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Ellen Hopkins        

New York Times Bestselling Novelist Known for "Crank"

Elle Hopkins is the award-winning author of fourteen NY Times bestselling young adult novels-in-verse, two middle grade novels-in-verse, and four novels for adult readers. She currently holds the not so enviable title of "Most Banned Author in the US."

After six decades in CA/NV, Hopkins recently moved with her extended family and two quirky German shepherds to a log cabin in the Missouri woods, where everything from gardening to pest control to hair care is very different than in the West. It's been a steep learning curve.

Speech Topics

Writing the Righteous Fight: Why "Controversial" Books Must Remain on Library Shelves

As the current "most banned author in the US," Ellen Hopkins has been fighting book removals at an exhausting pace. Her first YA novel, CRANK, sits near the top of book banning hitlists. The book was inspired by the quite personal story of her daughter's addiction, and illustrates how quickly a teen with everything going for her can lose her dreams to substance abuse. Subsequent Hopkins novels tackle issues young adults face every day. Hopkins's motives are often questioned, but she says she wants to arm kids with knowledge to help them make better choices and develop understanding and empathy. You'll hear how she has accomplished those goals and why she's determined to help keep controversial books on library bookshelves.

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