Lauren Myracle

Myracle was born in Brevard, North Carolina, and is the oldest of three sisters and has three older brothers. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, where she attended Trinity School and The Westminster Schools.^[1] Myracle earned a BA in English and Psychology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

After graduation, Myracle worked for some time as a middle-school teacher in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and participated in the JET Programme in Japan.^[2] Myracle later earned an MA in English from Colorado State University, where she taught for two years and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College.^{[citation needed]}

Myracle's first novel, Kissing Kate, was released in 2003. Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, and Twelve came out in 2007. Myracle published The Fashion Disaster that Changed My Life in 2005. Thirteen was released in March 2008. She came out with the book Thirteen Plus One in 2010. She also wrote Rhymes with Witches and Bliss, which came out in 2008, is its prequel. She also has a book entitled How to Be Bad with E. Lockhart and Sarah Mlynowski.

The Internet Girls series comprises ttyl (talk to you later), ttfn (ta ta for now), and l8r, g8r (later, gator). It features three friends—Zoe, Maddie, and Angela—who experience typical high school drama: boys, drugs, alcohol, parties, driving, and college prep. The novels ttyl and ttfn were both New York Times bestsellers, and ttyl was the first novel to be written entirely in instant messages.^[2] Most of Myracle's novels take place in Atlanta, Georgia and are inspired by her childhood friends and experiences, and her large diverse family.

In November, 2011, she published Shine, which is set in rural western North Carolina and deals with a young girl's search for the perpetrators of a hate crime against her gay friend.

Her latest work, released in August, 2013, is entitled The Infinite Moment of Us. According to Publishers Weekly, the coming of age story "is a rewarding account of two young people whose insecurities and personal histories weigh on the romance they work to build with each other."^[3]

Myracle's books, especially the Internet Girls series, have regularly been included in the American Library Association's lists of the most frequently banned and challenged books in the United States. Challengers content the book due to offensive language and sexually explicit content, as well as being unsuited for the age group and going against a religious viewpoint.^[4] The series was the ninth-most censored book between 2010 and 2019.^[5] In 2009 and 2011, they topped the association's list for the top ten most censored books of the year.^[4] The book was also included in the top-ten list for 2008 (third) and 2007 (seventh).^[4]

Scholastic Books nearly refused to carry Luv Ya Bunches at its national school book fair events because the book features lesbian mothers.^[6] Scholastic recanted its initial decision after a large internet outcry.^[7]

In 2022, three of Myracle's novels (ttyl, ttfn, and Shine) were listed among 52 books banned by the Alpine School District following the implementation of Utah law H.B. 374, “Sensitive Materials In Schools,"^[8] 42removed books “feature LBGTQ+ characters and or themes.”^[9][10] Many of the books were removed because they were considered to contain pornographic material according to the new law, which defines porn using the following criteria:

• "The average person" would find that the material, on the whole, "appeals to prurient interest in sex"^[11]
• The material "is patently offensive in the description or depiction of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, sadomasochistic abuse, or excretion"^[11]
• The material, on the whole, "does not have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value."^[11]

Myracle has spoken at length about the angry responses she has received from those upset with her work such as one parent who stated that she could not “believe [that Myracle] introduced [her] 13-year-old daughter to thong underwear.”^[12] Another opponent was appalled at a hot tub scene in ttyl while a separate writer stated that the author did not have the right to “influence young girls to follow in [her] horrible footsteps.”^[13] Overall, the author herself has noted that opponents tend to consistently get upset over three subjects often found in her books: thongs, tampons and erections.^[14]

Myracle is highly critical of adults attempting to keep books away from teenagers, believing that kids are smart enough to understand the message in books and learn their lessons. Regarding her own children's reading, she says "As a mom, I want my kids to read any book they want! I want them to read."^[15]

Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected an Allie McNamara ALA Best Books for Young Adults for the year 2004.^[16][17] Booklist selected it as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers".^{[citation needed]}

Rhymes with Witches is included in Anita Silvey's 500 Great Books for Teens^[18] and was nominated for "Best Books for Young Adults" by the American Library Association.^[2]