Judged by the Cover
I’ve spent my whole life navigating stereotypes—whether it was being dismissed as a “dumb blonde,” teased for my thick glasses (they used to call me “bottle caps”), or even treated differently just for being left-handed. My grandmother had her hand broken by a nun in the orphanage for using her left—so I’ve always known that being “different” can come with punishment. And of course, being named Karen in today’s world brings a whole new layer of assumptions.
That’s why this collection of books is so important to me. These are stories that confront harmful stereotypes—whether it’s racism, classism, or the way we judge others based on appearances or old ideas. These books have been banned, not because they’re dangerous, but because they ask us to rethink what we’ve been taught to accept. I believe these voices—and these stories—deserve to be heard.
