Ashley Hope Pérez is the author of three novels: "Out of Darkness," "The Knife and the Butterfly," and "What Can’t Wait." As one of the most frequently banned writers in the United States since 2021, she has used her insights as a literary scholar, novelist, and educator to advocate for public school students and their right to experience diverse literature as a space for learning, discovery, and growth.

"Out of Darkness" was selected as a best book of the year by both Kirkus and School Library Journal. It received a 2016 Printz Honor for Literary Excellence in Young Adult Fiction, the 2016 Tomás Rivera Book Award, and the 2016 Américas Award. "What Can’t Wait" and "The Knife and the Butterfly" appear on YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults and Popular Paperbacks lists.

Pérez is also a former high school English teacher, holds a doctorate in comparative literature, and is an assistant professor of world literatures at The Ohio State University. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her two sons.

Authors, Literary Education, Storytelling, Creative Writing, Award-Winning Author,