A.S. King has been called “one of the best Y.A. writers working today” by The New York Times Book Review and is among the most decorated voices in YA fiction. She is the only two-time winner of the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award (2020 for Dig and 2024 for The Collectors) and has won the LA Times Book Prize for Ask the Passengers. In 2022, King received the ALA's Margaret A. Edwards Award for her lifetime achievement in YA literature, and in 2023, she accepted the ALAN Award for "artistry, courage, and outstanding contributions to YA literature." Her 2024 novel, Pick the Lock, has been described as "a punk opera, a primal scream, and a portrait of a family buried in lies."
In this interview, King discusses the role of surrealism in her work, explaining how it serves not as an escape but as a way to expose deeper truths, validate trauma, and reflect the disorienting nature of real-life struggles. She speaks candidly about the power of literature to help young people make sense of a world that often fails to acknowledge their challenges. A fierce advocate for intellectual freedom, she recounts her firsthand experience with censorship—an issue that inspired Attack of the Black Rectangles—and emphasizes the urgent need to protect access to books that tell the truth, even when it makes adults uncomfortable.
Beyond her fiction, King is committed to supporting young readers in every aspect of their lives. She writes middle-grade fiction as Amy Sarig King, including the bestselling Attack of the Black Rectangles, which Kirkus Reviews called "a searingly relevant opus to intellectual freedom," as well as The Year We Fell from Space and Me and Marvin Gardens. She has spent over a decade teaching in MFA programs and is the founder of Gracie's House, a charity that funds safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in rural areas. Through her global speaking engagements, she continues to champion the right to read, the importance of mental health awareness, and the power of storytelling to challenge, heal, and transform.
A.S. King: https://www.as-king.com/
Gracie's House: https://gracieshouse.com/
TIMESTAMP:
00:01 - Introduction - A.S. King: Defiantly Creative & Fearlessly Honest
00:33 - Literary Impact - Breaking Boundaries in YA Fiction
01:08 - Childhood Inspiration - The Book That Made A.S. King a Writer
03:14 - Surrealism in Writing - A Mirror to Real Life & Trauma
05:25 - The Role of Surrealism - Capturing the Shock of Trauma
06:56 - What is Surrealism - A.S. King Defines Her Writing Process
08:29 - Censorship & Book Bans - Why Intellectual Freedom Matters
10:45 - Real-Life Censorship - The Story Behind Attack of the Black Rectangles
11:43 - Representation in Literature - Seeing Yourself in Stories
14:04 - The Power of Books - Understanding Trauma & Empathy
15:27 - Balancing Dark Themes with Hope - Writing for Young Readers
18:04 - The Truth in Storytelling - Honesty, Hope, and Human Nature
19:04 - Closing Remarks - A.S. King's Fearless Storytelling & Legacy
📚 • • •
If A.S. King’s fearless blend of surreal truth-telling, mental health, and anti-censorship lit a spark, we’d love to hear from you in the comments
Tell us
• Which A.S. King book first made you feel seen
• A moment when a “weird” or surreal scene helped you process real-life trauma
• Where you draw the line on boundaries: what did a book teach you about saying no
Your truth matters
Your boundaries matter
Your story belongs here
Share your experience in the comments below
****************************************************************
Hi, I'm Christopher Lau, the founder of Unban Coolies. In an era of growing book bans and declining reading engagement, a national literacy crisis is becoming impossible to ignore.
What began as a fight against censorship has grown into a mission to tackle this challenge head-on. Unban Coolies is a nonpartisan platform that respects diverse viewpoints. We believe in inclusivity for people of all backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs and we champion the diverse voices that create a rich literary landscape.
To that end, I create these author interviews as a ready-to-use resource for educators to share with their class, especially in schools that can't afford in-person author visits.
As a product of NYC public schools, I never had an author visit or a certified librarian to help me find a book that sparked joy. My goal is to bring the excitement of meeting an author directly to students, hoping to ignite that same passion for reading.
CONNECT-
✅ VISIT MY WEBSITE: http://www.unbanCoolies.org
✅ VISIT MY YOUTUBE: / @unbancoolies
✅ FOLLOW ON IG: https://instagram.com/unban_coolies?i...
☕ SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: buymeacoffee.com/unbancoolies
📧 SEND ME AN EMAIL: [email protected]
📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with these rockstar authors!
#printzauthor #asking#dig #authorinterviews
Информация по комментариям в разработке