At the time I finished writing Dry Run, almost two years ago now, I thought we Americans were on the precipice of shattering a glass ceiling, that we were working toward a more just and equal democracy. For years, I had heard the rumblings, though, and I wasn't foolish enough to believe that racism, homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny, and religious persecution were dying away. So I had written Dry Run as a sort of warning, a bogeyman's tale of what harm can be wrought by privilege, dehumanization, and desperation. I didn't ever want it to be real.

Dry Run comes out in eight days, and this blog post was originally going to be some catchy musing that would help convince folks they should read the book. Friends, I just can't, not when something so much more important is on my mind.

What's happening on the southern US border--families being ripped apart when their only crime is seeking a better life for their children--is the kind of cruelty I'd once naively hoped America was leaving behind.

The good news is that, according to a recent CNN poll, two-thirds of Americans disapprove of this policy. And this is our country. The people in our government are our employees, not our rulers. By making our voices heard, we can effect change.

And making our voices heard has never been easier. The League of Women Voters will happily tell you who your elected officials are; all you have to do to get the list is enter your zip code here. Even contacting these officials is easier than ever. Services like Resistbot and stampslicked.org will send messages for you. I'm sure there are many more resources. Even tweeting at your Senators and Reps matters. The point is, if you're troubled by what is happening to the children at the border, you aren't relegated to silence. You do have a voice, if you're moved to use it.