MLA/DLACon2025

Middle grade novels exploring relationships between tweens and their adults are critical for addressing intergenerational patterns and showing children finding their own, healthy path forward. These stories create a gateway into difficult conversations and create community within various library patron populations. In this panel, four award-winning authors will present recent books that address themes of mental health stigma, drug addiction, systemic racism, generational trauma, and bodily autonomy, lead a conversation on library programming to open up intergenerational conversations, and provide reading lists, model display and book club ideas, and activities and community partnership ideas to facilitate family conversations.