What Gives Dr. Haleh Massey Hope

More hope. From the kidlit community, to you.  

No matter where you are. No matter what’s going on around you. No matter what is pulling your attention or competing for space in your mind. May these next few minutes offer you rest, peace, and hope.

Hope - April 11, 2026

Dr. Haleh Massey, author of My Name Is Harriet Mansoor (Not Hairy Man Suit!) (Tu Books), illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh, shares what is giving her hope today:  the ever increasing diversity in books.

Listen along:

About the Book: My Name Is Harriet Mansoor (Not Hairy Man Suit!) by Dr. Haleh Massey; illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh. Published by Tu Books.

In this hilarious, illustrated, middle-grade novel, Hangameh "Harriet" Mansoor faces bullies, bad grades, AND puberty. Will she survive the worst month of her eleven-year-old life?

Eleven-year-old Hangameh "Harriet" Mansoor really needs to catch a break. Puberty gifted her a big nose and bushy eyebrows, which make her stick out even more than being the only Iranian girl among all her blonde, blue-eyed classmates. But the sixth-grade camping trip to Camp Cottontail could be the perfect opportunity to turn her middle-school fate around. She'd finally have a little space from her over-protective parents and moody older sister; she'd have some serious fun with her best friend Cathy; and she'd maybe even gather up the courage to talk to her long-time crush, Jeremy.

Unfortunately, a string of terrible luck threatens everything. Her bully, Sarah Gill, starts to date Jeremy and when she catches a glimpse of Harriet's unshaved legs, she gives Harriet an awful nickname: Hairy Man Suit. But worst of all, her parents announce that money problems might force them to move all the way back to Iran--and soon--sending her far away from her best friend and everything she knows. While Harriet usually tries to blend in as much as possible and keep the peace, she'll have to speak up and stand up if she wants to solve any of these catastrophes. But can she do it before her family packs up everything to leave the country?

More:

Visit Dr. Haleh Massey online at drhalehmassey.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Learn more about Lee & Low Books and their upcoming releases by visiting www.leeandlow.com. 

Transcript:

Haleh: "What is giving me hope today is the ever increasing diversity in books. Growing up in the eighties, I was constantly reading Roald Dahl and Beverly Cleary among my very favorite authors.

Unfortunately, despite all that reading, I never came across a single main character who looked like me. This was especially difficult because I also grew up in a city where no one looked like me either. If there had been more diverse representation in the books I read, I would've felt much more included like I belonged.

Looking at the diversity in books today, especially in the middle grade genre, which is already such a challenging age, gives me great hope. I'm truly proud to be part of the Lee & Low family, whose mission is to publish beautiful books about everyone. For everyone. Things are so different now than they were in the eighties.

Kids who might feel out of place, who might think they're the only ones with hairy legs or a name that no one can pronounce, can pick up a book, see themselves on the cover, find themselves within the pages, and know that they belong, that they matter too. And the most hopeful part, the more these books are embraced and read, the more love, acceptance, and compassion there will be in our world."