The Reading Culture You Are Flawed, You Are Messy, You Are Loved: Shannon Hale on Hope and Heroines
Flaws. We do everything to hide them away and pretend they don’t exist. But what if these flaws that we try so desperately to mask are exactly what we need to access our power, our story? How does one tap into it? How does one express the very things they have tried so hard to hide? For Shannon Hale, it was writing. By picking up the pen, she found her voice, purpose, and true, messy, loveable self.
As Shannon puts it, “If my gravestone simply said ‘Author of The Princess in Black,’ I would be happy.” Caregivers for young kids likely know Shannon and her husband Dean Hale as the authors of the beloved, bestselling “Princess in Black” series featuring a princess with a secret superhero identity. The books have turned countless kids into avid readers, and Shannon has an endless list of anecdotes to show it. But her career spans far beyond the series. Shannon is an acclaimed author celebrated for her children's and young adult novels, such as the Newbery Honor-winning "Princess Academy" and her memoir graphic novel “Real Friends” series.
In this episode, Shannon will tell us about growing up in a deeply conservative culture, and how writing unearthed her true voice from where it had been simmering beneath the surface. We discuss everything from anxiety to the family cat to boys’ relationship with the color pink. Oh, and we have a special visitor, Shannon’s husband and co-creator, Dean Hale, to discuss their combined writing journeys!
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Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter.
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Taking inspiration from her beloved series “The Princess in Black,” Shannon's reading challenge is Favorite Early Chapter Books. For this, she has created a list of thoughtful and engaging early chapter books for new and emerging readers. Download the list at thereadingculturepod.com/shannon-hale
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This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Ady Huerta, the Program Manager of Youth, Family, & Equity Services at San Diego Public Library who serves on the presidential advisory committee for incoming president Cindy Holt. She tells us what to expect for the upcoming ALA Conference.
Contents
Chapter 1 - ‘Squeetus’ the Highly Sensitive
Chapter 2 - A Loophole to the Inner Voice
Chapter 3 - Anne of Green Gables
Chapter 4 - The Family in Black
Chapter 5 - Boys Like Pink Too
Chapter 6 - The Key to Friendship
Chapter 7 - Reading Challenge
Chapter 8 - Beanstack Featured Librarian
Links
- The Reading Culture
- The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup
- Shannon Hale Website
- Follow Shannon on Instagram
- Anne of Green Gables
- Follow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)
- Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture
- Jordan Lloyd Bookey
Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey
Producers: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media
Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey