Here’s an advance peek at why the editors participating in today’s Young Adult Editors’ Buzz Panel are especially enthusiastic about the novels they will spotlight, as well as their observations on the value of this forum for generating early book buzz. Moderated by Tegan Tigani of Queen Anne Book Company, the panel takes place this morning, in Room 1E12/1E13, 10–10:50 a.m.
Laura Chasen, associate editor, St. Martin’s Griffin, on Marie Marquardt’s Dream Things True: “This is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story about the romance between a well-to-do Southern boy and an undocumented Mexican girl, and the challenges they face in their hostile Georgia town. I’ve rarely seen the topic of undocumented immigration addressed in YA fiction, especially in such a nuanced and thought-provoking way. And it’s a fantastic love story! We are so lucky to have a forum like this to speak directly to our readers and say, ‘Please pay attention. This one is really special!’”
Wendy Loggia, executive editor, Delacorte Press, on Nicola Yoon’s Everything, Everything: “Nicola tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world, and who begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. It’s told via vignettes, diary entries, charts, and illustrations. This is the only manuscript I’ve ever read that, from page 10, I knew we needed to have on our list. It’s the type of book I always dream of finding: unique, fresh, voice-driven, and un-put-downable. Having the chance to shine the spotlight on a debut novel at this event, connecting directly with the book community and getting the conversation started and amplified, is an incredible opportunity.”
Arianne Lewin, executive editor, Putnam Books for Young Readers, on Nightfall, by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski: “Nightfall is set on an island that has 14 years of day, followed by 14 years of night. Just as the townspeople are about to board ships that will take them to a safe place to wait out the Night, a child goes missing. What follows is a riveting thriller in which three teenagers try desperately to escape the dark, cold, island that used to be their home—and save themselves from the creatures that live there. Because the concepts that make this book scary are also universal triggers of fear, it’s a book that will speak to a wide audience. I think BEA Buzz Panels are the most personal and organic way to foster industry excitement about up and coming books.”
Christian Trimmer, senior editor, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, on Daniel Kraus’s The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Vol. 1: At the Edge of Empire: “This story follows a young man murdered in 1896, resurrected minutes later, and doomed to wander Earth for eternity. The novel is an astounding marriage of ambition and craft. Daniel expertly creates each time period Zebulon endures, and his dedication to research is only surpassed by the power of his language. At one point, Zebulon is reunited with someone from his past, and it’s one of the most devastating, elegant scenes I’ve ever read. The opportunity to speak to a room full of booksellers and tastemakers is enormous. Hopefully, my passion for this novel will resonate with the folks who attend the panel, and they’ll reserve a spot for Zebulon, on their reading lists and then in their stores.”
Elizabeth Bewley, executive editor, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, on Estelle Laure’s This Raging Light: “In the most basic sense, this a story about a girl who is abandoned by her parents and ends up falling for her best friend’s brother. But the novel is really about what it means to be young and on your own. It has been praised as remarkable, authentic, brave, and poetic, and there is no hyperbole there. Estelle is the real deal, and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to introduce her writing to our industry colleagues. In my opinion, the Buzz Panels are usually the start of some great word-of-mouth campaigns.”
