What a glorious start to the year with the amazing Ali Terese first up for our author interviews @alitereseauthor 🤩👑🩸! We loved chatting with Ali and can't wait to share this hilarious, heartfelt episode with all of you soon!
But first, here's more about Ali!
Ali Terese writes funny and heartfelt middle grade and YA stories. FREE PERIOD (Scholastic Press – March 5, 2024) is her debut novel. It is a middle grade story of friendship and period equity complete with laugh-out-loud shenanigans, delightfully disgusting desserts, and some world-changing crafts.
FREE PERIOD was longlisted for the National Book Award, received a starred review from School Library Journal, and an Earphones Award by Audiofile Magazine. It was also selected for the 2025 Texas Lone Star Reading List and the 2024-25 Chicago Public Schools Battle of the Books.
The fun continues in Fall 2025 when Ali launches her next middle grade comedy VOTE FOR THE G.O.A.T. with Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Visit Ali online for book bonuses, giveaways, and resources like discussion guides, recipes, craftivism projects, and more at aliterese.com.
More about Ali's book FREE PERIOD 🩸👑

This middle-grade Moxie centering period equity is Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. for the next generation!
Helen and Gracie are pranking their way through middle school when a stinky stunt lands them in the front office — again. Because nothing else has curbed their chaos, the principal orders the best friends to do the unthinkable: care about something. So they join the school’s Community Action Club with plans to do as little as humanly possible.
But when Helen is caught unprepared by an early period and bleeds through her pants — they were gold lamé! — the girls take over the club’s campaign for maxi pads in bathrooms for all students who menstruate. In the name of period equity, the two friends use everything from over-the-top baked goods to glitter gluing for change. But nothing can prepare them for a clueless school board (ew), an annoying little sister (ugh), and crushes (oh my!).
As Helen and Gracie find themselves closer to change and in deeper trouble than ever before, they must decide if they care enough to keep going . . . even if it costs them their friendship.
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