What a glorious spring it’s shaping up to be—the sun is (sometimes) out, the birds are singing, and new books are being published! And just like the bees, we’ve been rather busy here at Young Adulting! Here’s a roundup of all the exciting reviews and news of the past few weeks:
YAing Updates
We are still accepting submissions for The First Page Feature! The FPF is a chance for emerging writers to feature the first page of their works-in-progress (ranging from Middle Grade to New Adult) in our monthly newsletter. Interested in featuring your first pages? Read our guidelines here, and submit here!
We’ve published some marvellous reviews since our last update. Here’s a recap:
- “It was a pleasure reading Duel by Jessixa Bagley. Once I started, I couldn’t put this story down. The dialogue is incredibly believable, and exactly how middle-schoolers tend to speak. This book perfectly captures how hard it is to be a young teen navigating the world and reminded me of my own time in middle school. From tricky friendships and conflict with parents to healing after loss, the issues that arise in Duel are tackled very well.” Evelyn Hussey reviews Duel by Jessixa Bagley, illus. Aaron Bagley
- “Levy keeps young readers engaged with scientific facts spread throughout the book, like when Arden explains that you can tell the difference between the two types of African Grey parrots through their feather colour and size. The story itself is streamlined, and the fast-paced plot never feels like it drags on.” Evelyn Kenwood Bird Brain by Joanne Levy
- “The relationships in this novel are some of its best parts. Though he struggles with loneliness, Ali is never truly alone. For one, Ali has his Dada, or paternal grandfather. As we learn of Iqbal Khan’s tragic backstory, Ali’s Dada serves as the facilitator of so many lessons, showcasing the importance of listening to and being supported by elders.” Carolina Leyton reviews Call Me Al by Wali Shah and Eric Walters
As always, check back every Thursday and every other Tuesday for more reviews of upcoming and new releases.
Industry News
FOLD 2024 is coming up, and registration is open! The festival runs from April 28 – May 5. Events April 28 – May 1 will be VIRTUAL, while events May 2 – 5 will be offered IN-PERSON. Check out their website to view this year’s fantastic schedule and register for tickets.
Authors Against Book Bans is group of children’s authors who are rallying against the rising number of book bans and challenges nationwide, speaking out about the erasure of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ voices. Read more about their efforts here and check out their website here.
A reminder that Diaspora Dialogues is accepting applications for short-form mentorship until March 31st! They invite submissions from emerging writers across Canada including short stories or creative nonfiction less than 3,000 words in length; or up to 5 poems! Learn more about their mentorship program here!
As always, please do send us your news related to children’s and young adult literature at young.adulting@ubc.ca so we can feature them in future newsletters. Our newsletter is published on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month. And remember to keep up with us on Twitter and Instagram!
Take care, and happy reading,
The Young Adulting Editors
YOUNG ADULTING 