FICTION

Ayad Akhtar

The Radiance (Summit, Sept.; $29; 100,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “A campus drama, a hit-and-run, and a divine awakening collide in Ayad Akhtar’s latest masterpiece. Haunting and illuminating, The Radiance draws readers into a world that lingers long after the final page. Its cultural relevance and daring exploration of spirituality will cement it as the defining novel of a generation.” —Judy Clain, SVP and publisher, Summit Books

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Melissa Albert

The Children (Morrow, June; $30; 200,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “A master of atmospheric YA fantasy, Melissa Albert has turned her talents to adult fiction, and boy are we lucky to have her! The Children is a love letter to the stories that shape us and follow us through our lives. It’s an incredible account of legacy, magic, difficult families, and the power of stories.” —Giselle Durand, sales rep, HarperCollins

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Kelly Anderson

The Wild Beneath (Park Row, Aug.; $30; 100,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz:The Wild Beneath feels conjured; it’s immersive, lyrical, and charged with mystery. Annie’s haunting pull between two worlds—one anchored by a steadfast love on land, the other by a mysterious figure from sea—creates an irresistible tension. Kelly Anderson’s blend of emotion, atmosphere, and speculative magic is stunning. This is the book we’re all pressing into hands.” —Annie Chagnot, executive editor, Park Row Books

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

John Manuel Arias

Crocodilopolis (Bloomsbury, Aug.; $29.99; 150,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “John Manuel Arias can dazzle any crowd, while exuding profound care for the art of
storytelling. Crocodilopolis is a bitter revenge tale starring two brothers, a powerful Costa Rican family dynasty, and murderous river crocodiles.” —Mo Crist, editor, Bloomsbury

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Mallory Arnold

Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die (Poisoned Pen, July; $18.99 trade paper; 65,000-copy announced first printing)

WHY THE BUZZ: “Mallory Arnold knows exactly how to twist a genre and have fun doing it. This gleeful, high-octane ride commits to the chaos, and let me tell you,
this one completely delivers.” —MJ Johnston, assistant editorial director, Sourcebooks Landmark

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Victoria Aveyard

Tempest (Harper Voyager, Sept.; $34)

Why the buzz: Tempest’s formidable heroine is a woman who decides to choose herself, to carve her place in a ruthless world that doesn’t want to make room for her. This is a swashbuckling adventure tale; a dreamy slow-burn romance; an escape to gorgeous, storm-tossed seas. Victoria Aveyard has wrought magic!” —Priyanka Krishnan, executive editor, William Morrow

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

David Baerwald

The Fire Agent (Spiegel & Grau, June; $32)

Why the buzz:The Fire Agent intersects with two world wars, the beginnings of chemical warfare, the rise of the yakuza, the plight of the Jews of Shanghai, the creation of the CIA, and the firebombing of Japan. There’s even a cameo by Albert Einstein. It’s a very large canvas, yet this book feels intimate. It also feels shockingly and eerily of the moment, for at its heart it’s about the rise of fascism.” —Cindy Spiegel, co-CEO, Spiegel & Grau

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Chloe Benjamin

Under Story (Putnam, Sept.; $30)

Why the buzz: “It’s been almost eight years since The Immortalists was published, and I think Under Story is a literary masterpiece. It’s a singular reading experience, unlike anything I have ever read: think Karen Thompson Walker’s The Age of Miracles or Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. It’s a book you’ll want to give to someone and tell them to just read it.” —Andy Dudley, VP and group sales director, Penguin Publishing Group

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Rebecca Chace

Talking to the Wolf (Red Hen, May; $18.95 trade paper)

Why the buzz: “In Talking to the Wolf, friends reunite after decades of drifting apart and reflect on what led to their breakup. The trauma of having a friendship or friend group dissolve is a familiar experience, and those who’ve been through the pain will find solace in this cathartic exploration.” —Monica Fernandez, media
director, Red Hen Press

Lunch author reception, Feb. 26

Kerry Clare

Definitely Thriving (House of Anansi, Mar.; $21.99 trade paper)

Why the buzz:Definitely Thriving’s heroine boldly course-corrects her comfortable life in an outrageous manner and starts afresh in an equally unconventional way. Clemence and the quirky characters in her orbit inhabit a world that feels warm, timeless, and familiar—one that’s deeply human in an increasingly artificial age.” — Shivaun Hearne, editor, House of Anansi

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Hernan Diaz

Ply (Riverhead, Sept.; $30; 100,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “After having rewritten America’s history with his past two novels, Hernan Diaz defies expectations and turns to the future with Ply. With a plot that grabs both heart and mind, Ply combines Dickensian odyssey, family drama, scientific thriller, punk art, and high-stakes adventure with theoretical physics and profound existential questions about humanity and our understanding of self. It’s like nothing else I’ve read.” —Sarah McGrath, SVP and editor-in-chief, Riverhead Books

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Emily Franklin

Love and Other Monsters (Godine, Apr.; $30; 75,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz:Frankenstein is in the zeitgeist, and Emily Franklin’s Love and Other Monsters provides a unique view to its creation—through the untold story of the young woman who brought about the fateful gathering in 1816 and changed the course of literature.” —David Allender, publisher, Godine

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Cynthia W. Gentry

Her Life in Ruins (akaStory, out now; $18 trade paper)

Why the buzz: Her Life in Ruins is a hilarious friends-to-lovers rom-com about two Stanford PhD candidates and their entanglement in a high-stakes art heist. Come for the humor and sexual tension; stay for the thought-provoking commentary on misogyny in academia and the ethics of extreme wealth.” —Anne Heltzel, editorial director, Abrams

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Tiffany Hunt

The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) (Scarlett, Mar.; $31; 200,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “This spicy romp follows a villain who kidnaps a bride, only to discover she’s more than he bargained for. With its hilarious voice and sizzling chemistry, it became an instant obsession of mine. The Dark Lord commands everyone to read this—and who are we to argue?” —Sarah McCabe, executive editor, Margaret K. McElderry Books and Scarlett Press

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Marlon James

The Disappearers (Riverhead, Sept.; $32; 100,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “Any new literary novel by Marlon James is an event, and this time Marlon goes back to Jamaica to show us what life was like for gay people in the 1980s, when every day they confronted hatred, homophobia, and the scourge of AIDS. The Disappearers is both an amazing crime story and a powerful tale of survival.” —Jake Morrissey, executive editor, Penguin Publishing Group

Breakfast keynote and evening author reception, Feb. 25

Daniel Mason

Country People (Random House, $29; July)

Why the buzz: “What a relief it was to read something so exuberant and playful and—I know humor is subjective, but I’m going to say it—funny from the first page to the last. The deeply literary instincts that Daniel Mason is known for are here in abundance, but he’s working in a register that feels wholly new, and utterly delightful. We could have more of this in the world these days.” —Andy Ward, EVP and publisher, Random House

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Meg Mason

Sophie, Standing There (Harper, Sept.; $30; 100,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz:Sophie, Standing There has the mordant wit and psychological scrutiny of human relationships that made Meg Mason’s previous novel, Sorrow and Bliss, so beloved. Tender, hilarious, deeply moving, and wise, Mason uses her unique voice to share an unforgettable story about how we find our way from the worst kind of heartbreak and loss toward connection and love.” —Andrea Walker, VP and executive editor, Harper

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Night Owl: Poems (Ecco, Mar.; $26.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “With Night Owl, Aimee Nezhukumatathil makes a stunning return to poetry, crafting a collection that illuminates the power of night as a time of transformation. This book is a brilliant beam of light in dark times, deeply suffused with love and awe for the natural world and the people in it.” —Sarah Murphy, executive editor, Ecco

Lunch author reception and closing keynote, Feb. 26

Deesha Philyaw

The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman (Mariner, Sept.; $30; 150,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “I’ve been excited about Deesha Philyaw’s first novel since I read her spectacular short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman is so sexy, so surprising, and so excellent, I can barely wait for September to get here. Deesha is a true master at blending the sultry and the sinful.” —Rakia Clark, executive editor, Mariner Books

Ignite authors and editors reception, Feb. 22; evening author reception, Feb. 25

Veronica Roth

Seek the Traitor’s Son (Tor, May; $29.99; 250,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “This epic romantic, dystopian fantasy kept me up way past my bedtime. The story of a world brought to its knees by a deadly fever and one woman hounded by destiny, Seek the Traitor’s Son is about the power of hope and the strength to be found in embracing love despite the darkness of the world.” —Lindsey Hall, executive editor, Tor Publishing Group

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Julie Schumacher

Patient, Female: Stories (Milkweed, May; $26)

Why the buzz: “I’m confident that Julie Schumacher has written the breakout short story collection of 2026. Patient, Female is razor-sharp, wickedly smart, and laugh-out-loud funny—while also deeply observant about the messier truths of modern womanhood. It’s so addictive, so entertaining, and so damn true to life—a top-shelf, literary ass-kicker for sure.” —Craig Popelars, VP, sales and marketing, Milkweed Editions

Lunch author reception, Feb. 26

Sierra Simone

Devil (Bloom, July; $19.99 trade paper; 75,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “The Priest series dares to go straight into the intersections of faith, desire, guilt, and grace. Sierra Simone’s books ask hard questions about power, sacrifice, and what redemption really costs. I’m so excited for Devil, the latest in this series, and we’re celebrating it with an exclusive edition for independent bookstores.”
—Christa Desir, VP and editorial director, Bloom Books

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Jake Skeets

Horses: Poems (Milkweed, Mar.; $18 trade paper)

Why the buzz: “The entire Milkweed staff and so many indie booksellers are huge fans of Jake Skeets, Navajo Nation poet laureate, and his new collection, Horses, is an absolute knockout. Fierce, luminous, and devastating in their beauty, Jake’s poems are rooted the land of the Navajo and alive with questions of what changes, what endures, and what can be reclaimed: land, language, imagination, and joy itself.” —Craig Popelars, VP, sales and marketing, Milkweed Editions

Featured speaker, “Poetry in Place: Voices from Pittsburgh,” 4–5 p.m., rooms 401–402, Feb. 25; lunch author reception, Feb. 26

Douglas Stuart

John of John (Grove, May; $28; 75,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “Douglas Stuart set a high bar with the Booker-winning Shuggie Bain and the sensational Young Mungo, but early readers are clear: John of John leaps over it! Set in the Outer Hebrides, this is his most brilliantly crafted and profound work yet, a beautifully observed novel of family love, desire, and the ties that bind, from a truly masterful writer.” —Peter Blackstock, VP and deputy publisher, Grove Atlantic

Lunch author reception, Feb. 26

Emma Straub

American Fantasy (Riverhead, Apr.; $30; 150,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: American Fantasy is Emma Straub at her funniest and most delightful. She understands on a fundamental level that deep inside all of us there is still a younger version of the self that holds secrets to who we really are, what we really care about and dream of. It’s a richly textured, uplifting story about the magic of revisiting youthful feelings, and the even greater magic of starting anew.” —Sarah McGrath, SVP and editor-in-chief, Riverhead Books

Featured speaker, “Take a Look, It’s in a Book,” 9:30–10:30 a.m., Room 407, Feb. 24; evening author reception, Feb. 25

V.A. Vazquez

The Death Row Club (Scout, July; $29; 125,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “With a vivid voice from the jump, The Death Row Club moves at breakneck speed, with twists around every corner and an ending so intense that my smartwatch was concerned about my heart rate. Transforming notions of guilt and innocence, morality and immorality, and the lengths we’ll go to protect the people we love, it’s the freshest take on the serial killer thriller I’ve ever read.” —Hannah Braaten, executive
editor, Gallery Books

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Victoria S. Walsh

Why the buzz: “Victoria S. Walsh’s epic romantasy debut swept me away. It delivers everything readers crave—lush worldbuilding, high-stakes adventure, and a heroine’s journey to unlock her missing memories. With organic body-positive representation and a romance that is impossible not to root for, I can’t wait for readers to experience The Iron Hex!” —Sara Rodgers, associate editor, Mira Books

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Tim Weed

The Gatepost (Podium, May; $19.99 trade paper)

Why the buzz: “I’m a New Englander, so Tim Weed’s lyrical descriptions of landscape and nature in The Afterlife Project and now The Gatepost make me feel like I’m looking out the window. But that’s when things get mysterious, strange, and page-turning. Weed makes me think about family, love, and possibly letting work consume them both!” —Victoria Gerken, publisher, Podium Entertainment

Lunch author reception, Feb. 26

David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Wisdom Corner (Ecco, July; $30; 100,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: Wisdom Corner takes us to the Rosebud Indian Reservation and the (reluctant) vigilante crime-solving abilities of Virgil Wounded Horse. In his 2020 debut, Winter Counts, Weiden connected authentically with booksellers—even in a challenging virtual environment—and it’s thrilling to bring him to Winter Institute for his second novel.” —Miriam Parker, VP and associate publisher, Ecco

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Colson Whitehead

Cool Machine (Doubleday, July; $30; 350,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: Cool Machine is at its heart about human beings striving and struggling in a grand and chaotic city. Colson Whitehead’s portrait of New York stands alongside Dickens’s London, Joyce’s Dublin, Mahfouz’s Cairo, and Ferrante’s Naples as an indelible portrait of a great metropolis and the people who live there.” —Bill Thomas, publisher and editor-in-chief, Doubleday

Breakfast author keynote, Feb. 25

Tia Williams

The Missed Connection (Grand Central, June; $29; 200,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “In The Missed Connection, a woman makes an electric connection with her handsome seatmate on a flight, tries to track him down by (accidentally) emailing her entire global company, and complicates matters by hiring a sexy private investigator to help her. This is supersonic romance, cementing Tia Williams as a rockstar of the genre.” —Karen Kosztolnyik, VP and executive editorial director, Grand Central Publishing

Ignite authors and editors reception, Feb. 22; evening author reception, Feb. 25

Karen Tei Yamashita

Questions 27 & 28 (Graywolf, Apr.; $30)

Why the buzz: “It’s a joy to publish the legend and virtuoso Karen Tei Yamashita, who in Questions 27 & 28 has transformed decades of archival research about the incarceration of Japanese Americans into a novel alive with voices, dreams, music, jokes, wisdoms, tragedies, and heroics. At the book’s center is an impossible questionnaire sent to wrongly imprisoned people during war; it unfolds into the history of a community, century, and country.” —Yuka Igarashi, executive editor, Graywolf Press

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

NONFICTION

Derf Backderf

The Dissidents: Autocrats! Vigilantes! Communists! And Cartoonists! (Abrams ComicArts, Sept.; $29.99; 80,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “Derf Backderf has a gift for taking moments from American history that feel distant and making them feel urgently present. The Dissidents draws a direct line between the political repression, paranoia, and social unrest of the early 1900s and the world we’re living in now. It’s thrilling, unsettling, and deeply relevant, and it reminds us just how easily hard-won freedoms can be challenged again.” —Joseph Montagne, VP and publisher, Abrams ComicArts

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

LeVar Burton

Take My Word for It (Random House, Nov.; $35)

Why the buzz: “LeVar Burton is a singular storyteller and cultural icon who’s reshaped how generations see themselves and the world. In his new memoir, he meditates on the legacy of his family and explores how storytelling and imagination can liberate us. Take My Word for It contains all of the authenticity, insight, and empathy we’ve come to know and love from LeVar, and can’t wait for audiences to read his full story for the first time.” —Jamia Wilson, VP and executive editor, Random House

Breakfast keynote, Feb. 24

Tanya Bush

Will This Make You Happy (illus. by Forsyth Harmon; Chronicle, Mar.; $29.95)

Why the buzz: “A hardworking book of meticulously crafted baking recipes and a propulsive, honest, and lyrical recounting of one tumultuous year, Will This Make You Happy encourages instinct, feeling, and improvisation, in and out of the kitchen. Tanya Bush’s recipes, from Neapolitan pavlova to hojicha tiramisu, reflect a journey of self-discovery, making each bite that much more relishable.” —Alex Galou, assistant editor, Chronicle Books

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Isaac Fitzgerald

American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed (Knopf, May; $32; 100,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “America has a tradition of wanderers—some restless, some awestruck, some hungry for encounter. In American Rambler, Isaac Fitzgerald is all of the above. A man trying to walk off some ghosts of his own he wanders straight into his country’s. The way he deals with this past and Jonny Appleseed has the comedy and clarity of a new classic.” —John Freeman, executive editor, Knopf

Closing keynote, Feb. 26

Gautham Rao

White Power: Policing American Slavery (Univ. of North Carolina/Carter, May; $30)

Why the buzz: “Gautham Rao’s book embodies deep and meticulous research and rich storytelling, guided by a profound moral seriousness. His work of history feels as relevant as this morning’s headlines.” —Andrew Kinney, executive editor, University of North Carolina Press

Lunch author reception, Feb. 26

Arthur Sze

Transient Worlds: On Translating Poetry (Copper Canyon, Apr.; $17 trade paper)

Why the buzz:Transient Worlds is a deeply noble project from U.S. poet laureate Arthur Sze. We’ve long known Arthur as a warm and inviting guide to global poetry in translation, and this book brings that activity to the level of literary citizenship. Through these simple, close looks at the different ways poetry can reach across linguistic barriers, Arthur provides a larger template for global connection.”  —Ryo Yamaguchi, publisher and executive director, Copper Canyon Press

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

PICTURE BOOKS

Ryan T. Higgins

Goodnight, Bruce (Disney Hyperion, Mar.; $19.99; 200,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “Ryan T. Higgins’s curmudgeonly bear, Mother Bruce, and his family of geese and mice have been making readers laugh for  more than 10 years. In Goodnight, Bruce, the unwitting mother bear must put his family to bed, but he’s no match for their diversionary tactics. Higgins’s humor is perfectly suited to the struggle of getting kids to sleep... or not.” —Vicki Korlishin, sales director, Disney Hyperion

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Laurel Snyder

Shrinking Violet (illus. by LeUyen Pham; Chronicle, Mar.; $18.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz:Shrinking Violet takes your breath away with its beauty. Lovingly crafted by real-life friends Laurel Snyder and LeUyen Pham, this big-hearted modern fairy tale shows how friendship can help us face our fears and stand tall. With lyrical text and lush illustrations, it’s sure to inspire readers big and small.” —Emily Daluga, editor, Chronicle Books

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Katie Yamasaki

Ripples (Norton Young Readers, Apr.; $18.99)

Why the buzz: “I admire Katie Yamasaki’s ability to embed substantial ideas in pleasurable stories. Ripples is about a sunny afternoon rafting on a lazy river, but the ripples are not just those in the water­—they’re the small acts of care that spread through the community and the world.”
—Simon Boughton, publishing director, Norton Young Readers

Featured speaker, “Starting a Book Program for Incarcerated People,” 4–5 p.m., Rooms 413–415, Feb. 25; lunch author reception, Feb. 26

MIDDLE GRADE

Julie Abe

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way (Bloomsbury, Aug.; $17.99; 100,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “Julie Abe has created a cozy, fantastical world that anyone, kid or adult, would want to retreat to. Lyra’s quest involves retrieving the mystical scholars’ crystal and saving Waterfall Way, with the help of a furry creature that’s not a cat, but is spiritually a cat. She’s looking for is a place to belong—a home. It’s books like this one that can help us figure out who we are and where we belong.” — Erica Barmash, VP of marketing and publicity, Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka

Roxie in Color (Candlewick, June; $18.99)

Why the buzz: Roxie in Color has everything I love in a middle grade novel: accessible writing, an endearingly imperfect main character, fully realized secondary characters, and a loyal and lovable dog. Fans of the film Coda will fall for this story of the sighted daughter of two blind parents.” —Kaylan Adair, senior executive editor, Candlewick Press

Featured speakers, “Inclusive Representation in Kids’ Genre Fiction,” 10–11 a.m., Room 407, and lunch author reception, Feb. 26

Christina Diaz Gonzalez

Offside (illus. by Mari Costa; Graphix, July; $14.99; 100,000-copy announced first printing)

WHY THE BUZZ: “Christina Diaz Gonzalez’s follow-up to Invisible, also written with text in both English and Spanish, is a Breakfast Club–inspired story about soccer, friendship, and working on a co-ed team of assorted characters, each with a different goal.” —Seale Ballenger, VP of publicity, Scholastic

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Tiffany D. Jackson

Ghost in the Night (Scholastic, Aug.; $18.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “We’re ecstatic to welcome Tiffany D. Jackson back with Ghost in the Night, her second middle grade novel after the bestselling Blood in the Water. This time, she takes readers to Savannah, Ga., where 12-year-old Harmony’s love of ghosts turns chilling as she’s drawn into a missing persons mystery that may reveal deadly secrets.” —Abigail Jordon,
associate publicist, Scholastic

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Erin Entrada Kelly

The Second Life of Snap (Greenwillow, May; $19.99; 150,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “Oh, this book! A robot with a limited battery life, a girl awakening to the injustices in her world, a group of friends determined to stick together no matter the cost, an ending that both breaks your heart and offers hope. And not one extra word. I always adore Erin Entrada Kelly’s novels, and 10-year-old me would have devoured this one.”
—Virginia Duncan, VP and publisher, Greenwillow Books

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Chanel Miller

The Moon Without Stars (Philomel, out now; $17.99; 75,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “In The Moon Without Stars, another brilliant book by Newbery Honor author Chanel Miller, Luna’s journey of self-discovery—getting her period and figuring out how to handle it, wondering about how to shave her legs, the embarrassment of bra shopping—will help readers grow, learn, and understand themselves and the middle school world around them.”
—Jill Santopolo, VP and publisher, Philomel

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Liv Mae Morris

The Last Dragon House (Amulet, May; $19.99)

Why the buzz: The Last Dragon House blew us away. It’s fresh and funny, with the goods to hook young readers. It’s got action and adventure, a fresh magic system, and a house full of quirky dragons who probably won’t eat you. If you’re looking for a dragon adventure that’s more Shrek than Game of Thrones, this one is for you!” —Erica Finkel, executive editor, Abrams

Indies Introduce lunch and evening author
reception, Feb. 25

Eliot Schrefer

Fatal Glitch: Camp Zero (with coauthor Erin Entrada Kelly; illus. by Jeannette Arroyo; Stonefruit Studio, July; $14.99; 75,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “Erin Entrada Kelly and Eliot Schrefer have written the perfect spooky series for our modern digital age: fast-paced, thrilling, and chilling tales of technology gone wrong that will keep kids reading late into the night—with the lights on. This first book takes a summer camp for gamers to a terrifying new level.” —Ben Rosenthal, editorial director, Stonefruit Studio

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Philip Stead

A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm (Holiday House/Porter, Apr.; $18.99)

Why the buzz: “I’ve called books groundbreaking before—hilarious, clever, brilliant. But this is the only book that has actually changed the way my brain worked. Philip Stead’s stunning debut novel made me into an entirely different editor, and it’ll create the same transformations in its readers, too. There’s literally never been a book like this—you’ll never read the same way again.” —Taylor Norman, editorial director, Neal Porter Books

Lunch author reception, Feb. 26

YOUNG ADULT

Delali Adjoa

The Free Verse Society (Peachtree Teen, Mar.; $19.99, $14.99 trade paper)

Why the buzz: The Free Verse Society is a poignant and gorgeously written teen romance, by an important new voice in Delali Adjoa. I call it a diverse Dead Poets Society for the modern reader, and it’s the perfect story for anyone who loves powerful emotional journeys alongside their romance.” —Ashley Hearn, senior editor, Peachtree Teen

Indies Introduce lunch and evening author reception, Feb. 25

Rae Carson

Monster, Monarch, Maiden (Greenwillow, Aug.; $19.99; 50,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz:Monster, Monarch, Maiden is an epic romantic fantasy with heart-pounding danger, awe-inspiring magic, and a heroine and brooding stranger who vow to follow one another to the edge of the world. If Rae Carson’s leading, I’m following!” —Martha Mihalick, executive editor, Greenwillow Books

Romance afterparty, Feb. 24

Sarah Dessen

Change of Plans (S&S, May; $21.99; 200,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “Sarah Dessen is back! Change of Plans is a sweet, nuanced, and kick-your-feet wonderful coming-of-age love story, filled with moments of beauty among friends and family.” —Sarah Barley, editorial director, Sarah Barley Books

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Byron Graves

Medicine Wheels (Heartdrum, June; $19.99; 70,000-copy announced first printing)

WHY THE BUZZ: Medicine Wheels is a story of healing and redemption, set on an Ojibwe reservation and following an Ojibwe teen whose mother has been sent to jail and who finds himself through skateboarding. It’s an affecting, propulsive follow-up to Byron Graves’s debut, Rez Ball.” —Rosemary Brosnan, VP and publisher, Quill Tree Books and Heartdrum

Ignite authors and editors reception, Feb. 22

Jennifer Lee and LeUyen Pham

As I Dream of You (First Second, May; $27.99, $19.99 trade paper; 100,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz:Frozen writer-director Jennifer Lee pairs her unmatched storytelling talents with LeUyen Pham’s stunning art in this dreamlike graphic novel about love, death, and our paths in life—both the ones we take and the ones that are taken from us.” —Molly Ellis, SVP of publicity, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group

Evening author reception, Feb. 25

Ama Ofosua Lieb

Goldenborn (Scholastic Press, May; $19.99)

WHY THE BUZZ: “Ama Ofosua Lieb’s debut young adult novel explores Ghanaian mythology and African deities, offering a unique perspective within the urban fantasy genre. Lieb presents readers with a compelling, multidimensional teen heroine navigating grief, identity, and newfound power.” —Victoria Velez, associate publicist, Scholastic

EVENING AUTHOR RECEPTION, FEB. 25; INDIES INTRODUCE LUNCH, FEB. 26

Jamie Pacton

The Hyacinth Labyrinth (Peachtree Teen, June; $19.99)

Why the buzz: “This lady knight story is extra special to me as an editor and internationally ranked longsword fencer. Jamie Pacton’s time-traveling swordswoman, Chloe, was inspired by the real-life opera singer and bisexual icon Julie d’Aubigny, and Chloe’s journey alongside un-magical fair princess Hyacinth feels like a classic Dungeons & Dragons campaign.” —Ashley Hearn, senior editor, Peachtree Teen

Lunch author reception, Feb. 26

Shari B. Pennant

These Kindred Hearts: A YA Romantasy Anthology (Sweet July, June; $19.99)

Why the buzz:These Kindred Hearts shows the depth and scope of the romantasy genre, with diverse voices and happily ever afters. This book, edited by Shari B. Pennant, mended my heart.” —TJ Ohler, assistant editor, Zando

Featured speaker, “Inclusive Representation in Kids’ Genre Fiction,” 10–11 a.m., room 407, and lunch author reception, Feb. 26

Ahmad Saber

Ramin Abbas Has Major Questions (Atheneum/Dlouhy, Mar.; $21.99; 75,000-copy announced first printing)

Why the buzz: “Ahmad Saber’s debut dazzles, dancing between pathos and rapier wit. Ramin’s huge heart—as he struggles to reconcile his Muslim faith, and his parents’ expectations, with loving another boy—is transcendent.” —Caitlyn Dlouhy, VP and publisher, Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

INDIES INTRODUCE LUNCH, FEB. 25

Read more from our Winter Institute preview feature.