PEN Pals
PEN America’s Children’s and Young Adult Books Committee (CYAB), a Members’ coalition of award-winning writers and illustrators and dedicated readers who meet monthly, is responding to recent efforts to ban books and intimidate teachers and librarians with “PEN Pals.” This series of interviews gives voice to the challenged creators of books for children and young adults through a nuanced exchange that illuminates today’s issues. We welcome you to read and discuss the content with your networks. We also encourage you to join PEN America and support free expression.
—Fatima Shaik, Former Co-Chair, CYAB Committee
2022 Interviews
PEN Pals: Fatima Shaik Interviews Cheryl Willis Hudson
"We have unique histories, songs, stories, and languages but far too many people refer to us in biased and inaccurate ways." More
PEN Pals: Margarita Engle Interviews Debbie Reese
"We have unique histories, songs, stories, and languages but far too many people refer to us in biased and inaccurate ways." More
PEN Pals: Margarita Engle and Padma Venkatraman Use Words as Bridges
“I knew that poetry could help me feel empathy and compassion as well as joy. I hoped that would be true for young readers and writers too.” More
PEN Pals: Eliot Schrefer and Padma Venkatraman on When Others Take Up the Torch
“I knew I couldn’t contribute to the cultural life of an institution that actively discriminates against its students—that didn’t want people like me to exist.” More
2021 Interviews
PEN Pals: Stacey Lee and Padma Venkatraman Discuss Books Breaking Stereotypes
“The more books representing our diverse cultures we have on our shelves, the more we can break stereotypes, and the more we can learn about our similarities as humans.” More
PEN Pals: Ashley Hope Pérez and Padma Venkatraman on What Book Bans Are Really About
"I think books like Out of Darkness offer a historical perspective on our current moment, which is still very much affected by racism." More
PEN Pals: Fatima Shaik Interviews Susan Kuklin About LGBTQ+ Books and How They Save Lives
“The library is supposed to be an inclusive institution, conceived for all, not some or a few.” More
PEN Pals: Nikki Grimes and Padma Venkatraman Discuss Challenged Books
“I created my [Dyamonde Daniel book] series so that emerging Black readers would see themselves represented in that genre.” More
Older Interviews and Conversations
Conversation: Anthea Bell & Doris Orgel
April 7 Dear Anthea, much admired fellow translator,Given your vast output, I’ve fantasized that there must be at least a dozen of you, all busily working on many varied, often… More
PENPals: A Correspondence with Markus Zusak & Susan Campbell Bartoletti
For me, a book doesn't belong to me; it belongs to the readers. In the case of Hitler Youth, the book belongs to those people who allowed me into… More