YALLFest facts for kids

YALLFest is a super fun two-day festival all about books for young people! It started in 2011 thanks to Jonathan Sanchez from Blue Bicycle Books, and authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. It's a big party for readers and writers, and everyone can come!

Many groups help make YALLFest happen. These include Blue Bicycle Books, the people who publish books for young adults, and the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Lots of local businesses in Charleston, South Carolina, also support the festival.

In 2012, author Melissa de la Cruz joined the team to help grow the festival. Now, authors Veronica Roth and Brendan Reichs help lead the event. YALLFest has become the biggest young adult book festival in the Southern United States.

In 2015, Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz also started a sister festival called YALLWEST. This festival happens every spring in Santa Monica, California.

Discovering Amazing Authors at YALLFest

YALLFest is famous for bringing together many popular authors. These writers create stories for young adults and middle-grade readers. It's a great chance to meet your favorite authors and discover new ones!

Meet Your Favorite Authors

Each year, YALLFest invites a long list of talented writers. Many of these authors have written books that have become New York Times Bestsellers. This means their books are super popular!

Some of the amazing authors who have attended YALLFest include:

• Kwame Alexander
• Leigh Bardugo
• Holly Black
• Libba Bray
• Kiera Cass
• Cassandra Clare
• Ally Condie
• James Dashner
• Melissa de la Cruz
• Matt de la Peña
• Sarah Dessen
• Gayle Forman
• Kami Garcia
• Jenny Han
• Ellen Hopkins
• David Levithan
• E. Lockhart
• Marie Lu
• Sarah J. Maas
• Lauren Oliver
• Stephanie Perkins
• Brendan Reichs
• Veronica Roth
• Rainbow Rowell
• Margaret Stohl
• Laini Taylor
• Scott Westerfeld

Special Author Conversations

One of the most exciting parts of YALLFest is the "Keynote Conversation." This is where two very famous authors sit down and talk about their books, writing, and ideas. It's like a live interview where you can learn a lot from your favorite writers.

For example, in 2012, Cassandra Clare and Holly Black had a keynote conversation. In 2013, Veronica Roth (who wrote the Divergent Series) and Rae Carson were the keynote speakers. These talks are a big highlight for many attendees!

How YALLFest is Organized

A dedicated team works hard to make YALLFest a success every year. Jonathan Sanchez has been the Festival Director since the beginning. Authors like Margaret Stohl, Melissa de la Cruz, and Kami Garcia have also played big roles in planning the events and inviting authors.

There's also a team that helps decide which authors to invite and what activities will happen. This ensures that YALLFest always has a great lineup of guests and fun things to do for everyone who attends.