Building 903
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2026

Building 903

Written by Lois Lowry

In a comfortable society ruled by a tyrant, a girl hunts for her vanished twin and finds forbidden books.

3.6 Goodreads · 1,053 ratings
240 pages· ~700L· AR ~4.5
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Bookroo's summary

Twins Tessa and Theo live in a safe, comfortable world ruled by a tyrannical leader, where no one talks about danger. When Theo disappears, nobody will discuss it, until an elderly neighbor slips Tessa a key to his disappearance and to the source of all real magic: books. A story about censorship, complicity and the power of imagination.

From the publisher

In the tradition of her bestselling, award-winning phenomenon, The Giver, Lois Lowry delivers a story about censorship, comfort, complicity, and the radical power of books to open portals and unlock our humanity through our most powerful tool: the imagination.Twins Tessa and Theo live in a world ruled by a tyrannical leader, where there are no dangers or rebels… or so they’ve been told. In this world, citizens live long lives, and while many hate their leader, they are comfortable and safe. So, when Tessa’s brother disappears, nobody wants to discuss it. But then Miriam, their 135-year-old neighbor bound for the retirement community, slips Tessa a key–not only to her brother’s disappearance, but to the source of all real magic . . . books. As Tessa and her parents begin their search for Theo, Tessa learns that books not only tell us stories–they open portals and unlock our humanity through our most powerful tool: the imagination. Once that truth has been revealed, Tessa won’t be able to rest until she has retrieved her twin and society itself has been transformed.Two-time Newbery-winner Lois Lowry has crafted a narrative that feels at once prescient and eternal: in this world, the imagination is the revolution. Not only does Building 903 sit in the same resonant space as The Giver Quartet, but it is also a profound addition to Lois’s enduring body of work–and a testament to the strength and value of her voice, vision, and legacy.

At a glance
Format
Hardcover
Pages
240
Reading age
8–12
Audience
Middle Grade
Lexile
~700L
AR book level
~4.5
The author

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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
F&P level
~Q
Publication
Published
September 29, 2026
Publisher
Clarion Books
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780063515109

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