Radical Possibilities in YA Lit Series: Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo is the Young People's Poet Laureate and the New York Times-bestselling author of The Poet X (2018), which won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, the Pura Belpré Award, the Carnegie medal, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and the Walter Award. She is also the author of With the Fire on High (2019)—which was named a best book of the year by the New York Public Library, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal—and Clap When You Land (2020), which was a Boston Globe-Horn Honor book and a Kirkus finalist. Most recently, she published a novel, Family Lore, in 2023. 

Acevedo's visit to Wellesley College is the second in the Suzy Newhouse Center's year-long "Radical Possibilities in YA Lit" series, which celebrates the representation of difference in young adult literature. As one of the fastest growing categories of literature, Young Adult literature books offer readers the opportunity to view the world through a multitude of perspectives and offers the inspiration to imagine a more just future. The series brings together some of today’s most important voices working to expand the parameters of the genre and inspire new narratives of community, love, resilience and resistance.

The work of the featured authors encourages readers to think critically about the genre and the types of narratives that  are typically represented in mainstream Young Adult literature. Our series kicked off with a reading and conversation with Aiden Thomas on Oct. 25th, and continues with Gabby Rivera on April 4th. The series will culminate on April 16th with the book launch and celebration of Dear Wendy, the debut novel by Ann Zhao '24.

The readings and conversations with the authors featured in the series showcase the radical possibilities of creating stories that center the lives and experiences of communities often relegated to the margins. Given the current reactionary movement of banning books that privilege difference and diversity in storytelling, we are thrilled to welcome these authors into our community and support their work. We look forward to seeing you at these events.

This event will be livestreamed at wellesley.edu/live. No prior registration is required to view the livestream.

A book signing will take place immediately following the event. Please check back soon for further details.