Episode #157: Processing Loss and Gun Control
Grace and Alvina discuss the Uvalde mass shooting and talk about how to process loss, the history of gun culture, and how to work towards preventing future mass shootings.
As usual, the Book Friends check-in and catch up with each other’s lives. Grace recently dove back into doing in-person school visits and was lucky enough to have her sister come along to some of them. The kids really loved meeting Grace’s sister and making the connection to her character in Grace’s Year of the Dog. Alvina had some fun BBQ’s with friends recently and is also dealing with a mysterious physical ailment, perhaps “yoga butt”?
Grace and Alvina talk about the recent school shooting in Texas and how they are processing it. Have we become numb to mass shootings? Do we focus on the numbers now or the actual victims? The book friends talk about the NRA, the history of the NRA, mental illness, and how books can be banned about gender but no for having any level of violence.
What has been giving us hope lately?
Alvina listened to a This American Life episode that featured parents of children who had been killed in mass shootings and how they became activists. It was nice to hear how they made a difference. Grace was glad to see professional sports teams taking a stand because perhaps they can actually reach people and make a difference. They also talk about practical things you can do to reduce mass shootings.
A list of non-profit organizations you can connect with and help the cause:
What delighted us this week?
Alvina is delighted by an art installation in her home and Grace is delighted by finding a robin egg on her morning walk.
Gratefuls:
Alvina is grateful for the writing prizes!
TaiwaneseAmerican.org is pleased to announce the inaugural Betty L. Yu and Jin C. Yu Creative Writing Prizes. Created in collaboration with Taiwanese American author Charles Yu, the Prizes are intended to encourage and recognize creative literary work by Taiwanese American high school and college students, and to foster discussion and community around such work.
Grace is grateful that she did not get COVID on her school visit travels and also for her husband putting her their deluxe waiting pool!
Don’t forget! You can now order Grace’s limited edition autographed 12" x 18" double-sided poster featuring artwork by Grace Lin commemorating the Newbery Award Centenniel for The Horn Book Magazine. You can purchase them at the Eric Carle Museum and help support Everylibrary.org! Order HERE!
If you’re a patron, don’t forget to check out this week’s Random Questions feed! Authors Yuyi Morales and Grace Lin answer the random question “What famous artist, dead or alive, would you want to paint your portrait?” here to listen! If you’re not a patron already, join today!
Thank you for tuning in! Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio for producing and editing this podcast. Be sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and tell a friend about us. (Use the hashtag #bookfriendsforever.)
You can find Alvina @Planetalvina on Twitter and TikTok and @Alvinaling on Instagram
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Twitter and Instagram and @gracelinauthor on TikTok and @authorgracelin on Facebook
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