Tag: Justin Hofstetter

The Stories We Tell Each Other with Brad Barkley

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.

  • Visit Brad Barkley’s website here.
  • Purchase The Reel Life of Zara Kegg here.
  • Contact Brad Barkley about appearing at your school or library here.


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

Visit Adib Khorram’s website here.


Purchase One Word, Six Letters here.

Find out about having Adib Khorram appear at your school or library here.

“..Oi, we both went through the same traumas or you’re maybe still in it, but fact that I am here promises that you can make it out alive.”

-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


“This My Great Great Gatsby” with LeUyen Pham (Resharing with more content!)

We sat down with award-winning author/artist LeUyen Pham to discuss art for picture books versus graphic novels, the power of artwork as a storyteller, and the many intricate layers of meaning in her latest work, As I Dream of You (with Jennifer Lee). Find As I Dream of You from First Second!

Check Out LeUyen Pham’s Website here!

“Why do I make books? That’s easy. A book sits with you in your secret corner or in your favorite chair on a rainy day, and whispers in your ear, “You’re okay, I’m here. Let me tell you a story…” It’s like a hug made solid. That’s what I do. I make hugs for a living.”

Find out about having LeUyen Pham visit your school or library here.

Follow LeUyen on Instagram

Find As You Dream Here!

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.

  • Visit Kimberly’s website here.
  • Find out about scheduling Kimberly to visit your school or library here.
  • Find Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances here.

Find information about Gillette Castle, the inspiration for Uncle Milo’s castle, 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.

@aprilhenrybooks

I have written about so many murders, so many funerals – it’s hard to come up with new approaches. #Booktok #teenmystery #yathriller #aprilhenry #authorlife

♬ original sound – April Henry

Follow April’s TikTok on writing advice.

@aprilhenrywritingadvice

By showing your character in three worlds, you really deepen characterization. #authorshelpingauthors #authortok #writingadvice #adviceforwriters #writertok #authortips #publishingabook #authoradvice

♬ original sound – KeepThemInSuspense

“This My Great Great Gatsby” with LeUyen Pham

We sat down with award-winning author/artist LeUyen Pham to discuss art for picture books versus graphic novels, the power of artwork as a storyteller, and the many intricate layers of meaning in her latest work, As I Dream of You (with Jennifer Lee). Find As I Dream of You from First Second!

Check Out LeUyen Pham’s Website here!

“Why do I make books? That’s easy. A book sits with you in your secret corner or in your favorite chair on a rainy day, and whispers in your ear, “You’re okay, I’m here. Let me tell you a story…” It’s like a hug made solid. That’s what I do. I make hugs for a living.”

Find out about having LeUyen Pham visit your school or library here.

Follow LeUyen on Instagram

Find As You Dream Here!

Things I Wish I Had Heard with Rocky Callen

Content Warning:

Rocky’s work centers suicide and suicidal ideation; if you or one of the teens you serve struggle with suicidal ideation please seek help. These resources from Children’s Mercy focus on helping families and caregivers navigate suicide risks and suicide ideation in children and teens.

We sat down with author Rocky Callen to discuss mental health in kidlit, bravely addressing difficult topics to honor teen readers, and providing a literary lifeline for teens in crisis. Trigger warning: this conversation, and the books we discuss, includes extended conversations about suicide and suicide ideation; if you or someone in your life is struggling with suicidal ideation please visit the links in our blog post and seek help to stay another day.

Book Rocky to appear at your school or library here.

Visit Rocky’s website here.

Follow Rocky on Instagram!

Please Note:

If you or one of the teens you serve struggle with suicidal ideation please seek help. Visit Children’s Mercy for free downloadable resources focused on helping families and caregivers navigate suicide risks and suicide ideation in children and teens. 


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!

@dltaylorbooks

The book is The Beasts We Bury, coming 2/4/25 through @Fierce Reads and available for pre-order now! Or you can try your luck with the Goodreads giveaway that’s running until the end of September 😉 #booktok #authorsoftiktok #fantasy #romance #unboxing

♬ original sound – D. L. Taylor

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5 Cli-Fi Reads for Earth Day + Resources

Earth Day was just this Wednesday, and we are marking the occasion by sharing some titles and resources that are sure to make think.

From Floods to Fire: Here are the Titles

The only person who ever seemed to get Ash was their Grandpa Edwin. Before he died, he used to talk about building a secret cabin, deep in the California wilderness. Did he ever build it? What if it’s still there, waiting for him to come back…or for Ash to find it? To Ash, that maybe-mythical cabin is starting to feel like the perfect place for a fresh start and an escape from the miserable feeling of alienation that haunts their daily life.

An exhilarating dystopian YA recalling The Last of Us and Divergent—Climate Of Chaos is a hard-hitting survival story featuring a disabled protagonist that explores the chilling effects of climate change and medical debt.

Eliza and Javi are both dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, and while their circumstances are different they are co-presidents of the environmental club school. This story explores climate change induced anxiety and how inequalities are increased by climate change.

  • Dust
  • By Alison Stine
  • Genre: Disability, Dystopia, Science Fiction
  • Publish Date: 2024
  • Wednesday Books
  • 978125878731

In this haunting, speculative coming-of-age novel about finding your place in an unforgiving environment, a partially deaf teen questions everything she knows about family, love, and her future.

Practical Magic meets Twister in this debut contemporary fantasy standalone about heartbreaking power, the terror of our collapsing atmosphere, and the ways we unknowingly change our fate.- Goodreads.

  • Two Degrees
  • By Alan Gratz
  • Genre: Realistic Fiction, Adventure
  • Publish Date: 2022
  • Scholastic Press
  • 9781338735673

Akira, Owen, George, and Natalie are all swept up in the devastating effects of climate change. They are also connected in ways that will shock them–and could alter their destinies forever.

Check out our Interview with Alan Gratz

Resources on Climate Inequalities

Gender Inequality & the Climate Crimate Crisis: Zonta Says Now

Climate Change and Inequality: Oxfam

Climate Change and Youth Voices

Youth in Action & the United Nations

Climate Mental Health Network


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.