54 pages • 1 hour read
Nat HentoffThe Day They Came to Arrest the Book
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1982A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Nat Hentoff's The Day They Came to Arrest the Book, students, teachers, and parents at George Mason High School confront a heated debate over the inclusion of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the curriculum due to its racial slurs and depiction of the maltreatment of Black enslaved people, sparking discussions on censorship and freedom of speech that garner national attention. This book contains direct quotes from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that include the n-word.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Nat Hentoff's The Day They Came to Arrest the Book has garnered mixed reviews. Critics praise its thought-provoking exploration of censorship, free speech, and intellectual freedom, with compelling characters driving the narrative. However, some note that the dialogue feels occasionally didactic and certain plot points lack subtlety. Overall, it remains a relevant and engaging read.
Who Should Read The Day They Came to Arrest the Book?
Readers who would enjoy The Day They Came to Arrest the Book by Nat Hentoff are typically interested in themes of censorship, intellectual freedom, and student rights. This book is ideal for fans of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and The Giver by Lois Lowry, as it delves into conflicts over banned books and free speech in a school setting.