If you know me, you know there are several different days I would hyperbolically refer to as The Best Day of the Year. You also know that I mean it wholeheartedly every time I say it.
So when I say that Teen Book Con is the Best Day of the Year, know that I am telling you the truth.
Imagine a day designed for teen readers. A day where there are photo booths for selfie-taking, a tree to hang your poetry on, 3D printers to gawk at, buttons to make, books to buy, food trucks in the parking lot, and authors. Lots and lots of authors. And admission is free (you have to pay for the books and the food, unfortunately)! That day is Teen Book Con. It happens every year in April and is put on by a committee of amazing librarians and the coolest independent book store.
I love going to Teen Book Con because, even though there are lots of librarians and other adults around, it's really focused on the teens. During the panels, teens are given priority seating and only teens are called on to ask questions of the authors. Librarians are welcome to get books signed but it's the teens that get to wait in lines to meet the authors in person.
This year was especially fun. I was psyched about a bunch of the authors (Andrew McCarthy, Zoraida Cordova, Benjamin Alire Saenz, Bill Konigsberg!), but seeing them in person and watching them talk about their work and interact with their readers made me even more excited about reading.
Highlights of the day included: any panel with Angie Thomas (author of The Hate U Give), the general awesomeness of Benjamin Alire Saenz, Andrew McCarthy probably assuming I was taking a sneaky picture of him, Laini Taylor's shoes, and the Family Feud Author Edition that resulted in Len Vlahos taking off his pants onstage!
So when I say that Teen Book Con is the Best Day of the Year, know that I am telling you the truth.
Imagine a day designed for teen readers. A day where there are photo booths for selfie-taking, a tree to hang your poetry on, 3D printers to gawk at, buttons to make, books to buy, food trucks in the parking lot, and authors. Lots and lots of authors. And admission is free (you have to pay for the books and the food, unfortunately)! That day is Teen Book Con. It happens every year in April and is put on by a committee of amazing librarians and the coolest independent book store.
I love going to Teen Book Con because, even though there are lots of librarians and other adults around, it's really focused on the teens. During the panels, teens are given priority seating and only teens are called on to ask questions of the authors. Librarians are welcome to get books signed but it's the teens that get to wait in lines to meet the authors in person.
This year was especially fun. I was psyched about a bunch of the authors (Andrew McCarthy, Zoraida Cordova, Benjamin Alire Saenz, Bill Konigsberg!), but seeing them in person and watching them talk about their work and interact with their readers made me even more excited about reading.
Highlights of the day included: any panel with Angie Thomas (author of The Hate U Give), the general awesomeness of Benjamin Alire Saenz, Andrew McCarthy probably assuming I was taking a sneaky picture of him, Laini Taylor's shoes, and the Family Feud Author Edition that resulted in Len Vlahos taking off his pants onstage!
If you couldn't make it this year, I'm so sad for you! You should really plan on joining us next year!
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