As the opioid crisis continues to impact teens across the country, award-winning author and former librarian Mindy McGinnis talks about why she wrote Heroine, a brutally honest novel about a student athlete's descent into addiction and why it’s been banned in schools.
In this interview, she opens up about her own childhood reading habits, the power of dark stories, and what it means to write books that some adults try to take off shelves. Heroine isn’t about glorifying drug use - it’s about survival, empathy, and what happens when we tell the truth.
🔍 About Mindy McGinnis:
Mindy is the Edgar Award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, including:
• The Female of the Species
• A Madness So Discreet
• Be Not Far from Me
• Not a Drop to Drink
A former school librarian, Mindy is known for her unflinching exploration of topics like trauma, survival, violence, and justice. Her books are critically acclaimed for their emotional depth and real-world relevance — especially for teens navigating difficult truths.
visit Mindy: https://www.mindymcginnis.com/
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.