Dashka Slater
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dashkaslater.bsky.social
Dashka Slater
@dashkaslater.bsky.social
2.3K followers 410 following 320 posts
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
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dashkaslater.bsky.social
You can see the announcement here:
October 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
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...
October 21, 2025 at 7:06 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
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...
October 13, 2025 at 3:24 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
I'm really looking forward to talking about truth with Eugene Yelchin. Join us!
September 28, 2025 at 9:48 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
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...
September 3, 2025 at 3:21 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
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...
July 28, 2025 at 6:11 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
Absolutely thrilled to find THE 57 BUS on this list alongside so many books I adore and admire.

www.kirkusreviews.com/young-adult/...
Graphic in red that says THE BEST 100 YOUNG ADULT BOOKS OF THE CENTURY (SO FAR)
April 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
I spoke to graphic novelist Maria van Lieshout about her beautiful new graphic novel, Song of a Blackbird, which tells the story of the Dutch resistance to Nazi occupation. That history rhymes with our present and offers some useful lessons.

dashkaslater.substack.com/p/what-we-ca...
March 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
Whether it’s calling the world’s richest man a South African nepo baby, or sending anyone who looks foreign to an El Salvadorian prison, both sides can be mean to immigrants.

This article reads like it was written by
@nytpitchbot.bsky.social but unfortunately it was written by the actual NYT
Screenshot of a New York Times article that reads, in part: “Then he called Elon Musk a "dipshit" and, later, a "South African nepo baby" with the power to cut government programs. The crowd roared. Mr. Walz, his party's nominee for vice president last year, is one of several Democrats who have referred to Mr. Musk's immigrant background as they ramp up attacks on the billionaire's powerful role in the Trump administration. At times, their language, casting Mr. Musk as a foreign outsider, has echoed aspects of President Trump's own xenophobic insults of his political foes - although Mr. Trump's remarks were typically directed toward elected officials of color, not white billionaires.” 凸的
March 19, 2025 at 11:28 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
I wrote about the challenge of making art, particularly art for children, under the current regime.
dashkaslater391.substack.com/p/how-do-we-...
Everything is suddenly about Trumpism, whether it wants to be or not. It’s as if an edict had been issued that a pile of desiccated dogshit was the only permissible artistic subject matter. No one is saying we can’t make art—not yet anyway. But it takes an act of will to turn the dessicated dogshit of the present moment into something alive and inspiring. How do we write for children who are being schooled in lies and propaganda? What stories do we tell an audience that may not ever learn how to distinguish fact from fiction? How do we continue to nourish their empathy, their optimism, and their commitment to justice while also giving them tools to survive the dark days ahead?
March 19, 2025 at 9:03 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
I feel like I am always posting about the disintegration of our democracy so here’s the piece of chicken my cat spent ten minutes begging for and then refused to eat
A small piece of chicken on a wood floor
March 11, 2025 at 2:03 AM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
People in SF are ahead of the game, apparently
A cybertruck with a bag of dog 💩 on the hood
March 9, 2025 at 7:48 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
The Feylawn Chronicles is my middle grade fantasy duology. Book 1 is The Book of Fatal Errors. Both books came out during the pandemic and they barely made a ripple despite great reviews. I am so proud of these twisty funny magical books which have some of the best characters I’ve ever invented.
Two book covers. The Book of Fatal Errors show two children, a boy and a girl. The boy has a fairy with leaf wings on his shoulder. They’re in front of a meadow & an old household. The Book Of Stolen Time shows the same two children and fairy ankle deep in the ocean surrounded by breaking waves. The girl child is holding a goose and there is a large lock behind them.
February 17, 2025 at 6:14 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
What can we do about *gestures wildly* everything? My latest newsletter has some suggestions for acting locally.

dashkaslater.substack.com/p/on-doing-w...
Red square that says “When the larger systems fail, we are going to need to know our neighbors. Think about providing mutual aid in times of crisis or natural disaster, protecting vulnerable communities impacted by national policies, disseminating accurate information about everything from immunizations to immigration , supporting needed businesses, services, and institutions.” Red square that says: “On doing what we can; why it’s a good time to act locally” and references Dashka Slater‘s Substack.
February 14, 2025 at 5:29 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
My latest newsletter contains 12 Resolutions For A Scary Time. Here are some of them. What are yours?
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/resolution...
December 31, 2024 at 7:10 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
Young men are particularly vulnerable to far right radicalization. If we want to prevent the rise of the next generation of Brownshirts, we need to pay attention to the ways in which boys are suffering. I wrote about it here. dashkaslater.substack.com/p/young-men-...
December 6, 2024 at 6:20 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
Letters like this are why I write for young people. Best freaking job in the world.
Letter from a student that says: “I'm currently reading your book ¨ Accountable ¨, and so far I've been really enjoying keeping up with each character and their own respective friend groups. While reading this, I've seen myself connecting with the characters in a lot of similar scenarios inside the book, like how they would just go along with racial comment and offense jokes. I realized that I have been doing this exact same thing for all of my high school life. Thus, I am curious on why you think students these days are just playing along whenever someone makes an offense joke?”
December 4, 2024 at 5:09 AM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
Earlier this year I switched my school visits from straight presentation to conversations led by a panel of students. Not only does that allow the students to guide the conversation according to their interests, I also get to hang out with amazing young people like these 3 at Cathedral HS in Boston.
November 21, 2024 at 4:58 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
Heading to NCTE just as an atmospheric river is heading to the Bay Area. Really hoping they can get my plane off the ground before it hits!
November 20, 2024 at 5:15 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
My latest newsletter offers a few ideas for crafting a resistance movement with the resilience and strength to protect democracy.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/six-rules-...
November 15, 2024 at 7:48 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
Going to NCTE next week? Me too! Come say hi!
November 15, 2024 at 7:45 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
I wrote about knocking on voters' doors in Arizona. Spoiler: it's impossible not to feel optimistic when you talk to real people about real issues.

open.substack.com/pub/dashkasl...
November 1, 2024 at 6:38 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
Today (10/8) and tomorrow (10/9), Accountable is a Prime Day Editor's Choice pick, which means you can get it for just $9.03. a.co/d/bJCzcQ3
October 8, 2024 at 7:42 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
My latest newsletter takes a look at Media Literacy education and how it can backfire.
dashkaslater.substack.com/p/what-the-h...
June 21, 2024 at 5:25 PM
dashkaslater.bsky.social
See you at ALA, June 28-July 1. I'll be signing (and speaking) on June 30!
June 21, 2024 at 4:56 PM