In episode 13, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association and I Love Libraries speaks with author Raj Tawney.

Tawney is a writer and journalist whose work largely reflects his mixed-race upbringing. He has explored his identity through personal essays in The New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, I Love Libraries, and other outlets, and in his first book, “Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience” (2023). In his new book for young readers, “All Mixed Up” (2024), Tawney tells the semiautobiographical story of a multi-ethnic American boy who forges a complex friendship with a Pakistani immigrant in the wake of 9/11.

Tawney joins the show to discuss his writing, book bans and the importance of representation in books for readers of all ages, the power of food, and of course, how he libraries.