The second annual LitUp, a literature and arts festival for teens, took place on May 4 at the Mid-Continent Public Library’s North Independence Branch in the Kansas City, Mo., metro area. Founded by high school student Emery Uhlig in partnership with the library, the festival featured presentations and workshops by award-winning authors and illustrators. We’ve gathered a selection of highlights from the events. All photos by Meredith Gutshall.
Author and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jacqueline Woodson delivering her keynote address.
Poet, professor, and Cave Canem Fellow Aisha Sharif discussed her work and her creative process with a teen interviewer.
LitUp Founder Emery Uhlig.
A view of the crowd.
Graphic artist Mikhail Shadeed leading a workshop.
An attendee at the graphic art workshop.
Author Gayle Forman (I Have Lost My Way) gets up close with the audience during her keynote.
Local rapper Royce Sauce Handy leading the poetry slam.
Awards were presented for this year’s LitUp Anthology writing competition.
Jenn Mann, author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat (based on her blog of the same name), leading a nonfiction workshop.
Teen festivalgoers show off their books and treats.
