Akem is an artist and writer. Her short stories have appeared in Pulp Literature, Polar Borealis, and the Capilano Review. She illustrated Brown Sugar Babe, a picture book published in Feb 2020 that received great reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, and Black Nerd Problems. … More 5 Questions for Akem
Review by Logaine Navascués
Sons can bring good fortune and prosperity to a Taiwanese family, so what could be better than having ten of them? But if we look a little more closely, we see that their quiet sister also shines, despite growing up in the shadow of her siblings. … More Ten Little Dumplings by Larissa Fan, Illustrated by Cindy Wume
In this newsletter we look forward to upcoming literary events, and celebrate the accomplishments of black authors and illustrators of children and young adult books. … More YAing News: Week of Feb. 8
As lockdowns are starting again we wanted to make sure we can provide you with lots of great indoor activities. … More YAing News: Week of Nov. 23
Vikki VanSickle is the award-winning author of many children’s books, including the 2018 Red Maple Award winning YA novel The Winnowing and, most recently, the picture book Teddy Bear of the Year. … More 5 Questions for Vikki VanSickle
Review by Jennifer Irvine.
In this mystery, IT nerd Kya Caine and social media expert Fuse Fallon are bitter rivals for Paris Secord, famously known as DJ ParSec’s, attention. Then, 16-year-old ParSec is found lying dead on her turntable and Kya and Fuse happen to both be at the murder scene.
… More Spin by Lamar Giles
Review by Micah Killjoy
Oh, to be a thirteen-year-old saving my brother from child traffickers on a foggy San Francisco day in 1849. Thanks to the novel Gold Rush Girl, I got to imagine living just such a life. … More Gold Rush Girl by Avi
Review by Jennifer Irvine
It’s Brooklyn in the late nineties, when rap music can be heard reverberating out of ghetto blasters everywhere. Singer Lauryn Hill reigns supreme, and Jay-Z and Mariah Carey are just getting started on their monster careers. … More Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson
Review by Shanleigh Klassen
Life has not been easy for Hartley Staples as of late. It could be in part because his teacher has just assigned the last project of middle school and he has absolutely no clue what to present on. … More The Collected Works of Gretchen Oyster by Cary Fagan
Review by Jennifer Irvine
The timeless tale of teenage rivalry, jealousy, and social hierarchy—all delivered with a cruelty that only teens can spoon out—keeps this narrative feisty. Author Ian Doescher morphs the iconic movie Mean Girls into a Shakespearean play, complete with five acts, numerous scenes, and stage directions. … More Much Ado About Mean Girls by Ian Doescher
