Suzanne Harrington: Banning books is the new 'blackface'

The censoring of transgender authors by right-wing extremists will not contain the ideas within

Picture: Denis Scannell

When my daughter changed schools aged 9, she was a bit apprehensive — she’d been at a small Steiner Waldorf school since toddlerhood, and state school seemed daunting. But she came home from her first day raving about her new class teacher, Mr Dawson. He was young and fun, loved pop music and Dr Who, and made all the lessons come alive. Having previously hated reading, within weeks she was devouring novels, inspired by her brilliant, visionary teacher.

The following year, Mr Dawson left the teaching profession to pursue his writing career full time; fiction for young adults. And to become Ms Dawson Juno Dawson, these days better known as the hugely successful author of 23 books for young adults, and prominent LGBTQ+ campaigner.