Every year Los Angeles shows it’s book pride by celebrating the written word in one glorious weekend of book bedazzlement! If you aren’t familiar with this fantastic festival it is the Los Angeles Festival of Books hosted on the UCLA campus. This year the event takes place on the 24th and 25th of April, and there is a whole plethora of YA and Kid Lit friendly events including panels and both a YA Stage and a Children’s Stage.
Both the stages are outdoor events found among the exhibitor tents (a free range booth-a-rama of portable book stores arranged by publisher). But there are also seminars sponsored throughout the day in various halls on the UCLA campus. These lectures do require a ticket (which will cost you a whopping 75 cents) in order to ensure you a seat. I’ve listed the YA talks for your interest (below) and links to the events happening throughout the day at the stages. Be sure to check back after the festival for notes on the events I attended!
YA Related Panels on Saturday April 24th:
10:30 am: Meg Cabot in Conversation with Cecil Castellucci. Location: Ackerman Grand Ballroom. Panel code: 1121
10:30 am: Fact vs. Fiction: Storytelling in YA Nonfiction. Featuring Deborah Heiligman, Stephanie Hemphill, and Elizabeth Partridge. Location: Fowler Museum. Panel Code: 1061
12: 30 pm: Young Adult Fiction – ‘Tween the Lines. Featuring Pseudonymous Bosch, Gordon Koreman, and D.J. MacHale Located in room Moore 100. Panel Code: 1102 .
12:30 pm: Kate DiCamillo in Conversation with Susan Carpenter. Location: Broad 2160. Panel Code: 1052
Full list of Saturday panels available here: Saturday Panels
YA Stage Saturday Events:
11:00 am: WriteGirl!
12:00 pm: She’s All That: Writing Contemporary Girls Panelists: Robin Benway, Cherry Cheva, Joanna Philbin. Moderator: Aaron Hartzler
1:00 pm: Boys Will Be Boys: Guys Talk YA Panelists: Ben Esch , Blake Nelson, Andrew Smith, and Allen Zadoff. Moderator: Cecil Castellucci
2:00 pm: Blood, Fangs, and Temptation: Everything Vampire Panelists: Heather Brewer, Rachel Caine, Melissa de la Cruz, Richelle Mead. Moderator: Aaron Hartzler
3:00 pm: The InbeTWEENers Panelists: Cylin Busby, Anna Hays, and Jane Smiley. Moderator: Aaron Hartzler
4:00 pm: LAYAPALOOZA. A live game show for lovers of books for teens and ‘tweens!
YA Related Panels on Sunday April 25th:
10:30 am: John Green and David Levithan in Conversation with Denise Hamilton. Location: Korn Convocation Hall. Panel Code: 2071
11:00 am:Young Adult – The Kids are Alright. Featuring Robin Benway, Meg Cabot, Don Calame, and Rosalind Wiseman. Location: Moore 100. Panel Code: 2101
3:00 pm: Young Adult Fiction – Teens in Turmoil. Featuring Gayle Forman, Cynthia Kadohata, and Jandy Nelson. Location: Fowler Museum. Panel Code: 2064
Full list of Sunday panels available here: Sunday Panels
YA Stage Sunday Events:
11:00 am: The Power of the Paranormal. Panelists: Kami Garcia, Nancy Holder, and Carol Snow. Moderator: Aaron Hartzler
12:00 pm: LAYAPALOOZA. A live game show for lovers of books for teens and ‘tweens!
1:00 pm: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: Writing Today’s Teens. Panelists Lisi Harrison, Amy Goldman Koss and Robin Palmer. Moderator: Aaron Hartzler
2:00 pm: Truth and Fiction. Panelists: Cylin Busby, Davida Wills Hurwin, and Sherri L. Smith. Moderator: Cecil Castellucci
3:00 pm: Making the Magic Happen: Writing Young Adult Fantasy. Panelists: Michael Reisman, Margaret Stohl, Tracy Trivas, and Heather Tomlinson. Moderator: Aaron Hartzler
For more information on the festival including full stage and panel lists, exhibitors, parking, directions, etc. please check out the LA Times Festival Of Books 2010 Website.
Leave a Reply