This week, Jarrett J. Krosoczka and Jack Gantos share a stage; Elizabeth Verdick’s characters are in tow; YA authors speak at the Portland Book Festival; and Sarai Gonzalez returns to her old school as a published author.

Paying it Forward

Jarrett J. Krosoczka (r.), a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, recently spoke in conversation with author Jack Gantos (Dead End in Norvelt) at the Boston Athenaeum. The event was a poignant reunion of sorts. Behind the authors was a projected scene from Krosoczka’s graphic memoir, Hey, Kiddo, in which he recounts the experience of having Gantos visit his classroom when he was a kid. During the visit, Gantos saw a drawing that Krosoczka was working on and said, “Nice cat,” a comment that inspired Krosoczka to pursue art.

No Small Feat

Elizabeth Verdick celebrated the launch of Small Walt and Mo the Tow (Simon & Schuster), sequel to Small Walt, at the Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minn., on November 10. Verdick used to work at the Red Balloon early in her career, and was delighted to return to her old stomping grounds—along with Walt and Mo. Pictured (from l.) are booksellers Lily Tschudi-Campbell and Barb Bassett, Verdick, and store owner Holly Weinkauf.

Author ‘Secrets’

Authors (from l.) Virginia Boecker (An Assassin’s Guide to Love and Treason), Janelle Milanes (Analee, in Real Life), Kendare Blake (the Three Dark Crowns series), and April Henry (The Lonely Dead) took part in a panel at the Portland Book Festival in Portland, Ore., on November 10. The topic of the conversation was “Secret Identities: Deception and Disguise,” and the authors discussed issues of identity, truth, and role-playing in their respective YA novels.

Being Awesome

Sarai Gonzalez became a viral sensation at age 11, when she starred in Bomba Estereo’s “Soy Yo,” a music video that encourages viewers to be themselves and to love their flaws. With more than 30 million views, the video earned Gonzalez an invitation to the White House to meet the Obamas. Now, she has a book. Gonzalez joined forces with author Monica Brown for a series based on Gonzalez’s life. Gonzalez dedicated the first book, Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome (Scholastic), to her third grade teacher, Mrs. Pirrone, and on November 12, the author visited Mrs. Pirrone’s class, meeting the students and giving copies of her book to the entire school.