Sponsored by a selection of fall novels from the Class of 2k19 books, 20 authors, 20 MG and YA novels debuting in 2019.
THE TENTH GIRL: “Faring’s exquisite prose weaves a tale that is seductively eerie and wildly original.” —April Genevieve Tucholke, The Boneless Mercies
SCARS LIKE WINGS: “A heartfelt look at the reality of being a burn survivor and the scars we all carry.” -Stephanie Nielson, Heaven is Here
GRAVEMAIDENS: “Gravemaidens grabs you by your beating heart and refuses to let go until the bitter, breathtaking end.” Sarah Glenn Marsh, Reign of the Fallen
WILD LIFE: “Roberts’ witty voice navigates joy and sorrow with a deft touch; her descriptions of Baboon Camp are so vivid, you can smell the dust.” – Madeline Miller, Circe
Hey YA Fans!
Let’s catch up on the fast-and-furiously coming YA book news. There has been some big stuff in such a short period of time since the last news round-up.
- This is exciting! Author/artist Mariko Tamaki is heading up a new imprint that will focus on LGBTQIA+ graphic novels for young readers (including teens). Check out some of the first books to hit.
- Rena Barron — who wrote a newsletter here last month — had her debut novel acquired for potential film by Michael B. Jordan.
- Julie Murphy writing a novelization of the Faith comic is the best news. Fat heroines by fat authors = win win win win win.
- Peep the cast of the upcoming Shadow and Bone adaptation.
- Wil Wheton is performing a new edition of John Green’s Looking for Alaska.
- More casting news for the Tiny Pretty Things Netflix adaptation.
- Speaking of casting news, here’s some for the adaptation of Unpregnant.
- There’s a producer attached to the adaptation of Aurora Rising.
- I did not know that Snapchat had their own video platform (like Facebook does) but it does, and the adaptation of the YA book The Dead Girl’s Detective Agency was renewed for a fourth season.
- Speaking of Snapchat adaptations, here’s a neat piece going behind the scenes with Lance Rubin, who is seeing one of his novels adapted for the platform.
- A Little Women adaptation for today’s teens?
- There’s a spring 2021YA book by a 19-year-old author coming that’s already been optioned for film.
- Some news about the pilot of the adaptation for One Of Us Is Lying.
- A song from Dear Evan Hansen — a show which was made into a YA book this year — will be made into a gift book angled for teen readers.
- There won’t be a second season of Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists.
- Archie comics — which have had novelizations made from them (via Riverdale) — will be coming out with YA graphic novels now.
- This whole “comic –> book –> comic” thing is fascinating me, as it’s a trend in YA. We’ll see it happen with Batman and Wonder Woman, which were made into novels recently and will be made into YA comics now.
- Tom Ryan’s Keep This To Yourself might hit a television near you. (Remember when he chatted Norma Klein with me this summer on Hey YA?)
- Nancy Drew on the CW hits this week. Nancy is played by the daughter of YA author Lisa McMann.
- Remember The House of Night series? It’s being adapted.
For Caraval fans, you’ll want these great enamel pins. $11 and up.
Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you later this week, where we’ll talk with several YA authors who write horror about why it is teen readers love to be scared.
— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram (note the new name!) and editor of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy and Here We Are.