So you’ve heard all about the #READdifferent campaign, but you’re not sure where to start on your journey of literary exploration and discovery. We’re here to help! Each week we will be featuring a different theme or genre that you can use to #READdifferent at the 2015 AJC Decatur Book Festival.
This week, we’re highlighting some of the fantastic YOUNG ADULT authors presenting at the 2015 AJC Decatur Book Festival. If you’ve never ventured into the colorful and exciting world of YA lit, exploring these authors is a great way to #READdifferent at this year’s festival.
Becky Albertalli
Albertalli’s book Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda tells the story of Simon Spier, a 16-year-old high school student who has yet to come out as openly gay. When someone accidentally discovers his secret through a private email, Simon starts being blackmailed, and is forced to deal with the ever-changing dynamics of high school drama, all while trying to stay in the closet.
Renee Ahdieh
The YA-fantasy-thriller The Wrath and the Dawn is set in Khorasan, a land ruled by an evil boy-king who kills a new teenaged bride every dawn. The 16-year-old protagonist, Shahrzad, volunteers to marry the lethal king, but does so with a plan to seek revenge for the murder of her best friend.
Adam Silvera
Aaron Soto, the protagonist of More Happy Than Not, had a tough background. He grew up poor in the Bronx, he has few friends, and his father committed suicide. When he meets Thomas, they spark an immediate romantic connection that is not welcome in his community. Aaron is forced to confront The Leteo Institute and their memory-relief program to straighten himself out, literally, even if that means forgetting who he really is.
Sarah Dessen
Dessen, one of the most popular American YA authors, comes to this year’s DBF with her latest novel, Saint Anything. This book follows a girl named Sydney, who has always stood in the shadow of her charming older brother. Following a drunk driving incident that sends her brother to jail, Sydney becomes close with another family, whose friendliness helps her understand her brother’s accident, loved ones, and herself.
David Arnold
Mim Malone, the main character in Arnold’s newest novel, Mosquitoland, has been on powerful antipsychotic drugs during the past year, and her dad and stepmom dragged her to a new home in Mississippi. After learning that her real mother is sick in Cleveland, Mim boards a bus to her home, meeting new ecletic people along the way and ultimately yearning to discover herself.