We sat down with Brad Barkley to discuss the transformative power of great books, the “funny-sad” nature of his works for young adults, and the importance of not sweeping life under the rug.
The Stories We Tell Each Other with Brad Barkley
Category: Banned Books Series
Questions I Don’t Quite Have Answers To with Adib Khorram
We sat down with Adib Khorram to discuss his origins in our interviewer’s library, the power of language and words in young adult literature, and the power of writing in second person in his new novel, One Word, Six Letters.
More about Adib Khorram
Find resources from We Need Diverse Books here.
Learn about Adib’s work with Authors Against Book Bans here.
Librarian Hub Reviews & Posts on One Word, Six Letters!
*Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2027) Featured Review: One Word, Six Letters
*Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2027) Feature Review: One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram
*Best Fiction for YA Spring Round Up
If I Had Books Like These: With Kimberly Behre Kenna
We sat down with author Kimberly Behre Kenna to discuss hard conversations for kids, writing as a form of therapy, and the ways literature can support kids experiencing difficult life circumstances.
- Find Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances here.
Support for Grieving Readers
- Find resources from the Cove Center for Grieving Children here
Relying on the Reader’s Imagination with April Henry
We sat down with Mystery/Thriller author April Henry to discuss reaching reluctant readers, avoiding soft censorship of books with uncomfortable topics, and the extreme lengths to which she goes to research her novels! Find In The Blood May 12 from Christy Ottaviano Books/Little, Brown, and Company!
Visit April Henry’s website here!
“The reader’s imagination is much more powerful”
-April Henry
Find April Henry’s books for teens here.
Plan and schedule a visit to your school or library here.
Follow April’s TikTok centered on her work.
Follow April’s TikTok on writing advice.
Magic as a Metaphor with D.L. Taylor
We sat down with dark fantasy author D.L. Taylor to discuss writing romance and dark fantasy for teens, connecting threads across multiple books (and multiple narrators), and the ways in which magical settings can help teach teens about their daily realities.
Visit D.L. Taylor’s website here.
Find the books of the Broken Citadel here.
Contact D.L. Taylor about visiting your school or library here.
Follow D.L. Taylor!
Don’t Miss a Thing! Like, Comment, and Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Preserving the YA Space with Markelle Grabo
We sat down with Markelle Grabo to discuss tackling forced heteronormativity in fairytales, queerness not as the tragedy or the conflict of a fantasy romance, and the role of yearning and spice (or lack thereof) in young adult romance. The Redwood Bargain comes out April 28, 2026, from Page Street YA!
Visit Markelle’s website here.
Find The Redwood Bargain here.
Check content warnings for Markelle Grabo’s books here.
Find more information about Markelle Grabo and her books here.
Reach out to Markelle Grabo to request school or library visits here.
Giving Kids the Credit They Deserve with Angela Cervantes
Middle School and Middle Grade author Angela Cervantes joins The Hub to discuss valid representation in children’s literature, staying true to realistic kid voices, and keeping target market readers involved in her writing and revising process! The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy comes out 5/5/2026 from Henry Holt and Co. Books for Young Readers!
Visit Angela Cervantes’s website here!
Request a visit to your school or library here!
Preorder The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy here!
Learn more about Raquel Reyes, an American Girl doll created by Angela Cervantes, here!
Learn more about PEN America’s efforts to fight book bans here!
War Does Not Stay in the Past with Maria Van Lieshout
Printz honoree Maria Van Lieshout (Song of a Blackbird) joins us to discuss her YA graphic novel debut, receiving one of the top honors in young adult literature, and the importance of writing about resistance in uncertain times.
Visit Maria’s website here.
Learn about Maria’s background here.
Find out about scheduling Maria to visit your school or library here.
Learn more about Song of a Blackbird (and order copies) here.
“We Learn through Story”: an interview with Angeline Boulley
We sit down with Printz Honor and Winner Angeline Boulley to discuss novels as a teaching opportunity, exploring and celebrating identity through storytelling, and revisiting her wildly successful Sugar Island saga.
Promote this interview to your readers!
Use these ready-to-print bookmarks to promote this interview to your library’s readers. We even left space for your library’s logo! Click here to use the design on Canva. Be sure to select, “Make a Copy”, in order to personalize. Click here for the pdf.
Visit Angeline Boulley’s website here.
Request Angeline to appear at your school or library here.
Find Angeline’s Sugar Island novels here.
Access downloadable resources for Firekeeper’s Daughter here.
Find discussion guides for Warrior Girl Unearthed here.
Buy Legendary Frybread Drive-In here.
Revisit our conversation with fellow Frybread alumni Cynthia Leitich Smith here and Byron Graves here.
Find resources for authentic indigenous representation and evaluating indigenous content in your library from Dr. Debbie Reese and American Indians in Children’s Literature here.
Download our ready-to-print bookmarks here!
Books for kids like me with Matthew A. Tower
Matthew A. Tower opens up about growing up in the middle of his parents’ divorce and revisiting that story in his debut memoir, Love Wars: Clash of the Parents.