Same Page, Elly Swartz
Same Page, Elly Swartz
List: $15.00 | Sale: $10.50
Club: $7.50

Same Page

Author: Elly Swartz

Narrator: Alexandra Ryan

Unabridged: 5 hr 30 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/14/2025

Synopsis

From the beloved author of Hidden Truths comes a novel about take-charge sixth grader Bess Stein, who brings together friends and a group of rockstar librarians called the Book Warriors to fight a book ban happening at her middle school.

A SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD FOR NOTABLE BOOK

Bess Stein is more than ready to be 6th grade class president. She's got tons of ideas—including a book vending machine—and her new friend June is beside her as vice-president. Together, they're unstoppable. 

But when the books the girls want included in the vending machine come under fire, Bess is stunned. How can one person believe they have the right to decide what other people can read? It turns out that June's mom is leading the fight, and now everything's a mess.

Bess misses June—but she wants to make sure kids who might like these books get the chance to read them, even if it means she and June can't be friends. With such different opinions, will they ever be on the same page?

About The Author

Elly Swartz lives in Massachusetts and is happily married with two grown sons, a beagle named Lucy, and a pup named Baxter Bean. Hidden Truths, called a "realistic fiction at its best" in a starred review by SLJ, was her latest novel. She is also the author of Dear Student, Finding Perfect, Smart Cookie, and Give and Take, novels for middle-grade readers.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Bookishrealm on March 19, 2025

3.5 stars.......more

Goodreads review by Melanie on September 30, 2024

Bess met June at summer camp and is sure that their new friendship is off to a solid start. So much so that the girls run for class president and vice president once school gets started and win. Time to set the world on fire, the two of them! But right off the bat, the book vending machine that was......more

Goodreads review by Vicky on October 21, 2024

Another fantastic book about a timely topic by an amazing author. Beth is thrilled that the PTO funded their book vending machine. When she goes in one day she notices some books are missing. She’s told that someone complained about the books, and Bess finds out her good friend June’s mom made the c......more

Goodreads review by Courtney on December 28, 2024

This is a sweet little middle grade book that tackles the threat of book banning for a younger audience. When 6th grade class president Bess starts a book vending machine in her school library, she is excited to share books that represent all of her very different fellow classmates. She never expect......more

Goodreads review by Katie on February 22, 2025

Bess Stein can’t wait to be the sixth grade class president. She’s got her new friend June (that she met at summer camp) with her as vice president, and they’re excited about the book vending machine that is coming to their school. But when one parent sparks a movement about what books should and sh......more

Quotes

“I wish I were Bess’s librarian. I’m grateful she cares so deeply and passionately about story and advocates for libraries, librarians, and readers.” —John Schu, teacher-librarian and New York Times bestselling author of Louder Than Hunger

"A timely, and relevant story readers will enjoy and learn from." —Becky Calzada, Co-Founder TX FReadom Fighters

"Swartz skillfully incorporates sensitive depictions of Bess’s anxiety and the comfort she finds in her Jewish faith and her dog, Barnaby, to tackle tween friendship drama and growing pains with nuance." —Publishers Weekly

"A timely and powerfully emotive story that is a perfect read for a budding reformer or activist." —Booklist

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