Of constant concern to every American is the First Amendment right of free speech. What should authors write, what should be published, what should be allowed in book stores, what should be studied in schools, and what should students be allowed to read— these are questions that are continually being argued by parents, teachers, students, ministers, The American Civil Liberties Union, and morality groups.

Hentoff gives both sides of the question—that of the black father and son who object to it because of the frequent use of the word "nigger" and that of the history teacher and school librarian who want students to have the right to read and think for themselves. The book also deals with gender discrimination because of Twain's treatment of women in the novel and possible homosexuality because Huck and Jim are often naked and Jim calls Huck "honey."

This leaves readers to examine the evidence, follow the hearings, and decide for themselves whether justice was done. Hentoff describes himself as "an advocacy writer." As a member of the ACLU and a strong supporter of the freedom given in the First Amendment, Hentoff makes it clear that the history teacher and the former and present librarian should keep the book in the school.

Book censors are always at work looking at textbooks and reading lists.

The characters in this novel show that books may incur objections for many reasons. When censorship starts, it spreads over many different issues so that throwing out a book may please some extremists and infuriate others.

Students need to be able to read critically and make decisions for themselves, and The Day They Came to Arrest the Book will help them learn about the process.