Dashka Slater
@dashkaslater.bsky.social
NYT-bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. Pro: curiosity, compassion, complexity. Anti: hot takes, easy answers, rushes to judgment, leaf blowers. She/Her. Use link to contact.
linktr.ee/DashkaSlater
linktr.ee/DashkaSlater
Interested in contributing one line to a poem for teenagers despondent about the future?
Details on the prompt—and the reasons for it—are in this week’s newsletter. You can leave your line in the comments here or there.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/the-hard-t...
Details on the prompt—and the reasons for it—are in this week’s newsletter. You can leave your line in the comments here or there.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/the-hard-t...
The Hard Times Are Easier Now
A dispatch from some American high schools. Plus: a writing prompt.
dashkaslater.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Interested in contributing one line to a poem for teenagers despondent about the future?
Details on the prompt—and the reasons for it—are in this week’s newsletter. You can leave your line in the comments here or there.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/the-hard-t...
Details on the prompt—and the reasons for it—are in this week’s newsletter. You can leave your line in the comments here or there.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/the-hard-t...
Terrific reporting and analysis here.
my latest: i spent weeks investigating how frustrations about data centers were about to swallow american politics…
…and then the 2025 election happened, proving the electoral impacts are already here.
read and share my deep dive on the bipartisan AI techlash shaping our elections before our eyes!
…and then the 2025 election happened, proving the electoral impacts are already here.
read and share my deep dive on the bipartisan AI techlash shaping our elections before our eyes!
The Data Center Backlash Is Swallowing American Politics
Activists on both the left and the right are pushing back against rampant AI development.
heatmap.news
November 7, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Terrific reporting and analysis here.
Russian-American author-illustrator Eugene Yelchin is one of the most interesting & innovative authors working today. He spoke to me about his gripping new graphic memoir, the challenge of making art under autocracy, the mission of writers for young people, & much more in this week’s Sigh of Relief.
I Wish I Didn't Have To Tell You This
Talking About Art & Truth with Author-Illustrator Eugene Yelchin
open.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Russian-American author-illustrator Eugene Yelchin is one of the most interesting & innovative authors working today. He spoke to me about his gripping new graphic memoir, the challenge of making art under autocracy, the mission of writers for young people, & much more in this week’s Sigh of Relief.
Exciting News! My next nonfiction narrative will be for middle graders!
Wild Season is an inspiring true story about nature, childhood, animals, community, and the power of taking action.
Wild Season is an inspiring true story about nature, childhood, animals, community, and the power of taking action.
October 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Exciting News! My next nonfiction narrative will be for middle graders!
Wild Season is an inspiring true story about nature, childhood, animals, community, and the power of taking action.
Wild Season is an inspiring true story about nature, childhood, animals, community, and the power of taking action.
In these truth-challenged times, Yoav Potash’s film, Among Neighbors, about the secrets hidden inside one Polish town is all-too-relevant. Read my interview with him in this week's Sigh of Relief.
open.substack.com/pub/dashkasl...
open.substack.com/pub/dashkasl...
October 21, 2025 at 7:06 PM
In these truth-challenged times, Yoav Potash’s film, Among Neighbors, about the secrets hidden inside one Polish town is all-too-relevant. Read my interview with him in this week's Sigh of Relief.
open.substack.com/pub/dashkasl...
open.substack.com/pub/dashkasl...
My mom reports that 13 octo- and nonogenarians from her senior living community attended today’s No Kings protest.
Five used walkers.
Four were attending a protest for the first time in their long lives.
As you can imagine, I was badly shaken to learn that my mother had joined Antifa.
Five used walkers.
Four were attending a protest for the first time in their long lives.
As you can imagine, I was badly shaken to learn that my mother had joined Antifa.
October 19, 2025 at 12:01 AM
My mom reports that 13 octo- and nonogenarians from her senior living community attended today’s No Kings protest.
Five used walkers.
Four were attending a protest for the first time in their long lives.
As you can imagine, I was badly shaken to learn that my mother had joined Antifa.
Five used walkers.
Four were attending a protest for the first time in their long lives.
As you can imagine, I was badly shaken to learn that my mother had joined Antifa.
Many incarcerated people use their time inside to learn, to study, and to expand their world through books. Others use books simply to survive the cruelty, isolation, and tedium of incarceration. In both cases, books are both a lifeline and a doorway.
Give Prison Banned Books Week as much attention next week as Banned Book Week.
Reading and resources for Prison Banned Books week, which runs all week next week.
That, plus this week's lengthy book censorship news roundup: bookriot.com/reading-and-...
That, plus this week's lengthy book censorship news roundup: bookriot.com/reading-and-...
October 18, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Many incarcerated people use their time inside to learn, to study, and to expand their world through books. Others use books simply to survive the cruelty, isolation, and tedium of incarceration. In both cases, books are both a lifeline and a doorway.
This is what solidarity looks like. University presidents and trustees, take note.
Here's an issue from the Purdue Univ. student paper, The Exponent, dealing with the IU censorship of their student paper. Purdue put it in IU news boxes. (Purdue & IU are normally huge sports rivals.)
Download link: www.purdueexponent.org/frontpdf/lat...
Download link: www.purdueexponent.org/frontpdf/lat...
October 18, 2025 at 11:18 PM
This is what solidarity looks like. University presidents and trustees, take note.
The CDC Library plays an important role in providing our public health professionals with access to the best information.
Without them, CDC employees will lose access to information and resources in an outbreak.
bit.ly/4qaDIMi via @everylibrary.bsky.social
Without them, CDC employees will lose access to information and resources in an outbreak.
bit.ly/4qaDIMi via @everylibrary.bsky.social
PETITION: Protect the Center for Disease Control Library
Staff at the CDC Library were laid off on October 10th and have not been brought back. Sign the petition to call for their return.
bit.ly
October 15, 2025 at 2:41 AM
The CDC Library plays an important role in providing our public health professionals with access to the best information.
Without them, CDC employees will lose access to information and resources in an outbreak.
bit.ly/4qaDIMi via @everylibrary.bsky.social
Without them, CDC employees will lose access to information and resources in an outbreak.
bit.ly/4qaDIMi via @everylibrary.bsky.social
The good news is that some banned books were returned to classrooms in the Leander ISD in Texas last week. The bad news is that four titles were not: The 57 Bus, Stamped, Melissa, and Gracefully Grayson.
www.kvue.com/article/news...
www.kvue.com/article/news...
Leander ISD returns dozens of books to classrooms after review of compliance with new state law
The district said it reinstated 36 of the 40 books it pulled from classrooms with "revisions to curriculum materials."
www.kvue.com
October 13, 2025 at 6:35 PM
The good news is that some banned books were returned to classrooms in the Leander ISD in Texas last week. The bad news is that four titles were not: The 57 Bus, Stamped, Melissa, and Gracefully Grayson.
www.kvue.com/article/news...
www.kvue.com/article/news...
If you polled female athletes about the obstacles they face on a daily basis, trans teammates or opponents wouldn’t even make the list. I write about the real issues in women’s sports in this week’s Sigh of Relief.
open.substack.com/pub/dashkasl...
open.substack.com/pub/dashkasl...
October 13, 2025 at 3:24 PM
If you polled female athletes about the obstacles they face on a daily basis, trans teammates or opponents wouldn’t even make the list. I write about the real issues in women’s sports in this week’s Sigh of Relief.
open.substack.com/pub/dashkasl...
open.substack.com/pub/dashkasl...
Reposted by Dashka Slater
We believe that every person, of every age, of every race, of every gender, no matter who they love, or where they live, should have access to books that reflect and expand their worldview. #UniteAgainstBookBans #BannedBooksWeek
October 8, 2025 at 6:46 PM
We believe that every person, of every age, of every race, of every gender, no matter who they love, or where they live, should have access to books that reflect and expand their worldview. #UniteAgainstBookBans #BannedBooksWeek
What happens when we memory-hole fascism? Let’s ask Spain, which did exactly that. I wrote about history and democracy and what happens when we accept false narratives in this week’s Sigh of Relief.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/the-pact-o...
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/the-pact-o...
The Pact of Forgetting
Can you memory-hole fascism? Let's ask Spain.
dashkaslater.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
What happens when we memory-hole fascism? Let’s ask Spain, which did exactly that. I wrote about history and democracy and what happens when we accept false narratives in this week’s Sigh of Relief.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/the-pact-o...
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/the-pact-o...
I'm really looking forward to talking about truth with Eugene Yelchin. Join us!
September 28, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I'm really looking forward to talking about truth with Eugene Yelchin. Join us!
I can’t even. If you’ve asked “what can I do about book bans?” please leave a comment on this atrocious proposa.
Call to action for Alabama! Leave a public comment on a truly terrible proposal that would ban "positive descriptions" of trans people in libraries. www.erininthemorning.com/p/positive-d...
"Positive Depictions" Of Trans People Banned In Alabama State Libraries Proposal
The code change that has been proposed does not ban negative depictions of transgender people, however. Public comment is open until October 14.
www.erininthemorning.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I can’t even. If you’ve asked “what can I do about book bans?” please leave a comment on this atrocious proposa.
I have a couple of new books coming out in April 2026, and I would be very grateful if you preordered one or both of them right now from B&N using the code PREORDER25. You'll get a 25% discount when you do.
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deep-blue-...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-night...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deep-blue-...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-night...
September 3, 2025 at 3:21 PM
I have a couple of new books coming out in April 2026, and I would be very grateful if you preordered one or both of them right now from B&N using the code PREORDER25. You'll get a 25% discount when you do.
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deep-blue-...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-night...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deep-blue-...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-night...
Are you a California creator? Were you horrified by my story about AI impersonations, theft, and hallucinations? Sign the petition supporting the AB-412!
actionnetwork.org/petitions/le...
actionnetwork.org/petitions/le...
Let’s Be Clear: Artists & Creators Must Have Transparency NOW!
Every single day we don’t have transparency, the value of copyright loses ground and the harms inflicted to creative industries grow.
California has always been on the forefront of policies that can ...
actionnetwork.org
August 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Are you a California creator? Were you horrified by my story about AI impersonations, theft, and hallucinations? Sign the petition supporting the AB-412!
actionnetwork.org/petitions/le...
actionnetwork.org/petitions/le...
Come along on a dystopian adventure in which discover that Chat GPT has rewritten my books and a nameless scammer has rewritten my personality.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/nothing-is...
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/nothing-is...
Nothing Is Real, Including Me
In which I am impersonated and Chat GPT rewrites one of my books. Plus a new MFA program, an update on my book ban lawsuit, a scam alert, and a deep discount on the Accountable ebook.
dashkaslater.substack.com
August 29, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Come along on a dystopian adventure in which discover that Chat GPT has rewritten my books and a nameless scammer has rewritten my personality.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/nothing-is...
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/nothing-is...
Just dropping by to say that ACCOUNTABLE, a nonfiction page-turner about a racist social media account at a public high school, is currently downpriced as an ebook for $2.99.
bit.ly/3GsVtoe
bit.ly/3GsVtoe
Accountable
YALSA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION WINNERCalifornia Book Award WinnerJ. Anthony Lukas Book Prize WinnerFrom the New York Times-bestselling author of Th...
bit.ly
August 1, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Just dropping by to say that ACCOUNTABLE, a nonfiction page-turner about a racist social media account at a public high school, is currently downpriced as an ebook for $2.99.
bit.ly/3GsVtoe
bit.ly/3GsVtoe
Was Epstein murdered? In a way. And so were 695 other people held in American jails and prisons who died by suicide that same year due to some combination of indifference and incompetence.
Content Warning: This article discusses death by suicide
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/epsteins-d...
Content Warning: This article discusses death by suicide
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/epsteins-d...
July 28, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Was Epstein murdered? In a way. And so were 695 other people held in American jails and prisons who died by suicide that same year due to some combination of indifference and incompetence.
Content Warning: This article discusses death by suicide
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/epsteins-d...
Content Warning: This article discusses death by suicide
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/epsteins-d...
What's the difference between loneliness and solitude, and why is one so dangerous to democracy and the other so crucial? I explore the distinction in this week's Sigh of Relief.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/alone-with...
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/alone-with...
Alone With Your Thoughts
How Loneliness, Fascism, and Disinformation Work In Concert
dashkaslater.substack.com
July 18, 2025 at 10:04 PM
What's the difference between loneliness and solitude, and why is one so dangerous to democracy and the other so crucial? I explore the distinction in this week's Sigh of Relief.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/alone-with...
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/alone-with...
Reposted by Dashka Slater
Listen Back: @dashkaslater.bsky.social and The Fan Brothers, author and illustrators of The Antlered Ship, talk about the spirit of asking questions, a thread of melancholy, and how sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.. www.allthewonders.com/podcasts/das... #kidlit #podcast
Dashka Slater and the Fan Brothers: All The Wonders, Episode 419
Dashka Slater and The Fan Brothers, author and illustrators respectively of The Antlered Ship, stop by the podcast to talk about the spirit of asking questions, a thread of melancholy, and how sometim...
www.allthewonders.com
July 14, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Listen Back: @dashkaslater.bsky.social and The Fan Brothers, author and illustrators of The Antlered Ship, talk about the spirit of asking questions, a thread of melancholy, and how sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.. www.allthewonders.com/podcasts/das... #kidlit #podcast
I wrote about the joys of having conversations with strangers and why having them is a blow against tyranny, extractive capitalism, automation, and isolation.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/talk-to-st...
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/talk-to-st...
Talk to Strangers
A question at a cafe leads to an unexpected heart-to-heart.
dashkaslater.substack.com
July 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I wrote about the joys of having conversations with strangers and why having them is a blow against tyranny, extractive capitalism, automation, and isolation.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/talk-to-st...
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/talk-to-st...
Each month, I share a list of interesting articles & podcasts. This month: community & resistance — how can we come together in this dark time? How do we create a vision of the future worth fighting for? No doomscrolling here, but lots of food for thought.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/june-links...
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/june-links...
June Links and Thinks
Ideas for your brain and balm for your soul
dashkaslater.substack.com
June 27, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Each month, I share a list of interesting articles & podcasts. This month: community & resistance — how can we come together in this dark time? How do we create a vision of the future worth fighting for? No doomscrolling here, but lots of food for thought.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/june-links...
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/june-links...
Reposted by Dashka Slater
i just finished reading Accountable by
@dashkaslater.bsky.social
i sobbed the entire way through. this book was the reminder i needed that no matter how scary the world gets, Justice and Revenge are not the same thing.
healing cannot happen by continuing cycles of violence and punishment.
@dashkaslater.bsky.social
i sobbed the entire way through. this book was the reminder i needed that no matter how scary the world gets, Justice and Revenge are not the same thing.
healing cannot happen by continuing cycles of violence and punishment.
June 14, 2025 at 12:47 PM
i just finished reading Accountable by
@dashkaslater.bsky.social
i sobbed the entire way through. this book was the reminder i needed that no matter how scary the world gets, Justice and Revenge are not the same thing.
healing cannot happen by continuing cycles of violence and punishment.
@dashkaslater.bsky.social
i sobbed the entire way through. this book was the reminder i needed that no matter how scary the world gets, Justice and Revenge are not the same thing.
healing cannot happen by continuing cycles of violence and punishment.