CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga takes on antisemitism in new YA book

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Bianna Golodryga, a CNN International news anchor, came to the United States with her family in 1980 as refugees, fleeing antisemitism in the former Soviet Union.

Now a mother of two, she—once a political refugee—is grappling with explaining the antisemitism she sees in the country she now calls home. Much of this hatred spreads online, and she watches her children navigate the difficult balance between speaking out against it and simply trying to fit in.

Golodryga explains that when people move to a new country, they naturally want to blend in and feel accepted because they are in the minority.

CNN International journalist and co-host of “One World,” along with her friend Yonit Levi, a top news anchor in Israel, wrote a book for their preteen children to help them navigate difficult issues. That book, a young adult novel called “Don’t Feed the Lion,” offers guidance and advice.

This book, for readers age nine and up, tells the story of Theo Kaplan, a middle-schooler in Chicago who loves soccer. His world turns upside down when his favorite soccer player makes an antisemitic comment about a team owner. The hate becomes personal when someone writes a swastika and an antisemitic message on Theo’s locker at school, and his younger sister decides to take matters into her own hands by creating a secret online persona to fight for justice.

Golodryga recently spoke to The Times about “Don’t Feed the Lion.”

This book’s main storyline was inspired by a real-life event. The author’s son was deeply upset when NBA player Kyrie Irving shared a documentary containing antisemitic ideas on social media. Irving was temporarily removed from his team before issuing an apology.

My son, a huge sports enthusiast, recently asked me directly, “Why does everyone seem to dislike us? Do I have to stop going to basketball games?” I remember a specific instance – we were walking on the Brooklyn Bridge headed to a Nets game – when he asked me this, and I didn’t know what to say. I decided to contact his school to see what they were doing to address antisemitism, especially since they had programs focused on other types of prejudice. I was surprised to learn they didn’t have any specific resources or curriculum for it. Their response was basically that they address these questions on a case-by-case basis when they come up. It really struck me that there wasn’t any dedicated support available for kids dealing with antisemitism.

Did the Hamas attack on Israel that led to the war in Gaza accelerate the need for such a book?

Yonit and I have been friends for a long time, and we unfortunately anticipated a rise in antisemitism. Since our children are similar in age and she grew up here, she understands the U.S. well. We decided to write the kind of book we wished existed—one that addresses this issue, which we knew would likely become more prominent. It’s not a complete solution, but it will be a helpful and engaging resource for Jewish children, non-Jewish children, and the adults who care for them.

Honestly, I was so disappointed with how the school handled what happened to Theo. Seeing a swastika and a hateful hashtag on his locker is awful, and the response just felt…weak. It makes you wonder if they’re really taking incidents like this seriously, and if students like Theo are truly safe.

This is a significant part of the issue: we haven’t dealt with this problem effectively. While other forms of hate – like swastikas, offensive social media posts, or hurtful comments from any side – are often treated as individual events, this particular type of hate hasn’t received the same level of serious attention. I’ve seen this firsthand, and so have other family members over the past decade. When antisemitic symbols appeared at school, the response was often just to have a discussion about tolerance, rather than taking strong action. As a Jewish American, this has been my personal experience.

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The new book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson has sparked a national conversation about whether the White House was honest with the public regarding President Biden’s mental sharpness, and how his decision to run for reelection so late in the game may have hurt the Democratic Party’s ability to prevent Donald Trump from winning.

Given the growing public disapproval of Israel’s actions in the Gaza war, how much more complex has this conversation become?

It’s understandable why this issue hasn’t been widely addressed for this generation – it’s often linked to the Middle East in people’s minds. This conflict, sparked by the terrible attacks on October 7th, is the most extensive, devastating, and emotionally draining one we’ve reported on. We consistently see a rise in antisemitism globally whenever there’s conflict in that region. While I believe the United States is the best place to be Jewish, I’ve never known a time, growing up in either Texas or New York, without security concerns – whether it’s armed guards or bomb threats – at synagogues or other Jewish centers. Sadly, this has become commonplace, and I now feel uneasy visiting a Jewish institution without security measures in place. This feeling existed even before the events of October 7th.

Was it difficult to sell this book?

We began approaching publishers around two to three months after October 7th – around the end of December 2023 and early January 2024. I was surprised that we faced a lot of rejection. We were told that writing for this age group is generally difficult due to marketing challenges, but we believe these readers are intelligent and eager for information, and deserve respectful materials – we didn’t want to create a preachy book. After that, publishers suggested waiting six months to a year, or even a couple of years, before considering a book on antisemitism. We felt this was precisely the moment to address the issue, so we decided to self-publish instead.

How did you eventually find a publisher?

I’m so thrilled with how things are going with our project! Yonit and I were really open about sharing it with everyone we knew, and it actually led to an incredible opportunity. I happened to be sitting next to Michael Lynton – he used to run Sony Entertainment and now leads Snap – at a dinner for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I told him all about the book, and he immediately offered to publish it! His family runs a publishing house called Arcadia, which usually focuses on regional children’s books, so it’s a bit different for them. But I truly believe he saw the potential in our idea, and we’re just so thankful for his support.

Your son and Theo seem to have some things in common. When he read the book, did he worry it shared too much personal information?

It’s actually quite amusing – he really seemed to enjoy the story and what was happening. But now, I think he’s more concerned with the way things are in the world. He’s mostly worried about safety, potential negative reactions, and not wanting to bring unwanted attention to me or our family – which is a pretty normal response for kids his age. Interestingly, he’s also become much more connected to his Jewish faith and background. He had his bar mitzvah in Israel last year, and he’s been eager to attend synagogue and really explore his culture, which we’re thrilled about.

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2025-11-11 14:32