meanwhile all those championing books are practically saints. Amidst all the soap opera relationships and family drama, there are even a few scenes of action and violence to spice things up.

I was damn happy to pick up this book every chance I got.

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 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. show more Gretna. This was definitely my favorite book of 2025. show less

This novel completely charmed me. Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books is both funny and deeply poignant, weaving together themes of censorship, friendship, and the unexpected ways people connect.

The first chapter immediately pulled me in. It sets the tone perfectly and introduces the heart of the story in a way that feels both engaging and meaningful. It is one of those openings that makes you want to keep reading right away.

What stood out most to me were the characters. They are smart, layered, and feel incredibly real. Each one brings a unique perspective, and watching their lives intersect through something as simple as a little library was genuinely moving. The story does a beautiful job of showing how books can spark show more conversations, challenge beliefs, and build bridges between people who might otherwise never cross paths.

The humor is sharp without overshadowing the heart of the story, and the emotional moments feel honest rather than forced. It is the kind of book that makes you smile, think, and reflect on your own views about literature and community.

Overall, this is a thoughtful and engaging read that balances lightness with depth. I would recommend it to anyone who loves stories about books, strong characters, and the quiet power of connection. show less

Do not get the wrong idea: Lula Dean is not the hero of this novel. Indeed, this book is the story of a prank gone right.

Every town has a Lula Dean — more so in the time of Moms for Liberty — but they’ve existed since at least the 1990s: a self-appointed, self-righteous champion of morals, out to make everyone bow down and live their lives according to said Lula Dean’s beliefs. But when a college student takes the book jackets from Lula’s Little Library and substitutes revolutionary and subversive books, then replaces them, the town of Troy, Georgia, undergoes a wonderful change. This isn’t a spoiler: It happens in Chapter 2.

How I adored this humorous and, yes, subversive take on the culture wars. In a time of anxiety, Lula show more Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books reveals why the novel has been such a hit. I could not put it down, even though it meant reading until 3 a.m. There’s no greater compliment than that! show less