Happy July! We hope you’ve been soaking up the warmth, the sunshine, and all the good books these past few weeks. And if you find yourself in need of some new reads, look no further—we’ve got you covered. Here’s a roundup of all the exciting reviews and news since I last wrote:
YAing Updates
First, let’s start with what’s been going on here at Young Adulting this month. In our July author spotlight, managing editor Hannah Luppe interviews Nafiza Azad, coeditor of the young adult anthology Writing in Color and author of The Candle and the Flame, which was nominated for the William C. Morris Award, The Wild Ones, and Road of the Lost. Nafiza talks writing advice and inspirations:
Road of the Lost is a response to the kind of the books I read in my formative years, where the main characters were white, all adventures happened to people not like me, who ate foods I was not familiar with. I first met brownies in an Enid Blyton book. Though I didn’t realize how problematic her books were until I grew up, they did open a vast world completely alien to that little girl who lived in a sugarcane farm in Fiji who had never seen and couldn’t really imagine what a tart was or what it tasted like but very much wanted to find out. I wanted to write a story of the fae that shifted somewhat to include those who don’t fit the usual narrative—this was what was denied to me by the Enid Blyton books.
5 Questions for Nafiza Azad
Don’t forget to check out extra content in our recorded interview!
We’ve also published some marvellous reviews. Here’s a recap:
- “At some point or another, every kid wishes for exciting adventures, real magic, and a trusty animal sidekick. Janelle McCurdy’s The Lightcasters encompasses all those childhood dreams but with a twist. The umbra—hybrid animals made of shadows and magic—come to life in McCurdy’s prose with a unique reimagining of the bond between humans and animals.” Hannah Kelly reviews The Lightcasters by Janelle McCurdy
- “One of the great strengths of the story is its utilization of imagery and setting to bring the world and cultures of ancient Egyptian nations to life. Sevigny has a beautiful way with words that captures the novel’s vibrant settings, using advanced vocabulary that caters toward the older end of the intended age group.” Belle Cole reviews The Oracle of Avaris by Alisha Sevigny
- “Every adult knows the awe and wonder make-believe stories instilled in us as young children. We all imagined ourselves riding a unicorn or fighting a dragon or dancing with fairies. But what if these magical beings turned out to be real? And you were the only one who could help save them?” Evelyn Hussey reviews Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef
As always, check back every Tuesday and Thursday for more reviews of upcoming and new releases.
Industry News
The FOLD Kids 2023 Festival Program deadline has been extended until July 16th! Youth ages 6 – 14 located in Canada can submit poetry (any length) and short stories (up to 500 words) to the festival program. Learn more about submission guidelines here!
Vancouver Kidsbooks is inviting kids of all ages to join in the fun this July and sign up for the free Where’s Waldo Scavenger Hunt in one of Vancouver’s local neighbourhoods. Sign-up for the scavenger hunts starts on Monday July 3rd at both Kidsbooks locations! Click here to learn more.
On Wednesday, July 19th, the Vancouver Public Library is hosting a writing workshop for teens (ages 13-18) run by Sarah Suk, author of Made in Korea & The Space Between Here & Now. Click here to learn more and register.
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 