Building 903 by Lois Lowry ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Twins Tessa and Theo live in a world ruled by the tyrannical Kozris, where there are no dangers or rebels… or so they've been told. In this world, citizens live long lives, and while many hate Koziris, they are comfortable and safe. So, when Tessa's brother disappears, nobody wants to discuss it. But then Miriam, their 135-year-old neighbor, slips Tessa a key – not only to her brother's disappearance, but to the source of all real magic … books.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

September 2026; Clarion Books; 9780063515130
audio (5h 49m), ebook, print; YA dystopian

Lois Lowry is to young adult dystopian as Margaret Atwood is to adult dystopian. Building 903 combines Lowry's signature writing style with the current trend of books coming to life in this compelling young adult novel about censorship and complicity.

Whether you are looking for a book that the whole family will enjoy or are a fan of The Giver, Building 903 deserves a spot on your fall reading list.

A Note About the Audiobook

I enjoyed the audiobook, but I felt that the narrator could have given more distinct voices to the characters. A couple of times I didn't realize we had slipped into Theo's POV until mentions of wind and waves. 

A Current Trend: Books Coming to Life

I don't read a lot of young adult novels, so I'm not sure how much of a new trend it is, but it seems like several books I've read this year have featured books where either the main characters enter the world of a book or the characters of a book come out of their stories - The Charmed Library, The Astral Library, and Most Ardently Yours, just to name a few.

A Subtle Approach to Book Banning

The topic of banned books has also been more prominently featured in novels recently. I mentioned in my review of The Astral Library that I thought the topic was handled a little too heavy-handed. I liked that it was more subtly handled in Building 903. For the young adult audience, I thought it was great to focus more on the consequences of book banning - the loss of imagination, the loss of dreams. In adult circles, it is usually framed around the loss of ideas, freedom of thought, the removal of explicit content- things that a teenager might not care about. I think Lowry's approach will resonate with the intended audience.

There are a number of subtleties in this book. One that I rather liked was the mention that Kozris banned books about war as part of the 100-year celebration of V-E Day. As I mentioned, several of the books I've read this year feature other books. They mostly leaned towards the classics from the likes of Jane Austen (though I think The Charmed Library had Captain Hook). Lowry chose Moby Dick, a story I'm afraid youth of today may not be familiar with. 

A Twist Ending: Too Subtle Plotting?

It is a relatively short book, but sometimes I thought she was too brief in her details. The ultimate solution to Theo's problem made me do a double take. It was not expected at all. The sudden uprising was also kind of unexpected. Of course, there are undercurrents of discord with the authoritarian government, but I didn't expect anything to come of it in this book - perhaps in a sequel.

Verdict: Great for Book Clubs & Families

Building 903 would make an awesome book for a teen, adult, or family book club. There is so much that can be discussed with this deceptively simplistic story. 

Buy Building 903 at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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