After two years of virtual and hybrid programming, the ninth annual North Texas Teen Book Festival returned to the Irving Convention Center in Irving, Tex., on March 3 and 4. The event drew approximately 10,000 attendees and featured a lineup of more than 75 authors who participated in keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions. The preceding Educator Day, hosted by Sam Houston State University’s Library Science program in the College of Education, offered professional development training and programs for 600 registered area teachers and librarians. We’ve gathered a selection of highlights from the events. Photos by Trey Burns, Paige Marie Photography, and Jessica Leffler.


A portion of Irving Public Library system’s NTTBF team celebrating another successful book festival.


(From l.): moderator Sarah Pitre led a discussion with authors Julie Murphy, Angie Thomas, and Sara Shepard on having their books adapted into films, during the Now Streaming panel.


Fans of middle grade author Stuart Gibbs’s action-packed series show off their book purchases.


The crowd gathered for the Graphic Takeover opening program hosted by author Jennifer L. Holm with graphic novelists Nathan Hale, Matthew Holm, Dan Santat, and Judd Winick.


(From l.): moderator Stephanie Galvan Russell asked authors Elizabeth Eulberg, Laeken Zea Kemp, Julie Murphy, and Natalie C. Parker about books that give them goosebumps, in the Shivers and Screams panel.


North Mesquite High School students with their book hauls.


Author Angie Thomas poses with an ARC of her soon-to-be-released middle grade debut, Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy, while enthusiastic fans gather behind her.


A young NTTBF attendee gets comfy in the Irving Convention Center while exploring a new graphic novel.


Attendees learned more about upcoming titles while visiting the Scholastic booth.


(From l.): moderator Courtney Walker with Rebecca Balcárcel, Nicole D. Collier, Kate DiCamillo, Matthew Holm, James Ponti, Dan Santat, and Jasmine Warga during the “Who Am I?” panel, part of the Middle Ground festival, a tween-focused program held in conjunction with NTTBF.


Author Julian Winters (r.) chatting with a young reader during the AMA at the Reading the Rainbow program, hosted by David Levithan, which also featured Brian D. Kennedy, Lyla Lee, Kaylie Smith, and Phil Stamper.


Readers and chaperones from Skaggs Elementary in Plano ISD.


Authors Elise Bryant (l.) and Julie Buxbaum met with festivalgoers.


A bus full of students from Coppell High School and CHS 9 from Coppell ISD show off their newly acquired books and swag after a full day at NTTBF.