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First day of early voting in Texas!!!! It& #39;s 6:45 am and I& #39;m waiting in the drive thru line, which is LONGGGGG. So I want to talk about elections in my new book A Thousand Questions.
From start to finish, this book has a national election theme running through it. When Mimi arrives in Karachi, she sees election signs and banners everywhere. They remind Pakistanis to vote!
But Mimi, being a young American kid, doesn& #39;t know much about the election process, nor does she care about it. She& #39;s only 11, and this is all just a fun experience for her. Why should she even care?
During the course of her vacation - and the book - she learns why she should care. She watches candidates make fiery speeches. She hears people say their view doesn& #39;t matter. She witnesses apathy and dejection.
She also learns that no age is too young to care about issues. Sakina, her new Pakistani friend, is passionate about the election. She& #39;s got opinions about the candidates and their corruption. She sees how voting affects her everyday life.
The election story in A Thousand Questions is only the backdrop. A thread running through the entire book that shows readers another way we are all the same, even if we live in different countries.
Today as I wait in the longest freaking line I& #39;ve ever waited in to cast my vote, I& #39;m reminded that democracy is fragile. It depends on each one of us. It requires effort and passion. It& #39;s enemy is apathy.
This is a lesson every character in A Thousand Questions learns, even the adults. This is a lesson all my readers should learn. Especially the kids who think they& #39;re too young for election discussions. Especially the adults who think that.
Please consider reading A Thousand Questions to have honest, important discussions about voting and elections and democracy. It& #39;s available in hardcover, audio, and digital.
And finally, if you& #39;re eligible:
