The seventh annual YALLFest took place on November 10–11 in downtown Charleston, S.C. The celebration brought together more than 70 YA authors and 5,000 fans, making it one of the largest teen book festivals in the world. Featured events included panels, signings, red carpet photo ops, and more. We’ve rounded up a selection of highlights from the festivities. All photos: David Strauss.
Fans line up to enter YALLFest.
The Hate U Give author Angie Thomas (l.) and The Upside of Unrequited author Becky Albertalli get ready to give their joint keynote address.
Laini Taylor with a teen.
(From l.): Goodbye Days author Jeff Zentner and Scholastic editorial director and author David Levithan (Another Day) at the Welcome Party.
Madness author Zac Brewer gets the red carpet treatment.
(From l.): Ally Condie (Summerlost), Peter Lerangis (Max Tilt: Fire the Depths), and Jennifer A. Nielsen (Mark of the Thief) discuss their craft during the “First, Don’t Be Boring” panel at the Charleston Museum.
The crowd checks out the exhibitor booths, which featured plenty of books and swag.
Dork Diaries illustrator Nikki Russell gives a drawing demonstration.
Red Queen series author Victoria Aveyard greets a reader.
Fans flaunt their books.
Nicola Yoon (l.), author of The Sun Is Also a Star, with a festivalgoer.
Kirsten Miller and Jason Segel sign copies of their new collaboration, Otherworld.
Attendees browse the books upon books.
Libba Bray (The Diviners series) belts out a tune with her band of YA rock stars, Tiger Beat.
