Banned Book of the Month: ‘Shine’ by Madison’s Lauren Myracle

More than 10,000 books were banned across America last school year, and Wisconsin is one of the worst offenders. At least 450 titles have been barred from school libraries across the Badger State since 2021 — and with Trump in office, there are no signs of that slowing down.

That’s why, at UpNorthNews, we’re committed to celebrating banned books — NOT canceling them.

This month’s pick: “Shine” by Madison transplant Lauren Myracle

Written for: Young adults, roughly ages 13-18

Quick summary: Shine is the heartrending and soulful story of Cat, a 16-year-old who embarks on a quest for answers after her gay best friend, Patrick is beaten and left in a coma at a local gas station. Cat and Patrick live in a small town in North Carolina that attempts to gloss over the violent hate crime, but Cat proves to be smarter and more resourceful than anyone gives her credit for.

Why it’s been banned: Shine unflinchingly examines matters of homophobia, alcohol use, drug addiction, rural poverty, and sexual assault.

Why it matters: With Cat as a bold and courageous narrator, Shine covers weighty topics that will resonate deeply with teenagers, even if they don’t live in the South or have a gay best friend. Myracle leaves zero doubt among her readers that empathy and tolerance go a long way toward saving the lives of young people on the fringes of society, and she inspires us all to confront injustice and stand up for those without a voice.

Why we picked it: Shine presents terrific opportunities for grown-ups and their teens to talk about rural poverty and the effect of joblessness and substance abuse (specifically crystal meth) on communities. There is also much to discuss regarding sexual identity and first love. Finally, themes of intolerance and hatred will encouragereaders to examine their own behavior and prejudice toward others.

What the author says about book banning: With 30-plus novels to her name, equating to more than 2 million copies in print, Myracle is no stranger to book bans. Throughout her prolific and wildly successful writing career, which began in 2003, many of her novels have been challenged by school districts across the country, most recently in Rutherford, Tennessee.

The first time one of her novels was banned, Myracle was horrified. “As a southern girl raised to be a people pleaser, Iimmediately thought Oh no, I’ve messed up. Then I feltashamed. And then I called my editor, and she was thrilled. She said, ‘Lauren, this means your books are resonating with the teens who are reading them! The teens aren’t the ones who are sending in the complaints, it’s their parents.”

Myracle adds, “I get that parents are scared, and there is so much they can’t control, so they think At least I can control this. The problem is, it’s not information that makes kids spiral. It’s not information that makes kids make bad decisions. Books are bar-none the safest place to think about new ideas and figure out on your own how you feel about them.”

The author’s inspiration: Shine was inspired by Myracle’s own city mouse/country mouse childhood, whereby she traveled back and forth between her mother’s upscale home in Atlanta and her father’s “feral” one in North Carolina. Myracle says she has boundless empathy toward characters who come from fractured families and who feel like outcasts.

RELATED: 8 Books by Wisconsin Authors to Add to Your Reading List

Lauren Myracle lives in Madison and is preparing for the launch of her first novel for adults. Plays Well with Others will be published June 10, 2025.