Lauren Myracle on Banned Books…and Scars is mentioned!

Lauren Myracle, author of SHINE, ttfn, and many more popular YA books, talks beautifully and honestly in this article about her books being banned and challenged, the horrible criticisms she’s received, the blizzard of fan mail she gets (a hundred emails a day!!), the awful mix-up with Shine and Chime with the National Book Awards…and SCARS is mentioned! The interviewer says at one point:

“Wall Street Journal writer Meghan Cox Gurdon said last year that teen literature has become too dark and depraved—too much rape, incest, violence. One of the books she cited, Scars, is about a girl who cuts herself. What’s your take?”

and Lauren Myracle says:

“I think she looked at a very small sampling of books. I think she herself was sensationalizing. For a girl who is cutting herself, to be able to read something like that and think, “I’m not alone,” what bigger gift can you give someone?”

Thank you so much, Lauren! (beaming)

I love how honest Lauren is in her interview, and how down-to-earth. Check it out.

April 13th, 2012