Hi all

It’s been a minute since I have posted on here. I feel like I say that every time but this has been a rough summer and fall (see previous post) and my grief has been in the drivers seat for a lot of it. I’m going to attempt to write here more regularly but no promises. I’m sure the next post will start off the same. I’m also saving all my writing energy for Broken Doll book, my next middle grade horror.

Yesterday I found out that This Appearing House has been challenged by a parent in the Keller, Texas school district.

I know that a lot of people’s knee jerk reaction to something is “yes! You got to them. You’re doing something right!” and I get that. But the truth is when it comes to children’s books it is really the opposite. With no income or access, children are reliant on adults to give them books. And it is through story-telling, which contains mirrors (so kids see themselves) and windows (so kids see other lives) that kids build empathy – and this is especially true for middle grade books.

The recent slate of bans shows that book bans are up by 33% this year with Texas ban a total of 625 books. The vast majority of these books are diverse books – including BIPOC and queer characters. And when kids don’t see themselves in books it’s bad. Representation matters. In addition, denying kids access to books restricts ideas. At middle grade level we should be encouraging kids to read, to question and explore. To learn new things. Book banning has the opposite effect. It only restricts.

According to the complaint my book was challenged, which if it does not pass review, it can be banned for up to ten years. If it does pass review all it takes is another challenge to restart the process. The reasoning is because my book discusses death.

A thing that will happen to all of us. A thing many children have already experience through losing loved ones. One of the central themes of This Appearing House is that though life can be challenging, living is worth it. That everyone is going to get one life. It is a story that I infused with hope. And it is a story that I hoped would allow kids to explore their feelings and their grief.

I wrote This Appearing House for the kids how have experienced trauma. (Not necessarily cancer, because what Jac is experiencing in the book is the ripple effect of not dealing with her feelings about what happened). We have created a world so full of hate and fear and violence and carelessness that most kids have experienced trauma. The pandemic was traumatic. They have lock down drills. Kids get abused. Books that talk about hard things are necessary and important. And if we stop having those conversations with our kids, how are they ever going to navigate this difficult world?

We’re hurting them.

There are ways to stop book bans. Stand up for your librarians. Start read-ins. Pressure local officials to get on the record against book bans. Make sure the people who are doing this know that you are coming for them. Talk about the books you love. Donate copies. Encourage open mindedness and love.

Because our kids deserve it.

Peace, love, and starbursts,

Ally