Notes and Links to Rachel León’s Work
Rachel León (she/they) is a writer, editor, and social worker, who has worked in child welfare for nearly two decades. She serves as Managing Director for Chicago Review of Books. Their debut novel, How We See the Gray, is out from Curbstone Books as of May 15, 2026.
Buy How We See the Gray
Rachel León Website
At about 1:45, Rachel gives a summary of How We See the Gray and information about book events and purchasing
At about 4:15, Rachel talks about her writing and reading background, as well as how visual art figured in to her early publications
At about 6:30, Rachel highlights Gwendolyn Brooks’ work as formative and transformative for her
At about 7:50, Rachel cites Sarah Lippman and Justin Torres as contemporary writers who inspire her, including Torres’ approach and “We” usage
At about 10:10, Rachel responds to Pete asking about her reading life as an editor
At about 16:10, Pete asks Rachel about seeds for How We See the Gray and the myriad ways in which her work in child welfare has informed her writing of the book
At about 20:55, Rachel homes in on the time in the field that led her to write How We See the Gray and her current work
At about 22:00, Rachel talks about her love for the band La Historia, and getting permission to use the band’s lyrics in the book
At about 24:00, Pete riffs on the book’s collective voice and asks Rachel to talk about the usage of “We” in the book
At about 26:30, Rachel responds to Pete’s questions about case workers and their motivations, as well as ideas of “vocations” and working “in the trenches”
At about 29:55, Pete lays out some of the book’s exposition, and asks Rachel about ideas of Meredith, a main character, being too trusting/savior-ish in her work
At about 33:25, The two discuss Meredith and her coparenting
At about 34:50, Rachel talks about the youth of her characters and their relationship with idealism
At about 36:50, Rachel expands on the ways in which main character Ebony has learned to “not let her guard down”
At about 38:20, Rachel reflects on race and privilege and patronizing attitudes in the foster system, both outside the book and inside
At about 42:30, Rachel talks about “mapping out” storylines and “microstories” and chronologies for her book
At about 43:50, The two discuss double-standards regarding lack of responsibility for
At about 44:55, Rachel expands on Rockford, Illinois, and her rationale in including slightly-adapted headlines from the local papers
At about 47:15, Pete talks about foster parents in the book bucks expectations
At about 48:00, Rachel responds to Pete asking about the “trauma-bonding” among coworkers and the benefits and disadvantages
At about 52:00, Jamal and his versatile work is discussed
At about 53:10, Meredith’s drinking and the root causes are discussed
At about 56:00, “Found families” through the foster system are discussed
At about 56:50, Pete cites some of the book’s vast profundity
At about 58:00, Rachel talks about the treatment of LGBTQ+ young people in the system
At about 1:01:23-AXE Body Spray profundity!
At about 1:02, Medreith and being part of the system as a mother are discussed, and Pete asks Rachel about her views on the state of the “system”
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Please tune in for Episode 345 with Devin Thomas O'Shea is the author of The Veiled Prophet, publishing with Haymarket Books in June 2026. His writing appears in The Nation, The Iowa Review, Slate, Jacobin, Boulevard, and elsewhere.
The episode airs on June 23, Pub Day for The Veiled Prophet.
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