The fifth annual BookCon, the fan-focused counterpoint to BookExpo, took place on June 2 and 3 at the Javits Center in New York City. Readers of all ages gathered for a weekend of panels, giveaways, photo-ops, and other chances to connect with favorite authors. We’ve rounded up some photo highlights from the convention here. And see our report from BookCon here.
(From l.): Authors Heidi Heilig, Dhonielle Clayton, Tomi Adeyemi, and Elizabeth Acevedo before the Epic Reads Facebook Live event.
The crowd explores the show floor. Photo: stevekagan.com.
Cassandra Clare (l.) and Kelly Link in conversation, as part of the “Spotlight on The Dark Artifices” panel.
Author Jeff Kinney was interviewed by Newsday’s Kidsday reporters.
Marissa Meyer, author of the Lunar Chronicles series (Feiwel and Friends), with cosplayers.
(From l.): Natasha Polis, Laini Taylor, Jeff Giles, Danielle Page, and A.C. Gaughen teamed up for a panel on “Bringing Real Life to Fantasy Worlds.”
Mary H. K. Choi and Sandhya Menon greeted fans for selfies and iced coffee at the Simon & Schuster Riveted booth.
Abrams hosted a celebration of Andrea Beaty’s (second from r.) The Questioneers books and the forthcoming chapter book, Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters. Here, Abrams staff (from l.) Andrew Smith (senior v-p and publisher), Hallie Patterson (associate publicity director), and Trish McNamara O’Neill (digital/social media marketing manager) join Beaty and her characters.
Nicola Yoon, author of The Sun Is Also a Star (Delacorte), made bookish buttons with readers.
The "Wonder Women" panel featured (from l.) T.R. Simon, Jessica Spotswood, Meg Medina, (moderator) Shannon Hale, and Kate DiCamillo. The authors talked about creating strong female characters and how these kinds of books should be put in the hands of boys and girls. Photo: Claire Kirch.
The “Middle Grade Blowout” panel featured authors (from l.) Daniel José Older, John August, Soman Chainani, Rachel Renée Russell, and Zach King.
Photo-op with the life-size cut out of the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone cover at the Scholastic booth.
(From l.): Sarah Enni, Tahereh Mafi, Kendare Blake, and Melissa de la Cruz discussed fierce heroines during the “Power Moves” panel.
Natasha Ngan, author of Girls of Paper and Fire (r.), signs for fans.
Underlined, Random House’s YA community, celebrated its one-year anniversary.
(From l.): DeRay Mckesson, Jacqueline Woodson, Kwame Alexander, Angie Thomas, and Jason Reynolds joined forces for the “Social Justice Warriors: Redefining Youthful Rebellion” panel.
Meg Medina, author of the forthcoming middle grade novel Merci Suarez Changes Gears, finds Waldo at the Candlewick booth.
We Need Diverse Books panelists discussed how the cultural traditions they grew up with influenced their novels that incorporate elements of magic and ritual. (From l.): Moderator Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Cordova, Tomi Adeyemi, Anna-Marie McLemore, Tracey Baptiste, and Rebecca Roanhorse. Photo: Claire Kirch.
Susan Dennard, author of Bloodwitch (Tor Teen), makes a new friend.
Alexandra Bracken, author of the Prosper Redding series, meets a fan. Photo: Kathi Littwin Photography.
