‘Internet Girls’ Author Lauren Myracle to Speak at Dakota County Library

Lauren Myracle’s realistic depictions of teenage life she brought to her bestselling “Internet Girls” series and other works landed the author on the American Library Association’s list of “Most Challenged Books,” based on complaints to libraries and schools, in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

According to this report in SunThis Week, the 43-year-old Colorado author, who will be visiting the nearby Galaxie Library in Apple Valley on Feb. 23 to talk about her writing as part of the “Teens Know Best” author series.

“The books follow high school girls through sophomore, junior and senior years – they talk about sex, going to Planned Parenthood, drugs – one of them smokes pot and gets busted for buying pot,” she told the newspaper. “All of these things were part of my teenage rites of passage.”

Myracle says her intent with the “Internet Girls” series and other books is to encourage critical thinking among her readers and not, as some have claimed, to corrupt America’s youths.

Myracle’s 2011 novel “Shine” is about a girl investigating the beating and near death of her homosexual best friend.

Myracle’s appearance at the Galaxie Library, which is sponsored by the Metropolitan Library Service Agency, runs from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. Admission is free. The library is at 14955 Galaxie Ave. in Apple Valley.