Inside the Precedent-Setting Defeat of an Arkansas Book Ban

In 2002, the Cedarville School Board in Crawford County, Arkansas, ordered the removal of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books from library shelves, holding that “witchcraft or sorcery [should not] be available for study.” The Board picked some formidable adversaries, including school librarian Estella Roberts. Written by the lawyer who prosecuted the case, this book details the origins of the book ban and the civil procedures and legal arguments that restored the First Amendment in Cedarville.

• “An engaging read that documents the twists and turns of an ultimately unsuccessful book challenge...particularly effective at explaining court procedures, taking the time to ensure that readers can fully enjoy the happy, precedent-setting ending. The title will draw in book lovers, and the narrative will keep them reading through to the gratifying conclusion.”—Booklist

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