Mustian(left) and Smith pose for a picture in downtown Charleston during YALLFest.[/caption]On November 9, Orange High School staff members Brooke Smith and Shea Mustian attended YALLFest, Charleston’s third annual Young Adult Book Festival. At the festival, Smith and Mustian joined over 5,000 other book lovers to enjoy a day completely dedicated to young adult fiction.
Every year, YALLFest hosts writers who are among the Top 50 authors in the Young Adult genre. Throughout the day, the authors participate in book signings, organized panels with other authors, and Q&A sessions with readers and fans. In addition to these scheduled events, authors also wander the floors and speak with fans.
During the author panels that Smith and Mustian attended, writers gave their thoughts and opinions on topics such as finding inspiration for their novels, previous jobs before writing, their writing process, and the progression of the young adult genre as a whole. Speakers at the panels included Veronica Roth (Divergent series), Libba Bray (Gemma Doyle trilogy), Lev Grossman (Codex), and Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky trilogy).
The authors who Smith and Mustian met personally included Ellen Hopkins (Crank), Lisa McMann (Crash), Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures), Ransom Riggs (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children), and Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me series).
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Author Veronica Roth (Divergent series) speaks at an author's panel at YALLFest.[/caption]When asked what her favorite part of the festival was, Mustian replied that the panel with Veronica Roth was the most exciting part of the day. Divergent, the first book in Roth's series, is currently being read by the OHS Book Club and will be taught next semester during Smith’s higher level creative writing classes. At the panel, Smith was even given the opportunity to ask Roth a question regarding the casting of the upcoming Divergent movie.
Although Smith enjoyed speaking with Roth, she replied that her favorite part of YALLFest was the accessibility of so many authors in one place. Smith also enjoyed meeting Marie Lu, author of the Legend series. Smith hopes to teach the Legend novel next year during her creative writing classes.
When asked if they were planning on attending next year, both staff members replied with a very excited “yes!”
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