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During @JMCwrites's fabulous @ThirdPlaceBooks launch event last night, @ElanaKArnold spoke about books being an important & safe place for readers to practice consent, in the sense of being able to put a story down if it makes them uncomfortable...
This felt esp timely, as I host a MG book club and we recently ran into an upper MG story that some members were uncomfortable finishing. We pivoted our conversation & talked abt the fact that it’s okay to put a story aside sometimes...
I wish I had had Elana’s eloquent words at the time, but sharing a quote here from a previous @PublishersWkly interview: “If a young person comes across my books and feels overwhelmed…and chooses to close the book and walk away, that’s a total win…
“That’s what I want for young people, for them to recognize when they’re not comfortable and to leave that situation. No one is holding their eyes open and forcing them to read; it’s a place to be uncomfortable and to say no."
As an author, it may seem odd to embrace the idea of readers *not* reading your book, but there’s something powerful and empowering about this too...
Meanwhile, other readers will actively seek out/need these same books bc they're judgement-free places to explore issues & emotions that may feel too awkward/painful/etc to discuss in person. And that’s wonderful & important too!
