Common Sense Media Review
By Julian Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Disturbing dystopian tale about power of books, imagination.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In BUILDING 903, the future is a technology-centered, oppressive dystopia under constant surveillance and where stories are banned. After the sudden disappearance of her twin brother, Theo, Tessa follows clues from a neighbor who holds illegal contraband, including books which Tessa has never seen. Her curiosity sparked, Tessa and her parents go to a storage facility where every book in existence is held, and slated for destruction. Her discovery of the power in books and the imagination they inspire guides her as she finds a way to rescue her brother.
Is It Any Good?
An eerie, yet hopeful dystopian novel that'll appeal to readers of all ages. Building 903 is about the importance of books and how readers can become immersed in a story. As in The Giver, books symbolize the creative and intellectual freedom her characters desire. While there's a strong focus on being imaginative, the oppressive rules in Tessa's world discourage imagination. Readers will be inspired by the characters in their fight to broaden both their creative capacities and societal change.
Tessa's relatable curiosity and drive are reflected in her fascination with words and descriptions of the past, and in her courage to keep going even as she fears the dictatorship's book bans could land her family in deep trouble. Moby Dick's role in her brother's disappearance scares her too—but instead of letting fear immobilize her, she lets her curiosity lead. The author skillfully builds a hauntingly familiar dystopia, and shows how standing up to fear leads to discovery, imagination, knowledge, and change. Readers will root for the family as they use reading to rescue their their loved one, and possibly inspire revolution.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how curiosity, teamwork, and communication play important roles in Building 903. How do these character strengths lead to Theo's rescue? What about the revolution? How are they important in your daily life and in social movements in the real world?
This story shows that reading a book can make a person use their imagination and learning new things. How have books and imagination contributed to lasting impacts on your community or society as a whole?
Theo was trapped in the story of Moby Dick. If you would to like to live a day in a book, what book would that be? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters , Dystopia , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Robots
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Clarion Books
- Publication date : September 29, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle, App
- Last updated : October 2, 2026
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