September 3, 2024
Dear Tillamook School Board Members,
We, the undersigned authors and illustrators, are writing to oppose the removal of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents from your district’s 10th-grade honors English curriculum. We urge you to protect the freedom to read for all people.
As authors and illustrators, our books are created with great care and intentionality, and we recognize the responsibility we have to our readers. We are deeply concerned for the families, librarians, and communities who suffer when the freedom to read is challenged and taken away.
A book may not be for every reader, but—as we know from the many letters we receive from our readers—a single book can matter deeply to an individual.
The book removal facing your community is part of a wave of backlash in response to hard-won gains made by authors whose voices have long been underrepresented in publishing. The banning efforts escalating across the nation particularly target BIPOC and LGBTQ+ stories; they seek to erase history and silence the voices that speak truthfully about essential human experiences. When books are removed or flagged as inappropriate, it sends the message that the people in them are somehow inappropriate. It is a dehumanizing form of erasure. Every reader deserves to see themselves and their families positively represented in the books in their libraries and institutions of higher learning. Studies show that diverse books build empathy and reduce prejudice, creating a more compassionate world for us all. As hate crimes spike across the U.S.,
we need these books now more than ever. Moreover, as today’s young people grapple with mental health challenges, these books can literally be a lifeline, encouraging readers to seek help from their families and communities.
For centuries, libraries have provided equal access to a wealth of knowledge and ideas for all members of their communities. When pro-censorship groups seek to overwhelm or manipulate these systems, seeking to advance their own political agendas or personal beliefs by censoring books, they create an atmosphere of fear and oppression and infringe on our most bedrock freedoms–freedom of ideas, of expression, of thought. The freedom to read is essential to ensuring our communities thrive.
We urge you to rely on the extensive expertise of librarians in your community for collection development and review. These highly trained public servants are dedicated to ensuring classrooms and libraries include a depth and breadth of ideas, information, and literature that will engage, inspire and entertain readers of all ages. What’s more, these skilled professionals have formal policies in place for addressing concerns with the materials available in the classroom and library.
Books have immense power to build compassion, overcome prejudice, and enrich lives—but they must stay on your shelves to do so. We call on the Tillamook School Board to retain the affected books so that they remain accessible to all.
Signed,
David Levithan
Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Samira Ahmed
Gayle Forman
Sarah MacLean
Alan Gratz
Joanna Ho
Brendan Kiely
A.C. Esguerra
Abdi Nazemian
Abi Cushman
Ace Tilton Ratcliff
Adam Gidwitz
Adam Rex
Adib Khorram
Adrianna Cuevas
Adrianne Harun
Aimee Lim
Aimee Lucido
Aimée M. Bissonette
Alechia Dow
Alethea Kontis
Alex Gino
Alex London
Alex Sanchez
Alex Schumacher
Ali Terese
Alicia D. Williams
Alicia J. Novo
Alison Cherry
Alonso Duralde
Alyson Gerber
Amie Kaufman
Amitha Jagannath Knight
Amy Fellner Dominy
Amy Ignatow
Amy Lukavics
Amy Noelle Parks
Amy Ratcliffe
Amy Rebecca Tan
Amy Spalding
Anastacia-Renee
Andi Diehn
Andrea Beatriz Arango
Andrea Davis Pinkney
Andrea Robertson
Andrea Wang
Andrew Maraniss
Andrew Simonet
Angela Burke Kunkel
Angela Dalton
Anica Mrose Rissi
Ann Angel
Ann E. Burg
Ann Keniston
Ann Rose
Ann Zhao
Anna E. Jordan
Anna Kang
Anne Ursu
Anne Wynter
Annette Bay Pimentel
Ansel Elkins
April Henry
Art Coulson
Asela Lee Kemper
Audrey Perrott
Audrey Vernick
Barbara Howe
Barry Lyga
Bethany Brookshire
Bethany Hegedus
Bharti Kirchner
Bianca Mabute-Louie
Booki Vivat
Breanna Carzoo
Brian Katcher
Brigit Young
Britt Hawthorne
Brittany Parry
Bruce Coville
C.C. Harrington
C.E. Thornton
Caela Carter
Carey Blankenship
Kramer
Carmen Oliver
Carol Cassella
Caroline Carlson
Caroline Kusin Pritchard
Caroline Leavitt
Caroline McAlister
Carrie Finison
Carrie Firestone
Casey Bell
Cat Winters
Cátia Chien
Cece Bell
Chamisa Kellogg
Charles de Lint
Charlie Jane Anders
Charlie Lovett
Charlotte Agell
Charlotte Sullivan Wild
Charly Palmer
Cheryl Blackford
Cheryl Rainfield
Chris Barton
Christina Cooke
Christina Lauren
Christina Soontornvat
Christine Evans
Christopher Coake
Christopher Healy
Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger
Claire A. Noland
Claire Dederer
Claire Legrand
Clara Ward
Clare Hodgson Meeker
Clay Carmichael
Cliff Burke
Clothilde Ewing
Colleen AF Venable
Colleen Paeff
Cordelia Jensen
Cory Putman Oakes
Crystal Hana Kim
Crystal Maldonado
Curtis C. Chen
Cynthia Harmony
Cynthia Levinson
Dahlia Adler
Dan Gemeinhart
Dan Richards
Eliot Schrefer
Dana Alison Levy
Dana J. Sullivan
Daniel Handler (aka
Lemony Snicket)
Danielle Davis
Danielle Joseph
Danielle Pieratti
Darcey Rosenblatt
Darcey Steinke
Darlene Beck Jacobson
Dashka Slater
David Arnold
David B. Williams
David DeGrand
David Laskin
David Lasky
David Serlin
David Shannon
Debbi Michiko Florence
Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Debbie Vilardi
Deborah Bruss
Deborah Freedman
Deborah Heiligman
Deke Moulton
Derek Milman
Destiny Soria
Deva Fagan
Devon Holzwarth
Diana López
Diana Ma
Diane Telgen
Dianne White
Dominique Dickey
Don Martin
Donalyn Miller
Donna Barba Higuera
Donna Gephart
Dori H. Butler
Dorothy H. Price
Dow Phumiruk
Ebony Lynn Mudd
Edward Underhill
EF Dodd
Eileen Heyes
Elana K. Arnold
Elizabeth Eulberg
Elizabeth Kilcoyne
Elizabeth Winthrop
Ella Schwartz
Ellen Hopkins
Ellen Miles
Ellen Oh
Emeline Lee
Emilee Moore
Emily Barth Isler
Emily Deibert
Emily Dove Barton
Emma Reynolds
Emma Straub
Erica Bauermeister
Erica Ivy Rodgers
Erica S. Perl
Erin Dionne
Erin Thomas
Evan Griffith
Federico Erebia
Fin Leary
Fiona Cook
Fleur Bradley
Frances McCue
Gabi Snyder
Gabriella Gamez
Gareth Hinds
Gayleen Rabakukk
Gemma Hartley
Gennifer Choldenko
Ginger Park
Gordon Jack
Gordon Korman
Greg Howard
H.M. Bouwman
Helene Dunbar
Hilary Reyy
Holly Green
Holly Schindler
Isabella Kung
J. Anderson Coats
J.S. Park
Jacky Davis Soman
Jacob Grant
Jacqueline Davies
Jacqueline K. Ogburn
Jacqueline West
Jae Steinbacher
James Ponti
Jamie Ford
Jamie Jo Hoang
Jamilah Thompkins
Bigelow
Janae Marks
Jane Kuo
Janet Fox
Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Jarrett Lerner
Jaymie Heilman
Jen Breach
Jen Wilde
Jenn Bishop
Jenna Grodzicki
Jennie Shortridge
Jennifer A. Nielsen`
Jennifer Castle
Jennifer Chambliss
Bertman
Jennifer Chen
Jennifer E. Smith
Jennifer Gennari
Jennifer Haupt
Jennifer L. Gadd
Jennifer Nissley
Jennifer Torres
Jess Townes
Jesse White
Jessica Day George
Jessica Khoury
Jessica Spotswood
Jessica Yoon
Jilly Gagnon
Jo Brenner
Jo Knowles
Jo Whittemore
Joanne Mallari
Joanne Rossmassler Fritz
Jocelyn Rish
Jodi Picoult
Joe Ponepinto
John Claude Bemis
John Coy
John Odell
Jonathan Conyers
Jonathan Hill
Jordan Sonnenblick
Josephine Cameron
Josh Funk
Joy McCullough
Joyce Sidman
Judi Moreillon
Judy Schachner
Julia DeVillers
Julia Kuo
Julia Lyon
Julia Walton
Julian Winters
Julie Buxbaum
Julie C. Dao
Juliet Diaz
Julissa Natzely Arce Raya
Justin Weinberger
K A Tate
K. Marcus
K.M. Walton
KA Holt
Karen Chow
Karen Finneyfrock
Karen Krossing
Karen M. McManus
Karen S. Chow
Kari Lavelle
Karina Yan Glaser
Karl Marlantes
Kasey LeBlanc
Kat Yeh
Kate J. Armstrong
Kate Messner
Kate Spencer
Katherine Applegate
Katherine Locke
Katherine Malmo
Katherine Marsh
Kathleen Alcalá
Katrin van Dam
Katrina Tangen
Katryn Bury
Katryn Bury
Kealani Netane
Keely Parrack
Keezy Young
Kekla Magoon
Kelly deVos
Kelly Farmer
Kelly Jones
Kelsey E. Gross
Kevin Cordi
Kevin O’Brien
Khushboo Patel
Kiersten White
Kim Hyun Sook
Kim Murphy
KIM TOMSIC
Kimberly Harrington
Kip Wilson
Kirby Larson
KR Alexander
Kristin Harmel
Kristin O’Donnell Tubb
Kristy Acevedo
L. E. Carmichael, PhD
Lala Watkins
Lance Rubin
Lara Starr
Laura Bontje
Laura Gao
Laura Renauld
Laura Ruby
Laura Ruby
Laura Shovan
Laura van den Berg
Lauren Parker
Lauren Semmer
Lauren Thoman
Lauren Yero
Laurie Calkhoven
Laurie Calkhoven
Lee Mandelo
Lee Reed
Leila Sales
Lesléa Newman
Lesley Younge
LeUyen Pham
Lev Grossman
Lev Rosen
Lewis Buzbee
Libba Bray
Lily
Lily LaMotte
Lin Thompson
Linda Sue Park
Lindsay H. Metcalf
Lindsay Leslie
Lindsey Lane
Lindsey Lane
Linsey Miller
Lisa Brown
Lisa Frenkel Riddiough
Lisa Jenn Bigelow
Lisa McMann
Lisa Moore Ramee
Lish McBride
Livia Blackburne
Liz Garton Scanlon
Liz Kelly, LICSW
Loree Griffin Burns
Lucas Klauss
Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Lynne Kelly
M. K. England
M. Kate Allen
M. T. Khan
M.C. Ross
Mae Respicio
Maia Kobabe
Mallory O’Meara
Marc Tyler Nobleman
Marcy Campbell
Margaret Chiu Greanias
Margret Aldrich
Maria Padian
Marie Myung-Ok Lee
Marie Rutkoski
MariNaomi
Marissa Moss
Markelle Grabo
Marpheen Chann
Martha Freeman
Martha Waters
Marty Kelley
Matt Forbeck
Matt McMann
Matt Phelan
Maureen Johnson
Max Brallier
Maya Prasad
Meenal Patel
Meg Medina
Megan Abbott
Megan Benedict
Megan Chance
Megan Frazer Blakemore
Melanie Conklin
Melanie Ellsworth
Mia P. Manansala
Michael Genhart
Michael Leali
Michelle Cronin
Michelle Cusolito
Michelle Jing Chan
Michelle Jing Chan
Michelle MiJung Kim
Michelle Schusterman
Mikaila Mariel Lemonik
Arthur
Mike Curato
Mike Jung
Mindy McGinnis
Nadia Salomon
Nadine Presley
Nanci Turner Steveson
Nancy Ohlin
Nancy Tandon
Naomi Danis
Naomi Kritzer
Naseem Jamnia
Natalie C. Parker
Natalie Standiford
Nichole J Charbonneau
Nicole Chen
Nicole D. Collier
Nidhi Chanani
Niki Smith
Nikki Grimes
Nina Crews
Nino Cipri
Nita Creekmore
Padma Venkatraman
Pam Munoz Ryan
Pamela S. Turner
Patricia Hruby Powell
Patricia Newman
Paul Acampora
Paula Robison
Peter Lerangis
Phil Bildner
Phoebe Fox
PK Morrison
R.O. Kwon
Rachel Cohn
Rachel DeWoskin
Rachel E. Polllock
Rachel Louise Snyder
Rachel Michelle Wilson
Rajani LaRocca
Randee Dawn
Randy Ribay
Rebecca Coffindaffer
Rebecca L. Jensen
Rebecca Petruck
Rebecca Stead
Rex Ogle
Rian N. Jenkins
Rie Neal
Rob Costello
Rob Renzetti
Robert Liu-Trujillo
Roberto German
Roberto German
Robin Newman
Robin Stevenson
Ronni Davis
Rose Brock
Ryan Estrada
Sal Sawler
Sally Sultzman
Samantha Puc
Sandra Proudman
Sara F. Shacter
Sarah Adler
Sarah Albee
Sarah Darer Littman
Sarah Dessen
Sarah Gailey
Sarah Mlynowski
Sarah Ruiz-Grossman
Sarah Sax
Sarah Weinman
Sarah Zachrich Jeng
Saundra Mitchell
Sean Beaudoin
Seina Wedlick
Seina Wedlick
Sergio Troncoso
Shana Youngdahl
Shari Green
Shauna Robinson
Shawn K. Stout
Shelby Van Pelt
Shelly Brown
Shirley Ng-Benitez
Simon Han
Sonja Thomas
Stan Yan
Steph Littlebird
Stephanie Perkins
Stephanie V.W.
Lucianovic
Stephen Shaskan
Steve Watkins
Stuart Gibbs
Sunmi
Supriya Kelkar
Susan Johnston Taylor
Susan Tan
Suzanne Williams
Sydney Dunlap
Sylvia Chen
Tamara Ellis Smith
Tameka Fryer Brown
Tammi J. Truax
Tanja Bauerle
Tanya Boteju
Tanya Konerman
Tara Dairman
Tara Sim
Tasslyn Magnusson
Taylor Brorby
Tiana Smith
Tiffany Jewell
Torrey Maldonado
Tracey Baptiste
Tracey West
Traci Huahn
Traci Sorell
Trisha Moquino
Tupelo Hassman
Ty Chapman
Tyler King
Ursula Vernon
V Park (VP) Anderson
Van Hoang
Veronica Bartles
Vicki Johnson
Vicky Fang
Wade Hudson
Wendy W. Shang
William Alexander
Yvonne Ventresca
Zachary Braman
Zetta Elliott
Zoraida Cordova
Suzanne Brockmann
Alexandra Villasante
Z Brewer
Caryn Rivadeneira
M. C. Benner Dixon
Robin Talley
