What's the Deal?

With Ali Velshi's Banned Book Club

MSBNC host Ali Velshi founded his #VelshiBannedBookClub in February 2022, in response to the increasingly widespread practice of schools and libraries prohibiting readers — especially young readers — from accessing books that adults believe would make these readers uncomfortable.

These books include such literary classics as William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, contemporary tomes such as Alex Gino’s Melissa and Ibram X. Kendi’s How to be an Antiracist, and illustrated children’s books, New Kid and I Am Rosa Parks. Sadly, the list is way too long to include.

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Velshi and Cabot discuss Ready or Not

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Ali Velshi Banned Book Club with Meg Cabot

The MSNBC host speaks with the YA author about the inevitability of teen sex

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Ali Velshi Banned Book Club with Meg Cabot

The MSNBC host speaks with the YA author about the inevitability of teen sex

BY Ali Velshi

Mar. 21, 2023

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 Ali Velshi speaks with Meg Cabot, author of Ready or Not, a YA novel that addresses the sex life of teenagers. “Teens are having sex,” Cabot says, “whether we teach abstinence or not.”

Best known for The Princess Diaries, which was adapted in 2001 into a hit film and book series, Cabot has authored more thank 80 titles. Her work is known for subverting the notion of chick lit, blending humor, romance — and empowerment.

To this end, Ready or Not focuses on high schoolers grappling with the magnitude of sex and consent. Libraries in Florida and Texas have removed the novel from their shelves. This, says Velshi, is happening at a time when sexual health education in schools is much needed.

“It’s OK to talk about these things,” says Cabot.

Listen to Ali’s interview with Meg Cabot:

 

Watch Velshi and Meg Cabot: 

 

 

Velshi on banned books on MSNBC:

 

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