A Would-Be Bestseller, If Not for Fear, Racism, & ICE

About this episode

Courtney and Jennifer discuss the challenges faced by sensitive literature with author Elisa Stone Leahy.

Listen in as Jennifer and Courtney sit down to talk with this book’s amazing and inspiring author, Elisa Stone Leahy. Topics range from silencing the loud minority (Moms for Liberty) 🤡, the importance of amplifying stories anonymously 📣, the dangers of quiet censorship 🤫, and the power of reading 📖. Why are bestsellers always about things like dogs 🐶 and dragons 🐉 ? Nothing against books about dogs or dragons…We love them! ❤️ But we have to wonder…Why do books that spotlight sensitive topics, (like a 7th grader juggling the science fair 🔭 , challenging relationships with friends 👯‍♀️ and family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, and looming deportation threats by ICE 🧊) more often find themselves on the “banned” list, and not the “bestseller” list? 📚 And no, it’s not because kids do not find these books relatable… “ Tethered to Other Stars” has the awards🏆 to prove that: * Garden State Book Award Nominee for Fiction (Grades 6-8) (2026) * CYBILS Award Nominee for Middle Grade Fiction (2023) Young readers (and their adults!) need books like “Tethered to Other Stars” now more than ever…If not to serve as mirrors 🪞 that support their own experiences, then as windows 🪟 to help build empathy ❤️…

People in this episode

Hosts: Courtney, Jennifer

Guest: Elisa Stone Leahy

Topics covered

• censorship
• literature
• diversity in books
• youth literature
• banned books
• author interview

Keywords

• bestsellers
• censorship
• youth literature
• Tethered to Other Stars
• Elisa Stone Leahy
• Moms for Liberty
• banned books

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Moms for Liberty, Garden State Book Award, CYBILS Award, milf4books

Books & works: Tethered to Other Stars

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