VIDEO: Laurie Halse Anderson reacts to politicians calling her book ‘pornographic’

Screenshot of clip of Laurie Halse Anderson speaking at the announcement of the Penguin Random House lawsuit against SF 496

By Avery Staker

December 11, 2023

Republicans say book bans stop pornography. Watch Laurie Halse Anderson’s one-sentence reaction.

@iowastartingline Republicans say book bans stop pornography. Watch Laurie Halse Anderson’s one-sentence reaction. Read the full story at the link in our bio. #iowa #iowanews #lauriehalseanderson #bannedbooks #iowans #lawsuit #iowapolitics ♬ original sound – Iowa Starting Line

Anderson’s bestselling novel “Speak,” published in 1999, tells the story of a high school freshman named Melinda who was sexually assaulted the year prior to the book’s setting.

Republicans across the nation have put “Speak” and other books like it on book ban lists, categorizing them as “pornographic” and inappropriate.

Anderson recently joined as a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state of Iowa for such book bans sanctioned by Senate File 496. She joined alongside major US book publisher Penguin Random House, the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), an Iowa high school student, two Iowa middle school teachers, an Iowa K-12 librarian, and bestselling young adult authors John Green, Jodi Picoult, and Malinda Lo. This clip is from the announcement of that lawsuit.

Avery Staker

Avery Staker is Iowa Starting Line's Social Media Manager, which is their first position in a newsroom after graduating college. Their passion is visual storytelling; ultimately, they want to tap into the potential of photojournalism and documentary filmmaking in empowering their community. Right now, though, they have memes to make for the newsletter. Send story ideas and tips to them at [email protected].

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