As we get closer and closer to summer, Young Adulting has a few updates to share with you all!
YAing Updates
Please join us in welcoming Sophia Thomson into her new role as Young Adulting’s Editor! Sophia is a MFA student at UBC’s School of Creative Writing and is very excited to be joining the YAing team. You can read a little more about her on our Editors page here.
While we’ve taken a little hiatus, we have not forgotten about you! To all of our lovely reviewers, we apologize for being a little MIA as our team transitions—we can’t wait to get your work out into the world as soon as possible!
Please rest assured that in the coming days and weeks, Sophia will be wading through the Young Adulting mailbox and responding to email queries.
Until we post our next reviews, please check out the marvellous posts since our last update. Here’s the recap:
Recent Reviews
- If our everyday world is a bit too much, step into F.T. Lukens’ fantasy romance, Otherworldy, reviewed by Chiara Dissanayake. This novel is perfect for readers looking for a well-balanced mix of action, worldbuilding, developed characters, queer love, and magic realism…and I mean, what more could anyone ask for?
- For a heartwarming read, look no further than The Book of Elsie by Joanne Levy, reviewed by Evelyn Kenwood. In this middle grade novel, Jewish pre-teen Elsie brainstorms ways to save the Purim party when she finds out the synagogue is closing. While this novel highlights female empowerment, friendship, and community connection, it also confronts discrimination and antisemitism in an accessible way for young readers.
- For younger readers, take a look at GiGi Kang’s review of Head Full of Clouds by Joanne Schwartz and illustrated by Afsaneh Sanei. This charming picture book reminds readers to enjoy the present and all the wondrous things that nature has to offer us. Full of wonder, whimsy, and beautiful imagery, fans of Darren Lebeuf’s My Ocean Is Blue or Oliver Jeffers’ Meanwhile Back on Earth will adore Schwartz picture book.
- For those who want to step into the vivid and vibrant world of Los Angeles’ Echo Park all while enjoying an enemies-to-lovers rom-com, check out Dany Caballero’s review of With Love, Echo Park by Laura Taylor Namey.
- Groff Lai took a look at Cassandra Calin’s graphic novel, The New Girl, which explores the challenges and complexities of growing up all while trying to acclimate to a new life after moving from Romania to Canada. Inspired by Calin’s own experiences as an immigrant, the semi-autobiographical graphic novel gives an inspiring look at resilience through all the lows and highs of the immigrant experience.
Industry News
- The Vancouver Public Library is running virtual Family Storytimes for children five and under every Friday from 10:30-11AM. If you’re looking for an interactive program for kids and their guardians, register here.
- The Canadian Children’s Book Centre is running a book club meeting on June 4th at 4PM for those interested in chatting about the award-winning middle grade novel, Weird Rules to Follow by Kim Spencer (Orca Book Publishers). Get your free tickets here.
- Telling Tales will be running a three-day free virtual celebration of all things Graphic Novels from June 10-12th. Perfect for children in grades 1-6 but open to everyone. Pre-register here.
Career Opportunities
Our friends at The FOLD Foundation have an open call for volunteers looking to get involved. This is a great place to help continue to support FOLD and help them celebrate underrepresented authors and storytellers. Learn more here.
For those of you based in Toronto, Simon & Schuster Canada Internships are now open for application. Ever wanted to learn more about the Canadian publishing industry including editing, marketing, sales, and publicity? Now’s your chance! Learn more about the application process here.
Submissions
Exciting opportunities await you here!
- Banff Centre has their applications open for the Early Career Writers of Young Adult and Children’s Books 2025 Residency. Geared towards new YA and children’s lit writers, this two week residency will give you the chance to work closely with industry professionals including UBC’s very own Jordan Scott!
- The Owlkids Editorial Team wants you to know that OwlKids is open for submission until May 16th so if you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it!
- Tundra Book Group is currently accepting manuscripts and art submissions by creators from underrepresented communities. This includes anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous or as a person of color, LGBTSQI2S+, having a disability or anyone whose ever had refugee status. Learn more here.
- Last but certainly not least, CANSCAIP’s annual Writing for Children Competition is now open for submissions. To incentivize you, anyone who applies will receive written feedback from traditionally published CANSCAIP volunteer readers, and winners will receive cash prizes!
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.
Take care, and happy reading,
The Young Adulting Editors
YOUNG ADULTING 