Adrianna Cuevas is the author 2021 Pura Belpré Honor Book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez. Her new book Cuba in My Pocket tells the story of a twelve-year-old boy who leaves his family in Cuba to immigrate to the U.S. by himself, based on the author’s family history.
Adrianna shares more about her inspiration for the story and her advice for young writers here!
Read our Q&A with Adrianna Cuevas here →
This month, we’re interviewing Amber McBride, author of debut novel-in-verse Me (Moth)! The novel is about a teen girl who is grieving the deaths of her family and a teen boy who crosses her path. The book publishes this August and has just earned its first star from Booklist, who described the story as being “hauntingly romantic.”
Amber shares more about her inspiration for the story and what she hopes young readers will learn here.
Read a Q&A with Amber here →
In honor of Pride Month, we’re interviewing Mike Curato, creator of Flamer, his debut graphic novel! With five starred reviews, this is a powerful story about a young boy’s path to self-discovery and acceptance. Mike shares more about his inspiration for the story and his advice for aspiring writers and illustrators here.
Read a Q&A with Mike here →
This month, we’re interviewing Christian McKay Heidicker, author of 2020 Newbery Honor book Scary Stories for Young Foxes! This fall, the series continues with Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City. This next installment chronicles the adventures of three fox kits desperate to survive the terrors of a frightening new world.
Christian shares more about his inspiration for the story and what he hopes young readers will learn here.
Read a Q&A with Christian here →
This month we’re interviewing Randi Pink, author of Angel of Greenwood. May 31, 2021 marks 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre. In this historical fiction account of the tragedy, the thriving Black community of Greenwood in Tulsa, OK is destroyed by an angry mob of white people. Randi Pink honors the real victims of Greenwood by acknowledging the strength and resilience in this community and two teenagers who fall in love in the midst of chaos.
Randi shares more about her inspiration for the story and what she hopes young readers will learn here.
Read a Q&A with Randi here →
Meet Joan He, the author of The Ones We’re Meant to Find, on sale May 4th! In this futuristic tale, a 16-year-old girl wakes up on an island with no memory of anything except for her sister. Her mission: she must use her STEM skills to get off the island, find her sister, and help humanity.
Joan shares her inspiration for the story here + request a digital ARC on NetGalley and start reading now!
Read a Q&A with Joan here →
Meet Juliet Menéndez, the author and illustrator of Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers, on sale today, February 23rd! In honor of Women’s History Month, Juliet shares the story of a remarkable historical Latina, plus the inspiration behind her book and more!
Read a Q&A with Juliet here →
Meet Gene Luen Yang, the author and illustrator of Dragon Hoops, a 2021 Printz Honor Book! Gene shares more about his inspiration for this book, his most memorable teacher, his favorite childhood book, and more!
Read a Q&A with Gene here →
Meet the author of the young adult fantasy Age of Darkness series, which comprises of There Will Come a Darkness (a William C. Morris Award Finalist), As the Shadow Rises, and Into the Dying Light (on sale September 2021). Katy Rose Pool shares more about her inspiration for this book, her most memorable teachers and librarians, her favorite childhood books, and more!
Read a Q&A with Katy here →
Meet the author of the young adult novel All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson. George shares more about their inspiration for this book, their most memorable teachers and librarians, their favorite childhood books, and more!
Read a Q&A with George M. Johnson here →