Diversity in Young Adult Fiction May 7, 2011

Kearny Street Workshop and the SFPL Main Teen Center present

Diversity in Young Adult Fiction:
A reading, panel discussion, reception and book signing featuring authors
Malinda Lo, Cindy Pon, Gene Luen Yang and J.A. Yang

Meet four Asian American authors making breakthroughs in young-adult fiction with their popular books and graphic novels. Cindy Pon and Malinda Lo, two friendly writers, founded DIYA to find other writers and readers from all walks of life who want to see more diversity in young adult fiction. This event kicks off DIYA’s nationwide tour. For further information, visit diversityinya.com.

Cindy Pon is the author of Silver Phoenix (Greenwillow, 2009), which was named one of the Top Ten Fantasy and Science Fiction Books for Youth by the American Library Association’s Booklist, and one of 2009′s best Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror by VOYA. The sequel to Silver Phoenix, titled Fury of the Phoenix, will be published in April 2011. cindypon.com

Malinda Lo is the author of Ash (Little, Brown, 2009), which was a finalist for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, and named one of the Kirkus Best Young Adult Novels of 2009. A companion novel to Ash, titled Huntress, will be published in April 2011. malindalo.com

Gene Luen Yang began self-publishing comic books in 1996. In 1997, he got the Xeric Grant for Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks. Since then he has written and drawn a number of stories in comics. American Born Chinese, released by First Second Books in 2006, became the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association’s Printz Award. It also won an Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album – New. The Eternal Smile, a collaborative project with Derek Kirk Kim in 2009, won an Eisner for Best Short story. In addition to cartooning, Gene teaches computer science at a Catholic high school in California. humblecomics.com

J.A.Yang has slummed it in the valley with the Wakefield twins; slumber partied with Huey, Dewey and Louie; joined Krakow in stalking Angela; and climbed every mountain with the Von Trapps. He is the author of Exclusively Chloe. He lives online at jonyang.org.

Sponsored by the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center

Community Partners:

Oakland Asian Cultural Center
Philippine American Writers Association

Books available for sale from Eastwind Books