Young Adult Novel Convention returns to Redwood City Public Library

“This year we’re excited to be creating community among teens in reading books and becoming writers themselves and exposing them to a diverse panel of authors,” Staples said. 

With busy school schedules and the fact that much of students’ reading is for a class, this event hopes to remind teenagers the joy of reading.

“Novels are opportunities to reinforce the joy of reading and are a wonderful opportunity to learn about other people or find in a book something you might be struggling with or you might be facing,” Staples said. 

This year’s theme is “Coming of Age in a Digital World,” which Staples said is “a conversation we have to think about all the time” while working in the library. 

“Libraries get thought about as being very analog and teens are so digital,” Staples said. “Bridging that and meeting where they’re at is our goal, and sometimes they’re in that digital world.” 

Part of that effort to meet kids where they’re at includes those who might not be as inclined to read recreationally, but Staples feels that can be mitigated with the right book. 

“There’s something magical about finding that one book that they’re going to see their own life reflected in or discover different ways of thinking,” Staples said. “That can be really powerful.” 

Teen novels often tackle difficult issues or hard topics by making them approachable, Staples said, by either turning them into fantastical stories about dragons or contemporary fiction that’s more down to earth. 

The convention hopes to highlight a diversity in genres teens can find interest in, as well as a diversity of authors who come from varying backgrounds. The day includes three panel discussions with 13 different authors and will end with book signings.

Panel topics include the evolution of friendships, managing mental health and the art of storytelling while bridging the gap between reality and technology. Authors were chosen to “reflect the extremely diverse community” in the Bay Area, Staples said.

The weight of having these discussions geared toward teenagers is not lost upon the organizers of the event, Staples said. Addressing topics such as literacy and banned books is difficult to avoid when talking about coming of age in a digital world, she said. 

“It’s about this push, pull people are experiencing with screens and what the average day-to-day life may be or what might be behind the messages teens are hearing,” Staples said. 

A short story contest has also been underway, and the winner will be announced at the convention. The contest accepted submissions in both English and Spanish, and was open to eighth to 12th graders throughout San Mateo County. Although Staples was not a part of the judging process this year, she has been in the past and is looking forward to reading submissions. 

“When you’re reading through these pieces, it blows your mind how they’re thinking about so many things in a different way and it’s super exciting,” Staples said. 

A writing workshop will kick the day off at 11 a.m., and serves as a reminder to teens that there is “no better way” to see their own life reflected in stories than writing themselves, Staples said. 

The encouragement to write is just as important as is to read, Staples said. 

“To become a writer, you’re often a reader first, so making that connection and empowering youth to tell a story is really important,” Staples said. “Stories aren’t just something you consume, but it’s also something you share with the world.” 

Teens interested in attending the convention can register at smcl.org/yanovcon for free.