June is almost over, and summer is in full swing! We’ve had such a fun month full of author interviews, stellar reviews, and fantastic industry opportunities. Cozy up with your favourite mug of (iced) tea, and let’s get into all the fun updates here at Young Adulting Review!
The First Page Feature 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 First Page Feature guidelines here, and submit here!
May’s First Page Feature is Braden Eguia!
Braden Eguia is a UBC alumni with a degree in Piano Performance. He specializes in writing fantasy, inspired by the novels and TV shows he consumed as a child. His most recently completed novel, Threadings, is a revenge/found family story that takes place in an early 20th century Hong Kong-esque setting, with a magic system inspired by the works of Brandon Sanderson. Aside from reading and writing, he enjoys arranging music for piano, being very critical of poor book-to-screen adaptations, and taking midnight walks around the neighbourhood with his dog.
Threadings
KaiNam prepared to kill.
She rested her hand on the moonsphere belted to her right hip, trying to steady her pounding heart. The metal orb glinted in the faint light of the narrow corridor, fully charged should she need to use it. Crouching in the shadows at the end of the hallway, her eyes darted back and forth like a restless sparrow, scanning her surroundings for any movement. Getting into the manor had been easier than expected under the cover of night, but she had underestimated the number of guards present that evening. It was almost as if the viceroy knew they’d be coming.
No. He couldn’t have found out. You’re just being paranoid.
She inhaled, savouring the cool night air that filled her chest. There was no time to be hesitant. No time to second-guess. They only had one shot. She stepped forward, ready to enter the hallway—
A brief scuffle drew her attention to the end of the corridor, and she quickly withdrew back into the shadows, holding in a breath. With her left hand, she drew a small dagger from her belt and held it close, ready to strike at a potential enemy.
There was a thump, and a body emerged from around the corner and fell to the ground. The helmet and breastplate identified it as a guard. A few moments passed, and an old man hobbled into view, both hands resting on his wooden cane as he looked down at the body. He inspected the fallen guard, then directed his sight to where KaiNam was hiding.
I can see you, A-Gu’s voice echoed in her mind.
She emerged from behind the corner, sheathed the dagger, then unraveled her internal thread and anchored it to the end of the hall. She held her breath and blinked. Instantly, she found herself standing next to A-Gu, transported from her hiding place to his side.
“Thanks for that,” she whispered, giving the fallen body a kick. “I didn’t see him.”
“You’re lucky I was nearby, then.” A-Gu smiled, the wrinkles on his face deepening around his sunken eyes. “I’ve managed to conceal two others in empty side rooms, but it won’t be long before they are discovered. We need to move quickly.”
“I can do quickly. Have you seen HeiFu?”
“I caught a glimpse of one of his Divisions drawing a guard’s attention away from myself. Fortunately, there was no commotion. He sure is a sneaky one.”
All right, you two. Time to break up the conversation. JiYung’s voice contained a hint of urgency, carried by his own internal thread that was latched to her chest. We don’t have all night.
A-Gu nodded, then scanned the area as if looking through the walls. “Two guards coming from the north. Head to the southern wing, KaiNam. I’ll deal with the body.”
She nodded, then anchored her internal thread to the end of the second hallway, Bouncing away from A-Gu and entering a separate section of the mansion complex.
What drew you to writing for younger audiences?
Stories written for younger audiences often have a sharp and clean aesthetic, with much less of the dark, gritty baggage that can come with adult-oriented stories (extreme gore, sex, profanities, etc). While I’m not opposed to leaning into darker themes every now and then, I do enjoy the underlying optimism present in many stories written for younger readers.
What’s your favourite part of the writing process?
Getting to write the climax of a story. The climax and ending are often some of the first scenes I come up with when creating a story, and the experience of finally getting to write it—along with wrapping up any loose storytelling threads in the process—is exhilarating. Often I can pump out several thousand words more than I usually write per day because I get so immersed in the process.
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Write first, edit later. When I start going down internet rabbit holes about cursory worldbuilding details, I can spend hours doing research instead of actually writing. Putting the story onto the page is the most important part of the process. Once the story exists, it’s much easier to edit and add details you’ve skipped over. Just make notes as to what you need to add as you write!
If you are interested in contacting Braden Eguia, please email young.adulting@ubc.ca.
YAing Updates
We’ve published some marvellous reviews since our last update. Here’s a recap:
- “Although the beginning chapters make it seem that Kylie the Magnificent is a novel all about girl power and feminism, it quickly evolves into a book about friendship. Chan adeptly illustrates the harsh reality of friendship issues in a fast-moving plot that shows the highs and lows of working through challenges. The short chapters and accessible language told from the protagonist’s perspective, Kylie, simultaneously engage readers and allow them insight into how being a young girl in a male-dominated field can feel.” Moira Young reviews Kylie the Magnificent by Marty Chan
- “Well-researched wilderness survival skills, such as how to start a fire without matches, how to carve into the side of a snowy mountain to check for avalanche risks, and how to snare a rabbit all work to make this story believable. I was there with the three Gunnarsson kids shivering under a Douglas Fur bough, hungry and waiting for my first morsel of freeze-dried food, and with them as they huddled together, dead quiet as searchers hike passed just metres away.” Deb Vail reviews Mountain Runaways by Pam Withers
- “Readers learn more about Liv’s interests through Leth’s illustrations of her bedroom posters, the pins on her backpack, and her signature style including fishnets, combat boots, stripes, and lots of black. Leth also incorporates different mediums into her art, including views of Liv’s online messaging and the Daemon’s Thirst video game that Liv’s new friends invite her to play. Overall, the illustrations work to amplify not only the setting, but the characters as well, allowing a deeper connection between readers and Liv.” GiGi Kang reviews Mall Goth by Kate Leth
- “Sydney Dunlap draws from her experience as a former elementary school teacher working with at-risk youth to expertly craft a narrative that delves into the unsettling, yet realistic encounters tweens and teens may face without proper supervision. The novel’s strength lies in its unflinching portrayal of Julia’s harrowing experience trapped with a recruiter and a trafficker in a hotel room, highlighting the potential dangers lurking in the digital landscape.” Groff Lai reviews It Happened on Saturday by Sydney Dunlap
- “Amy and Christopher also have unique voices that I really enjoyed reading. Amy is a funny and idealistic activist who always dresses as if she’s going to a punk concert. Christopher is a journalist for the highschool paper and the only openly gay guy in the highschool. I loved reading how his perspective of Barcley changed as the book progressed.” Dany Caballero reviews Time Out by Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, and Carlyn Greenwald
- “Heilman tells this story through the alternating perspective of these three girls, and the insight she gives us into each of their psyches leads to heart wrenching moments of personal discovery and inner conflict. Each girl is earnest and open in their own chapters, confessing their own deepest anxieties and secrets, while still swiftly maintaining the image of ‘having it all together’ to one another. The layers of lies and pressures— from Renzi’s complicated relationship with Davis’s ex, to Jae’s burgeoning queer identity suppressed by her distant mother— build themselves into a painfully realistic and relatable recreation of the high school experience.” Ella Richards reviews Badass(ish) by Jaymie Heilman
As always, check back every Thursday and every other Tuesday for more reviews of upcoming and new releases.
Industry News
The 2024 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition is happening now in Chicago Illinois! The ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition brings together thousands of librarians and library staff, educators, authors, publishers, friends of libraries, trustees, special guests, and exhibitors. If you’re unable to attend in-person, you can still check out the digital experience here!
In honour of Indigenous History Month, the CBCCbook list features books for all ages that explore the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Check out the list here!
The FOLD is hiring a PROGRAM COORDINATOR, and applications are now open! This permanent full-time position entails overseeing the programming, planning and execution of all adult programming including the annual Festival of Literary Diversity and FOLD Academy. Get more details here! The deadline to apply is Wednesday, July 3, 2024, 11:59pm ET
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 