Danny Ramadan recalls self-censoring his writing in Syria before his arrival in Canada 10 years ago. Now, as an advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ refugees and an author exploring belonging, displacement and identity, he says navigating book challenges is a somewhat expected part of being published.
Still, when an Ontario school board shadow-banned his children’s title Salma Writes a Book last fall — the school libraries carried it, but restricted students’ access — Ramadan was floored.
“I expected the book to be banned in Florida. I was just extremely shocked when I found out that it was banned here, on our home turf here in Canada.
