The 11th annual North Texas Teen Book Festival took place on February 28–March 1, drawing more than 15,000 middle grade and YA book lovers to the Irving Convention Center in Irving, Tex. Educator Day, hosted by Sam Houston State University’s College of Education/Library Science and led by Dr. Rose Brock, one of the founders of NTTBF, featured special programs with Jason Reynolds, A.S. King, R.L. Stine, and Amanda Jones, author of That Librarian! More than 800 teachers and librarians attended for a slate of professional development programming and a chance to connect with creators.
NTTBF and The Middle Ground @ NTTBF featured more than 70 authors, including middle grade favorites such as Max Brallier, Stuart Gibbs, Alan Gratz, Gordon Korman, Shannon Messenger, Sarah Mlynowski, James Ponti, Pam Muñoz Ryan, and more. YA lovers took part in programs featuring Victoria Aveyard, J. Elle, Gloria Chao, Kathleen Glasgow, Julie Murphy, Rex Ogle, Lauren Roberts, Ruta Sepetys, Nic Stone, Renée Watson, and many others. We’ve gathered highlights from the celebration. All photos by Joon Koo at SJKoo Photography.
During the Middle Grade opening keynote, moderator Jill Bellomy (l.) and authors Karina Yan Glaser (second from r.) and Ruta Sepetys (r.) listen to Alan Gratz (second from l.) offer insight about the challenging research required in creating accurate historical fiction.
Young attendees share their love for Shannon Messenger’s Keeper of the Lost Cities series by holding up their books.
Authors Johnny Garza Villa (l.) and Brian Selznick swap stories during a discussion ahead of the “Against All Odds” panel.
Book buzz in action: a group of teens huddle up, eager to dive into Paul Coccia’s latest work, Recommended Reading.
(From l.): Shaina Lu, Natalie Lloyd, Gordon Korman, Claribel A. Ortega, and Oz Rodriguez discuss the importance of community during the “Found Family” panel.
Nic Stone (l.) and Gloria Muñoz keep the conversation inspiring and entertaining at the “Justice in Ink” panel, which touched on themes of social activism in YA.
NTTBF moderator Mandy Aguilar leads the “Secrets, Codes, and Spies” panel, featuring (from l.) Julie Buxbaum, Jen Calonita, Alan Gratz, Shannon Messenger, and James Ponti.
Teens take an Instagram-worthy shot in the NTTBF exhibit hall.
Dr. Rose Brock (l.), with author Jason Reynolds during the opening keynote “In Conversation” at the festival’s Educator Day.
Creativity and competition took center stage at “Ready, Set, Draw!” featuring artists (from l.) Hope Larson, Shaina Lu, Cindy Chang, and Terri Libenson.
In the "Things We Do for Love” program, moderator Mandy Curtis (l.) and authors Kelly Andrew (second from l.) and Kristen Ciccarelli (r.) listen to Libba Bray (second from r.) share just how far she makes her characters go for love.
Literary horror legend R.L. Stine meets fans while signing a Goosebumps book.
