Free speech and its limits are complicated subjects, sometimes even for courts. So hats off to this book for its explanations and examples that make the topic not only understandable but also thought-provoking. The book begins with freedom of speech surrounding the flag, but then it moves into the history of the First Amendment and the controversies around it, including deference to the anthem, the Red Scare of the 1950s, free speech in schools, and the new notion that corporations are entitled to free speech. There is also information about life in countries where free speech is devalued or not permitted. Part of the Shaping the Debate series (6 titles), the volume's last page is devoted to debate prep, but the eye-catching book’s real strength is its insights into a fundamental American right.
— Ilene Cooper, Booklist, October 2019
