‘Thirteen Reasons Why’ author to speak at Aldine Teen Lit Festival


AISD librarians will present a district-wide festival to be held on Saturday, May 15 at Nimitz High School, from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Students will be able to meet popular authors at Celebrate Teen Lit ’10. The purpose is to promote literature that appeals to young adults, encouraging them to read for pleasure and develop a lifelong love of reading. it is intended for students in middle school, ninth grade and high schools.

These are the featured authors and their work:

Jay Asher is the keynote speaker. He just published his first novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, which has been described as a “mystery, eulogy, and ceremony.” It has received many awards including being selected as a Best Book for Young Adults (YALSA) and has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list.

Jennifer Ziegler, a Texas author, has written several novels that are very popular among teens. How Not to be Popular tells the story of Maggie Dempsey.

Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning author and poet. Her themes include women, immigration, the South Asian experience, history, mythology, magic and celebrating diversity. She writes both for adults and children. Two novels, The Mistress of Spices and Sisters of My Heart, have been made into films. Her short stories, Arranged Marriage, won an American Book Award.

In her young adult novel, Conch Bearer, action, adventure and magic combine in this compelling quest fantasy that races across contemporary India to a dramatic climax in the Himalayas. She teaches creative writing at the University of Houston.

Joe Hayes is one of America’s premier bilingual storytellers and the author of many well-loved books. His book, Ghost Fever, won the Texas Bluebonnet Award in 2007. His book, The Day It Snowed Tortillas, was chosen by the editors of the Bloomsbury Review as one of their 15 favorite children’s books published in the last 15 years. La Llorona: The Weeping Woman, is a favorite among young adults and a bestseller.

De Cee Cornish is a popular storyteller who grew up in Houston’s Fifth Ward. Cornish enjoys working with at-risk teenagers using stories to teach and motivate. He uses storytelling to teach about anger, violence, and conflict resolution.