by Wil Mara Since I’ve done a few things in the news over the last few months due to my stance on banned books—my publisher has asked me to submit a list of my five favorite banned titles, along with a few thoughts on why I have come to love them so dearly. So here…
By Katy Grant TW: References to domestic and gun violence. Sometimes, we are deeply affected by events that don’t touch us directly. My verse novel, Three Shots, was inspired by three cases of domestic violence. They were all shocking enough to receive widespread media attention, at times on the national level. In each instance, I…
By Edd Tello I admit that there was a time I did not know what a novel in verse was. It wasn’t until late 2019 while reviewing author Lexi Bruce’s book, More Than Anger from West 44 Books, that I first heard about this type of storytelling. Later, I would end up writing two verse…
Spring is just around the corner, but West 44 Books’ new YA titles have already sprung! Read on to preview our latest YA offerings. There’s so many to choose from—which one will you start reading first? Everything You Left Me Read if you like: Courtney Summers’s Sadie, podcasts like The Clearing, or any true crime…
Everyone has a story. When I became the editorial director of West 44, I set out to find talented authors with authentic, compelling stories—and I wasn’t disappointed. Each time a pitch hits my inbox, I get a little thrill. This kernel of an idea could grow into a novel, one that could change the life…
2-Part Author Talk Series Thursday, November 3, 2022 @ 4:00 p.m. ET | Tuesday, December 6, 2022 @ 4:00 p.m. ET Every attendee receives a FREE copy of Justice Register Now! Talk With an Author, Part 1: Kymbali Craig On Thursday, November 3, at 4:00 p.m. ET, educator, artist, poet, performer, and author of Justice Kymbali Craig will…
Angel Barber’s debut title Dandelion Travels is now available from West 44 Books! Angel Barber is a 19-year-old author and poet from Buffalo, New York. He has taught youth workshops on novels-in-verse for the Just Buffalo Writing Center, participated in readings in the Buffalo poetry community, and is currently pursuing a degree in television film arts at…
The latest novel from Cyn Bermudez, The Dragons Club, offers a sharp and genuine portrayal of a teen musician grappling with her older sister’s drug addiction while learning to define her own identity. When her sister’s addiction puts Faith’s violin scholarship at risk, she reluctantly joins a teen support group called the Dragons Club. Connecting…
Two more titles now available from the ongoing elementary series Izzy Jeen the Big Mouth Queen! Izzy is determined to get her way, no matter what. Nicknamed Izzy Jeen the Big-Mouth Queen by a classmate, she can’t always control her words or temper, and that can lead to big trouble! Through her adventures and misadventures,…
West 44 Books’ verse novel The Dragon’s Club received a starred review from Kirkus. When her older sister’s drug addiction puts Faith’s violin scholarship at risk, she reluctantly joins a teen support group called the Dragons Club. Connecting with the other members soon starts to bring Faith and her music back to life, but as her…