Thread by @girlinthelens

One of the most infuriating things when you write a YA book that deals with sexual abuse and abusive relationships is parents telling you this is inappropriate content for teens. YES I agree it's not for all teens, and these parents are fully entitled to their opinion. HOWEVER

Shielding young people from abuse and violence in books doesn't stop them from coming across it in real life. Whether through direct experience, seeing it happen or hearing about it through friends etc. These things DO happen to young people. They DO talk and hear about it.

I'd much rather they have access to books that deal (respectfully and sensitively) with these topics. You never know when a teen is going to need it. As I've said before, I wrote GIRLS because it's the book I needed when I was growing up. I was a teen, and I was sexually abused.

I didn't read books with rape or abusive relationships in them. Or I did, but they weren't discussions but rather male-fantasy-style rape scenes in adult books written by white cis guys or hetero abusive relationships in YA books that were presented as love stories.

Add to this the way these subjects are portrayed in other media/talked about in the school playground, and my narrative and understanding around what was happening to me was totally warped.

I needed books that discussed these issues in a kind, survivor-centered manner.

Books that showed me what it was to go through these things, and still be strong. Still be loved, and worthy of respect.

We allow so much violence in our YA books, but get uncomfortable when it comes to sexual violence. And yet which are young people more likely to come across?

GIRLS has trigger warnings. It's not for all readers, young or old. But I'll keep fighting for it's importance on bookshelves. I can't protect young people from all the evils in this world, but I will keep writing them stories that show how we can face these evils, and survive.