Events

Former Chicago teacher Nancy Cavanaugh visits with her new children’s book, This Journal Belongs to Ratchet. It’s a middle grade novel about a girl who’s trying to find her way in the world, despite having lost her mother and having a distracted father. She’s doing her best and her language arts journal may be a key to a happy future.

Join us for a creative partnership with Naperville’s award-winning author Luis Alberto Urrea as he hosts Writers Railroad: A Literary Salon. Designed as a way to showcase authors you might not know, Luis’ Salon introduces you to some of his friends: writers who are telling stories he loves through books he thinks you should read. Think of it as a personal recommendation from a best-selling author who lives next door. Luis continues the Salon with his friend Darrell Bourque (poet laureate of Louisiana) and Frank X. Walker (poet laureate of Kentucky). Luis is the author of The Hummingbird’s Daughter and its recent sequel The Queen of America. These novels tell the story of his relative Teresa Urrea, also known as the Mexican Joan of Arc. Luis will lead a discussion with his guests on the writing process. This should be a fascinating evening with conversation, book signing, and refreshments.

Silly fun for young readers awaits with My New Teacher and Me, the second book written for children by Al Yankovic, known to millions as “Weird Al.” A little boy with a big imagination faces off with a teacher with very little of it. It’s a back- to-school tale with lots of laughs, of course, and unabashed originality.

It’s our treat to welcome back Mary Alice Monroe, and to help her celebrate her new title, Summer Girls. The perfect beach read features long simmering family conflict, and the 80-year-old grandma who hopes to mend fences between her three feuding granddaughters. And we also present Shannon Stoker, author of The Registry, a “new adult” sci-fi look at an America where all young women are sold to the highest bidder in bride auctions and young men are soldiers. Additional “new adult” authors include J. Lynn (Wait for You) and Molly McAdams (From Ashes).

One of America’s most influential Hispanics, Sesame Street’s “Maria” presents a novel set in New York’s El Barrio in 1969, The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano. We also welcome the award winning author, Jaqueline Woodson (Beneath a Meth Moon). And joining them is award winning playwright and screenwriter Paul Rudnick, who is offering his debut young adult novel, Gorgeous.

Ivan is an easygoing gorilla, and a struggling artist in the 2013 Newberry Medal-winning, The One and Only Ivan. Come meet the author, Katherine Applegate, when she stops by Anderson’s. Her humor and humanity bring Ivan to life, even if he is a gorilla!

We open our doors to four wonderful young adult authors for a rare late afternoon event. Smith will discuss her debut novel, Wild Awake. And it’s the return of Grant, who will talk about his very popular Fear: A Gone Novel series. Ellen Hopkins is the #1 New York Times author for her young adult titles (Tilt). Popular author for teens and tweens Lauren Myracle (Shine) stops in. We also welcome A.G. Howard who brings his book, Splintered and Debra Driza with her latest, MILA 2.0.

Tim Federle (Better Nate Than Ever), Claire Caterer (Key and the Flame), Elisabeth Dahl (Genie Wishes), Lisa Greenwald (Reel Life Starring Us), Sarah Stewart Taylor (Expeditioners and the Treasure) & Margaret McNamara (Sylva and the Fairy Ball)

It’s picture book Sunday with our friends and authors Chris Raschka (Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bike) Loren Long (Otis and the Puppy), Molly Idle (Tea Rex), and Jesse Klausmeier (Open This Little Book). Won’t we have fun?

More, more, more! We present another wonderful batch of young adult authors this afternoon including: Annabel Pitcher (My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece), Marcus Sedgwick (Midwinter Blood), S.A. Bodeen (The Raft), Sara Zarr (Lucy Variations), Tara Sullivan (Golden Boy), and Matthew Quick (Boy 21). Join us for young adult fiction at its best.

It’s a “Thrilla in Napervilla” when authors Jeffery Deaver (The Kill Room) and Jeff Abbott (Downfall) visit. If crisp, taut, edge-of-your-seat novels are your favorites, these are the Jeffs to meet. Excitement guaranteed between the covers of their titles.