"Ella Minnow Pea" by Mark Dunn *****

• US author
• Originally published in 2001
• Review:  Oh My Gosh!  I had heard about this book several years ago and had it on my "Book Recc" list.  Now I certainly know why and it was worth the wait.  Readers can fully enjoy this at the level of a really clever story about a fictional island community who gradually decree a ban on letters of the alphabet.  The entire book consists of written communication between islanders.  It can also be appreciated for its humorous highlighting of the precious value of words as a means to connecting people to one another, and even as a means to human existence.  On the most profound level, the reader understands how horrifying it would be to live under a set of rules set by close minded, megalomaniacal leaders who refuse to listen to scientific facts.  Sounds a bit more relevant than expected?  Marvelous story and disturbingly vital message!