Parents' Guide to Attack of the Black Rectangles

Book Amy Sarig King Coming of Age 2023
Attack of the Black Rectangles: The top half of a boy is shown with a black bar over his mouth. Above and around him are a series of words black out except for the title Attack of the Black Rectangles.

Common Sense Media Review

Stephanie Morgan By Stephanie Morgan , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Smart, sensitive kids shine in engaging tale of censorship.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

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age 9+

Based on 1 parent review

 

 

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age 10+

Based on 3 kid reviews

 

 

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What's the Story?

In ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES, sixth-grader Mac and his two best friends are alarmed to find someone has been marking out words and phrases in their classroom books. The story follows their fight to find out who's doing it, and to put a stop to it, while examining themes of when to question authority, how to disagree with others and how to be true to yourself.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say ( 3 ):

This engaging and thought-provoking novel encourages readers to question censorship and so much more. Attack of the Black Rectangles doesn't shy away from hard topics, choosing instead to trusts kids with big themes and big emotions. Its protagonist, Mac, is an emotionally intelligent kid, capable not only of naming his feelings but of thinking critically about where they come from, for example: "Fact: Being treated like a child makes me angry. Fact: Being angry makes me scared I might be like my dad." It's wonderful to have such a well-rounded young male character who loves to read, identifies as a cool nerd and is self-confident despite sometimes feeling scared or unsure.

Nuanced instead of preachy, the story addresses head-on how Mac and his friends often feel talked down to by adults. And it deftly folds in important life lessons about diversity, prejudice, thinking for yourself and how to know when you're being manipulated. This is a novel that will help kids to become critical thinkers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the role family plays in Attack of the Black Rectangles. How does Mac's family support him throughout his journey? How do they encourage perseverance?

  • How does Mac's grandfather help him understand the world? What tools does he give Mac to deal with his feelings? How do he and Mac's mother encourage curiosity?

  • How does censorship get in the way of preserving and understanding history? How can learning about the past help us grow and shape our future?

  • How do the kids in this story display courage and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

Book Details

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Attack of the Black Rectangles: The top half of a boy is shown with a black bar over his mouth. Above and around him are a series of words black out except for the title Attack of the Black Rectangles.

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