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Smells Like TeenBookCon

By Anjela Martinez, Contributing writer | March 20, 2018

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Some of the books you'll find at TeenBook Con, hosted March 24 at Clear Springs High School.

Book Buzz is a blog produced in collaboration with neighborhood librarians from Houston Public Library, Harris County Public Library and the Bellaire Library.

Attention all Young Adult literature fans! This Saturday, March 24, 2018, Clear Springs High School will host The Greater Houston Teen Book Convention.

For the past eight years, TeenBookCon has celebrated and promoted reading by connecting teens with their favorite authors. With over 20 different panels, you’ll get a chance to see some of 2018’s most noted Young Adult authors as they discuss a wide range of topics. After the panels, be sure to stay for author signings!

TeenBookCon is open to all ages and best of all it’s FREE!

Still not excited for TeenBookCon? Check out these books by 2018’s TeenBookCon authors:

Eden Kupferman feels powerless about a lot of things in her life. She felt powerless when her father was sequestered, when her best friend left for Japan for the summer, and when her crush leaves her confused. Dressing up like her favorite character Gargantua, is the only time Eden feels tall and powerful. Can cosplaying as Gargantua, leader of Team Tomorrow, give Eden the power to take control of her life? Brace yourself for all the feels in Cecil Castellucci’s coming of age story, Don’t Cosplay with My Heart.

In the opulent world of Orleans, people are naturally born gray and dull, and seek the talent of the revered Belles to transform themselves with beauty. Born a Belle, 16-year-old Camellia wants to be chosen by the Queen of Orleans as the most talented Belle in the land. Camellia soon learns the price of beauty and the dangers within the palace walls. The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton is a lush fantasy that fans of The Selection will enjoy.

I’ve been reading Neal Shusterman since I was in high school. Although Unwind is still my favorite book from Shusterman, Scythe, the first book in his latest series, Arc of a Scythe, is a close second. In this science fiction thriller, Shusterman has created a dystopian world free of disease, so the only way to die is to be gleaned (randomly killed) by scythes (professional killers). Teens Citra and Rowan must compete against each other to become a scythe, a position neither wants, but it’s better than the alternative: death.

Even if you are no longer a teen, TeenBookCon is a great way to meet new books and authors. Believe me, after the way Thunderhead, the sequel to Scythe, ended, I plan on having a few words with Mr. Neal Shusterman during the author signings:. WHY? YOU’RE GLEANING ME, SHUSTERMAN! How long until the third book? That is Anjela, with a “J”.

Hope to see you at TeenBookCon!

Clear Springs High School is located at 501 Palomino Ln, League City, TX 77573. Admission to TeenBookCon is free, but please register here. Doors open at 9 a.m. Be sure to visit the Harris County Public Library booth. For the full author list and more information visit www.teenbookcon.org.