This year’s #alsc26 started strong with a delicious dinner and remarks from the amazing Angie Thomas, author of the frequently challenged title The Hate U Give. In conversation with ALSC president Ariana Hussain, Thomas discussed her notable Nic Blake and The Remarkables series, the current state of multicultural children’s books in the U.S., and her recent collaborations with other authors of books for tweens and teens.
Thomas began by sharing how her love of folk tales from a young age sparked her interest in writing the Nick Blake series. However, the story has a different beginning than most of her readers know. She originally wrote the titular character as the sidekick to a “little white boy.” Thomas shared that she wasn’t used to seeing Black main characters in fantasy novels, and wasn’t yet ready to break the status quo. However, the manuscript was rejected time and time again, which led her to write The Hate U Give as a “throwaway,” just to see what would happen. Now that she is a veteran author, she likes to ask herself, “How far can I push the envelope?” in highlighting Black youth through her work.
A common thread through the conversation was Rudine Sims Bishop’s theory of mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. Thomas stated, “My biggest fear is that these kids are going to go without stories.” She advocated, through her time on stage, that all kinds of kids should get all kinds of stories. While publishing trends may feel like we are being pulled back to a time when diversity is not as celebrated, Thomas believes that we are in a slingshot. One day we will be propelled forward to a time when books like The Hate U Give are fantasy. A time when a young Black boy can pick up a book about police brutality and be in shock that Black families used to have “the talk” with their Black children.
Although much of Hussain and Thomas’s conversation did center around thought-provoking topics such as censorship and book access, Thomas was sure to lighten the mood throughout. One of the more humorous points of the discussion was when Thomas shared what it was like to write with authors Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. She shared that it started with a text from Clayton that said, “We’re gunna be like the Black avengers.” Later, when taking audience questions, a conference attendee shared that she likes to think of the team as her own version of Mount Rushmore.
Hussain and Thomas were a wonderful way to kick off the weekend and to end my first night at #alsc26! I am looking forward to two full days of playing, learning, and connecting.
Annaliese Melvin (she/they) is a children’s librarian at a neighborhood library in Washington, D.C. Originally from Pennsylvania, she moved to the DC-area in 2020 to become a special education teacher after graduating with her bachelor’s from Arcadia University. In 2023, she graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a master’s degree in Library and Information Science and transitioned into the library field. Annaliese currently works to bring more inclusive programming to DC Public Libraries for children of all ages. She is passionate about equity, inclusion, reading, and Philadelphia sports.
The post Angie Thomas – “I’m Looking Forward To Getting Banned Again” appeared first on ALSC Blog.
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