“Oppressive language…is violence.”
Read these books instead of Dream Count
[Dear readers: This issue contains discussions of transphobia.]
In her 1993 Nobel Lecture in Literature, Toni Morrison said: “Oppressive language does more than represent violence, it is violence; does more than represent the limits of knowledge, it limits knowledge.” This quote plays on repeat in my mind (as do many of her other reflections on literature and fascism—which you can find compiled in The Source of Self-Regard), especially these days as “excused” rhetoric and behavior grow increasingly, but unsurprisingly, more horrifying. As our administration is held unaccountable for glaringly antisemitic gestures, or for “memes” shared online mocking undocumented immigrants.
Media, of course, plays a large role in not only crafting narratives, but in suggesting what is excusable behavior. Publishing has a long and storied history with problematic decisions, from the publication and promotion of American Dirt to their often flat out refusal of publishing Palestinian authors because it’s too “political.” They’ve platformed and profited off of white supremacists for the sake of “free speech.” Two days after the 2024 election, Hachette announced the launch of their conservative imprint Basic Books, helmed by an individual behind Project 2025 (the irony given Project 2025’s thoughts on censorship is baffling). Bloom Books keeps publishing problematic authors. It doesn’t help, of course, that publishing’s employee demographics, particularly in decision-making roles, are overwhelmingly white, cishet individuals.
Last week, Penguin Random House imprint Knopf released Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. For months, they’d blasted ads across Bookshop.org and the book topped “most anticipated” lists. The release was touted as an event “ten years in the making” for Adichie’s return to the literary world. She herself is always framed as one of the most influential feminists today. What was not broadcasted in any of these paid promotions or garnered reviews, however, was Adichie’s glaring and staunch transphobia.
In a 2017 interview, Adichie claimed “trans women are trans women,” a distinction long used by trans-exclusionists to claim that trans women aren’t “real” women. Although she issued an apology, she doubled down on her transphobic point. And then in 2021, Adichie played the victim and cried “cancel culture,” defended J.K. Rowling, and was accused of transphobia by prior students.
And yet despite knowing publishing’s ongoing problematic behavior, this knowledge doesn’t make their attempt to gloss right over Adichie’s discrimination any less disgusting. In fact, they’ve chosen to not simply gloss over it, but to heavily invest and profit off this book, as evident by their mass marketing and publicity, suggesting that Adichie’s advance, too, was large. (We can’t help but wonder which other writers ended up receiving no support because of that decision.)
And the number of authors, readers, bookstores, etc., who have framed themselves as trans allies, but have conveniently chosen to “forget” this history of transphobia, is no different, and in many ways, worse. (Was it really a project “ten years in the making,” or was it delayed to try and sweep her comments under the rug?)
As trans rights are increasingly under attack, and with authors like JKR directly leading and influencing this transphobia, this communal applause for such an author is not just disappointing, but infuriating.
Morrison’s quote goes on to read: “Whether it is obscuring state language or the faux-language of mindless media…or language designed for the estrangement of minorities, hiding its racist plunder in its literary cheek—it must be rejected, altered, and exposed. It is the language that drinks blood, laps vulnerabilities, tucks its fascist boots under crinolines of respectability and patriotism as it moves relentlessly toward the bottom line and the bottomed-out mind. Sexist language, racist language, theistic language—all are typical of the policing language of mastery and cannot, do not permit new knowledge or encourage the mutual exchange of ideas.”
So, we have collected a number of literary fiction and romantic stories (aligning with Dream Count’s BISACs) by trans authors to read not just instead of the novel, but because they exist phenomenally on their own:
📚 A Safe Girl to Love by Casey Plett
📚 The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
📚 Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
📚 Horse Barbie by Geena Rocero
📚 Still Life by Katherine Packert Burke
And a few upcoming/new releases that are at the top of our TBR:
📚 Stag Dance by Torrey Peters
📚 Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan
In addition to reading and amplifying stories by trans authors, there’s much more to do to fight for equity:
➡️ Talk to your friends and family about trans rights.
➡️ Join protests and rallies.
➡️ Vote for reps that protect trans rights, at all levels of government.
➡️ Donate to mutual aid organizations that support trans individuals. @forthegworls is a personal favorite.
➡️ Support trans youth! Uplift their stories and volunteer for or donate to organizations helping them receive gender affirming care, whether that be mental health care or physical.
➡️ Speak out at and/or join your school and public library board to fight book bans.
➡️ Participate in this month’s Trans Rights Readathon (March 21-31).
Other books we are reading (or hope to read) this month:
✅ Original Sins by Eve Ewing
✅ Mutual Interest by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith
✅ Big Familia by Tomas Moniz
✅ 🎧That Librarian by Amanda Jones
🗓️ All the Parts We Exile by Roza Nozari
🗓️ One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
🗓️ Stag Dance by Torrey Peters
🗓️ Woodworking by Emily St James
🗓️ 🎧Summer in the City by Alex Aster
(To be honest, most of our anticipated winter releases come out this month—so we have high hopes, and a big TBR!)
Note: For books we have completed, we’ll only include here ones we recommend.
Books new to our TBR:
Save Me Stranger by Erika Krouse (I will read anything Louise Erdrich tells me to read)
Memories of the Memories of the Black Rose Cat by Veeraporn Nitiprapha (thanks to this post)
We Measure the Earth With Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom Lama (thanks to this post)
The 2025 ad astra Readership Challenge: “Show up for BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ authors, content creators, and publishing employees.”
We’ve all seen the calls on social media to follow, engage with, and support BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ content creators and authors. (Of course, that doesn’t mean everyone is doing so, as made evident by some of the folks promoting Dream Count.) In addition to being truthfully and intentionally aware of this online, it’s important to financially show support, too, as well as advocating for a more equitable industry.
Preorder your anticipated reads. This signals demand to publishers and booksellers, leading them to increase print and order runs, and can help the authors secure new book deals and larger advances/marketing budgets in the future. You can also request that your library adds the book to their catalog. (Here are tips on finding stories beyond what’s “trendy”—aka, often what publishers put budget into, which historically are stories by white, cishet writers)
Buy their books and/or check them out at the library. Again, help show demand for the book, and help the author earn out their advance.
Support unions. Unions often work to increase pay and commitments to DEI, important for an industry that, as mentioned earlier, is extremely white, largely exists in the most expensive cities, and doesn’t pay a living wage. A great way to start is by following them on social media: @hcpunion, @barnesandnobleunion, @oupusaguild, and @xoxopublishinggg (the latter is not a union, but often shares information about strikes). Here, you can learn more about strike terms and how to support staff pushing for better rights.
Support BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled-owned bookstores. In addition to being phenomenal spaces, these stores often champion writers from systemically excluded communities. Libro.fm has a great map to help find a store near you.
Engage with your favorite authors and creators. Follow and amplify them on social media, sign up for their newsletters, write to their publishers in support of their books, read their writing in literary journals, nominate them for any readers-choice awards, etc.
Financially support your favorite authors and creators. Become a paid subscriber of their newsletter or Patreon. See a contribution link in their bio? Show them your support that way, too.
About the challenge -
Folks who complete all the prompts by EOY will be entered to win a $100 gift card to their indie bookstore of choice. Those who finish at least six of the prompts will receive an exclusive ad astra sticker. In December, we'll share a submission link to complete as proof of participation. (Our downloadable tracker will be helpful for this!)
Want to participate? Join our Broadcast Channel on Instagram, follow our newsletter, and get your friends to join!
Other publishing updates:
Curious how tariffs will impact publishing? We’ve outlined that and other administration decisions here.
The Educational Bookshop in Jerusalem was raided again. Bookselling is not a crime.
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student and activist, was disappeared by ICE. His documented support for Palestinian freedom is being used against him as a criminal record (something that is not criminal behavior in the court of law). Take action to demand his release. (You might be wondering: What does this have to do with publishing? In some ways, it absolutely doesn’t, but it is incredibly important. It might also make you question what will happen to authors and writers who share opposing beliefs to this administration. Another great Morrison quote? “We all know nations that can be identified by the flight of writers from their shores. These are regimes whose fear of unmonitored writing is justified because truth is trouble.”)
Thanks so much for taking the time to read! If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share with friends, and consider subscribing if you have not yet already. Also, in case you missed it, we have launched prints! Learn more and place an order here.
We’ll be back in a few weeks with the latest publishing updates.
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