An adventure to read and talk about together

Start with The Protest

The complete opening chapter is free to read without an account. The full book requires access. The opening includes a firearm and an escalating confrontation; read it first if you are choosing it for a younger reader.

Three questions for the conversation

1. What do Alex, Kali, and Roman each notice or ask when they arrive at the protest? How do their different perspectives help them understand what is happening?
2. Jeff says the protesters want books removed because they give kids bad ideas. What would you want to ask the protesters and the people who disagree with them?
3. One protester claims a constitutional right to gather. What would you want to check about that claim, and how do the crowd's actions affect other people?

Put the story beside the Constitution

The story raises questions; it is not a statement of current law. Our brief rights companion introduces expression, peaceful assembly, privacy, and fair procedures, with a link to the National Archives' Bill of Rights transcript.

Reading with a family or group?

• Check the fit first. Try the free opening and review the book's difficult themes before choosing it for your readers.
• Choose a manageable amount. Agree which chapter to read and when to meet. Starting with the opening is enough for the three questions above.
• Make room for different views. Invite each reader to share an interpretation and the part of the story that led them to it. Nobody has to share a personal experience to take part.
• Separate the story from the evidence. Treat the historical encounters as fiction. Use the rights companion and its independent sources to investigate the questions the story raises.
• Arrange copies and access separately. Explore group book orders or book and online-access options. Retailer and wholesale purchases do not automatically unlock site access; an inquiry is not an order.

Keep the journey going

Browse the chapter directory for more encounters, or choose a path for learning at home or in a classroom. Teacher lesson tools are in beta; personal workspaces require sign-in, and drafts need your review and adaptation.