This fall, the women of Second Story Press are proud to celebrate the company’s 35th anniversary. Second Story, led by publisher Margie Wolfe, has never wavered in its mandate to publish feminist-inspired books for adults and young readers. In a time when the ideals of equality and freedom are under real threat, we believe that the books we publish are needed more than ever. As we see it, focusing on social justice, queer lives, authentic voices, and disability isn’t “trendy,” it’s reflecting reality. There can never be too many of these stories published.
An anniversary is always a time for reflection. When we celebrated our 25th season, Wolfe noted, “Second Story has provided an environment over these last 25 years for writers and creators to tackle subjects often considered too small-market, too inappropriate, too challenging, too difficult, too controversial.” She went on, “Our very challenging books today are being bought by the most commercial publishers around.” And this continues to be the case. Thanks to those creators who have trusted us with their stories, we have built an identity—and commercial success as a thriving independent press—from the sales of our social justice books.
By being one of the publishing voices to stick to this path, we like to think that we have helped to cement it for others to follow. We
published one of the first books on gay marriage for children, Mom and Mum Are Getting Married, by Ken Setterington and illustrated by Alice Priestley. That book is now part of a large garden of books about queer lives that has flourished over the years. Over 35 years we have seen the landscape of publishing grow and become more inclusive, and we take pride in playing a role in that. What a wonderful development to be a part of.
It hasn’t been easy. From our first list, we had to confront perceptions that the books we were publishing were “too niche,” that the subjects—especially in the case of children’s books—were too dark. We were one of the first to publish books about the Holocaust for elementary readers, including Hana’s Suitcase by Karen Levine, a book that continues to open minds and hearts around the world.
When we receive pushback against a book from those who believe its subject is too scary for children, all the women of Second Story Press remind ourselves what those books have taught us: that any subject, if handled age-appropriately, can be suitable for a kids book. Our first book about the experiences of a young girl at a residential school—I Am Not a Number, by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer and illustrated by Gillian Newland—was thought by some to be too dark for elementary readers. But we knew that if Indigenous children had been forced to live that experience, then they and their families should be able to find that story in their libraries. Today, it’s joined by many others.
The landscape of books we have helped to build is under profound threat. The actions of lawmakers to undermine libraries—the closing of hearts and minds to others’ experiences—is something we will continue to publish against for as long as we are making books. Earlier this year we published What Does Hate Look Like? written by educators Sameea Jimenez and Corinne Promislow, with Larry Swartz. And this fall we are publishing our first book addressing anti-Asian discrimination, Everyone Is Welcome, written by Phuong Truong and illustrated by Christine Wei.
The publishing world is not perfect, and neither are we. But we take great heart in being part of publishing books that matter deeply to people’s lives.
Emma Rodgers is the marketing and promotions manager at Second Story Press.
