The Year They Burned The Books is a novel for young adults by Nancy Garden, a magazine editor-turned young adult novelist who seems to have much in common with Jamie, her protagonist.
The novel tells the story of Jamie, the editor of the high school paper, and the reactions she receives after writing an editorial in support of the school's new policy of distributing free condoms to its students. Although most of the students feel that this is a positive thing, many parents, and some of the faculty, do not share Jamie's views; in particular, the school board feel that sex education should teach that sex occurs only within the context of marriage.
The novel illustrates how difficult it is for gay teens to come out to their peers and their family without a negative reaction, but it also shows that sometimes the reaction is actually one of acceptance. Through Jamie, Nancy Garden suggests that the most important part of this acceptance is self-acceptance. This is a motif that is present in many of her novels.
As well as the central themes of homosexuality, prejudice and acceptance, the novel also touches on motifs of self-acceptance and friendship.
