Teen Lit Chat

Morally gray Black witches. Sisterhood. Politics and rebellion. The Poisons We Drink is a potent YA debut from Jacksonville's own Bethany Baptiste... about a world where love potions are weaponized against hate and prejudice, sisterhood is unbreakable, and self-love is life and death. Join the Teen Lit Chat Interview this March. A limited number of copies of the book will be given away to participants (first come, first served).

Jax Book Fest is back at the Main Library and better than ever! Join us for the Main Event on Saturday, September 23 from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. for an awesome lineup of New York Times bestselling authors and DOZENS of local authors! See who's scheduled to appear!

You probably already know and love Firekeeper's Daughter - the "Indigenous Nancy Drew thriller" novel that set the world (and BookTok) ablaze. Not only was it a Reese's Book Club YA Pick and a TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time Selection... It's getting adapted for TV at Netflix! But did you know Angeline Boulley has a new, bestselling follow-up to her breakaway debut hit? Join us for a trhilling Teen Lit Chat interview with Angeline Boulley on Saturday, September 23 during Jax Book Fest!

Earning a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction, We Were Liars was the "sophisticated" suspense novel that took the world by storm in 2014. Now, after nine years, E. Lockhart returns to her New York Times bestselling phenomenon with a thrilling prequel that's just as scandalous and riddled with lies as the first! The Family of Liars takes readers back to the story of another summer, another generation, and the secrets that will haunt them for decades to come.

Meet the author and score your own, free copy of the brand-new book!

Hey, Jax readers! Are you ready for Jax Book Fest?! Celebrate great books, bestselling authors, and (of course) READING with us and hundreds of your fellow book fans on Saturday, September 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Main Library in downtown Jacksonville. The event includes Lit Chat Interviews and Talks with three #1 New York Times bestselling authors, dozens of local authors, literacy advocates, multiple children's performers, scavenger hunts, and other fun reading-related activities for all ages.

How do you talk to kids about slavery? In the new book, An American Story, New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander's unparalleled poetry combines with debut illustrator Dare Coulter's singular art to present a sweeping account of our country's founding. They'll join us, as part of their book tour, for an interview with Jacksonville's own Rahman Johnson to talk about how they put this book together and what they want readers to take away from it. The book and this interview program are intended for middle and high schoolers, educators, parents, and caregivers.

Ryan Estrada is an author and an adventurer who has spent 8 years traveling the world. He has lived and visited over a dozen countries and his work is heavily inspired by his experiences and the cultures and people that he has met in his travels. Ryan will join us from his home in South Korea to tell us all about these experiences and how he creates his work!

Matt de la Peña is a New York Times bestselling and Newbery Award-winning author for youth, and he joins us at the library for two days in September to talk to kids and teens about his books and writing! Check out our two events with him below and register now to reserve your seat, and a book!

Teen Lit Chat returns this July with a visit from Chris Crutcher! Chris is a longtime writer of teen novels covering serious topics but not actually a very serious person. Read on to learn more about Chris and check out his recommendations for things to read, write and do, and then join Chris to talk about his books and writing process, live on Zoom!

June is Rainbow Book Month – a nationwide celebration of the authors and writings that reflect the lives and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. An initiative of the American Library Association, it’s an opportunity for book lovers to discover diverse stories and for libraries to foster community, understanding and access.