YA authors and fans gathered in Houston on April 12 at Alief Taylor High School for the annual TeenBookCon, a day of YA-centric book festivities. More than 800 guests turned out for book signings and panels with topics that ranged from crafting main characters and plot twists to graphic novel development, plus keynote speeches from celebrated authors Nic Stone and J. Elle. Blue Willow Bookshop owner Valerie Koehler said, "It was such a joy to collaborate with educators in the greater Houston area to host TeenBookCon. Watching teens delightedly interact with their peers and with authors reminded us of the windows and mirrors that books can provide. What a great day—we can't wait to do it again next year!" Photos by Noah Nofz and Mary Cate Stevenson.
Celebrating a successful event: (Back row, from l.): TeenBookCon committee member William Schaller, authors Sharon G. Flake, Neal Shusterman, Kasie West, Nic Stone, Emily J. Taylor, Alexis Castellanos, J. Elle, Tobias Madden, Hafsah Faizal; (center row, from l.) R.M. Gray, Emma K. Ohland, Kendare Blake, Rex Ogle, Ibi Zoboi, Jan Gangsei, Jessica Goodman, and Trang Thanh Tran; (bottom row, from l.) Laura Gao, Justine Pucella Winans, Leslie Lutz, Victoria Aveyard, and TeenBookCon co-chair Lisa Nguyen.
J. Elle (l.) and Nic Stone during their keynote conversation.
Victoria Aveyard (l.) and Kendare Blake during the “Fighting Fate” panel.
“Fighting Fate” panelists Hafsah Faizal (l.) and R.M. Gray.
Neal Shusterman (l.) and Sharon G. Flake discuss narrative on the “Wordslingers: The Power of Storytelling” panel.
“The Chemistry of Connection” panelists Alexis Castellanos (l.) and Kasie West talk romance.
Tobias Madden (r.) gives a reading during “The Chemistry of Connection” panel alongside fellow panelist Laura Gao (l.).
Justine Pucella Winans (l.) greets a fan.
Trang Thanh Tran (r.) speaks with an attendee during a book signing.
Rex Ogle signs a copy of his book for a reader.
Ibi Zoboi (r.) takes a picture with a guest.
