The PEN Ten: An Interview with Deena Mohamed
To me, the function of speculative fiction and magical realism, the joy of inserting fantasy in mundane urban reality, is to consider the implications of how it might function… More
Flying Kites
In this special edition Illustrated PEN, we are thrilled to present an excerpt of Flying Kites, a collaboration by the Stanford Graphic Novel Project. More
Off Season
In this week’s Illustrated PEN Guest Editor Meg Lemke presents Off Season (Drawn & Quarterly, 2019) by artist James Sturm. More
Blame This on the Boogie
Despite the demands put on her from family, school, and work throughout, she carves out a space for her love of dance, cultivates it, and invites others in. More
Lissa: A Story About Medical Promise, Friendship, and Revolution
Family is important! And people like her are breaking up our families! Her father comes here and takes all of our oil, and I have to go to the… More
In Pieces: Someplace Which I Call Home
My son is almost four. We adore him. Of course, at the moment, his life is fairly simple. But the emotional & ethical road before him is a rough… More
Taking Turns: Stories from HIV/AIDS Care Unit 371
When it became clear that Stephen was taking his last breaths, his friends and family gathered close, and like a chorus, sent him on his way. Thank you, Stephen!... More
Tenements, Towers & Trash
The exact history of the egg cream is of some debate, but the most popular claim is that it was created in the 1890s by Louis Auster… More
Incognegro
In the early 20th century White went undercover, posing as a white man in the deep south to investigate lynchings. More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
Read our story on the DeSantis book bans ⬇️ https://twitter.com/penamerica/status/1621508379586985985
🧵4/8: This week @BKLYNlibrary & @PENamerica @jonfreadom launched the 1st session in our 4-week Freedom to Read Advocacy Institute. What struck me most in that workshop session was the craving our teen participants had for community, for connection. https://tinyurl.com/yy5ek3s5
I’m so grateful 🙏🏾💙 https://twitter.com/milescollege/status/1621903717502013442