In late April, CNN aired this piece with Oregon author Melissa Hart about inclusive books and book banning. This week, a lawsuit filed against Barnes & Noble in Virginia Beach, VA made concerns about access to books, freedom to read, and free expression feel even more urgent.
Melissa Hart is the author of the middle grade novels Daisy Woodworm Changes the World [available to preorder now] and Avenging the Owl, as well as Better with Books: 500 Diverse Books to Ignite Empathy and Encourage Self-Acceptance in Tweens and Teens and the forthcoming Media Adventurer’s Handbook: Decoding Persuasion in Everyday News, Ads, and More. She lives in Oregon.