Nic Stone has dedicated her life to writing the stories she needed when she was younger — the stories that make us feel seen, represented, and ready to connect with others. She didn’t read about characters who looked like her or who came from her world in her childhood books, and she wanted to bring her own story, and the stories of people like her, to life. She’ll teach you how the stories you read shape the way you see the world and the people in it, reminding us that we all have our own authentic story to share.

Stone has put her passionate convictions into practice in her award-winning novels, which have been lauded by NPR (her books have appeared twice on NPR’s Best Books of the Year list), The Atlantic, and Publishers Weekly. Nic’s #1 New York Times bestseller "Dear Martin" was a William C. Morris Award Finalist and was called "an unforgettable tour de force of social justice" by Booklist. The Horn Book has lauded how Nic’s writing—which includes blockbusters "Dear Justyce," "Odd One Out," "Jackpot," and "Clean Getaway"—"carries the weight of history" as much as it is memorable, beautiful, and captivating.

We hope you will join us for this year's lecture! If you are interested in the lecture but are unable to attend, a recording will be available after the event. 

Questions? Please contact Dr. Michelle H. Martin, Beverly Cleary Professor for Children and Youth Services, at mhmarti@uw.edu.