A new children’s book titled "Abortion Is Everything" has been released by abortion activist Amelia Bonow, co-founder of the "Shout Your Abortion" movement, sparking a fiery debate across social and political spectrums. The book is aimed at a young audience, specifically children ages five to eight, and presents abortion as a “uniquely human superpower” that allows individuals to shape their life choices.
The book was co-written with Rachel Kessler and features illustrations by Emily Nokes. It is being promoted as a helpful resource for parents, educators, and caregivers who are looking for ways to broach the subject of abortion with children. According to the organization Live Action, which first drew attention to the publication, the "Shout Your Abortion" social media pages describe the book as speaking "directly to five to eight-year-olds about what abortion is, how it might feel, and why people have abortions," emphasizing its inclusive and empowering language.
The release of "Abortion Is Everything" comes at a time of heightened sensitivity around the topic of abortion, especially in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which overturned federal abortion protections and reignited discussions about reproductive rights and education.
Supporters of the book argue that it provides a necessary framework for introducing difficult topics in age-appropriate ways, focusing on bodily autonomy and personal choice. They contend that the book empowers young readers by allowing them to understand complex subjects such as abortion through a lens of personal agency and future planning.
However, the publication has drawn immediate and intense criticism from pro-life groups and individuals who argue that the portrayal of abortion in the book oversimplifies a complex ethical and biological issue. Critics contend that the book potentially influences young readers’ beliefs before they can fully comprehend the subject. Live Action, a prominent pro-life organization, stated that the book is not just propaganda but amounts to grooming, as it appears to normalize abortion and progressive ideas at a formative age when children are developing their moral and cultural judgments.
Amelia Bonow has been known for her efforts to demystify abortion for young audiences. In 2019, she appeared in a "Kids Meet" video series where she discussed her abortion experience with pre-teens and teenagers. Her use of dehumanizing language in the video to describe the unborn child, likening it to inanimate objects, was labeled as misleading and morally troubling by many observers.
The book is the fulfillment of a promise made by Bonow in 2019, following the launch of the "Shout Your Abortion" campaign in 2015, which she started alongside Lindy West and Kimberly Morrison. The project's release, delayed for several years, is likely to further intensify debates over how sensitive topics like abortion should be presented to children, the role of parental guidance, and the influence of political ideology in early education.
