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Hi, YABCers!

Today we’re super excited to celebrate the cover reveal for Stars in My Crown (Antonio Michael Downing) releasing July 2, 2024!

Ready to see?

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*** If you choose to share this image elsewhere, please include a courtesy link back to this page so others can enter the giveaway. Thank you! ***

Title: Stars in My Crown

Author: Antonio Michael Downing

Illustrator: Richy Sánchez Ayala

Release date: July 2, 2024

Publisher: Tundra Books

ISBN: 9780735271128

Cover design: Sophie Pass-Lang

About the Book: Stars in My Crown

Author and musician Antonio Michael Downing’s debut picture book is about big changes and big feelings, and speaks to all kids experiencing the highs and lows of childhood.

Little Tony is full of love for his grandmother, his home in Trinidad and delicious pholourie. But he’s also full of other big feelings, including anger. His grandmother tries to teach him to be patient — patience is a star in his crown, she says — but it’s hard.

He tries to keep his anger in, but when he loses at ping-pong to his brother or he has to come in from playing . . . Yaaarrgh!

When Little Tony and his brother move away from their beloved Trinidad, there’s even more for him to be upset about. His new home is cold, full of new people, and there’s no pholourie anywhere! Yaaarrgh!

But then he remembers his grandmother’s lessons, and a surprising thing happens . . .

A charming and heartwarming story based on the author’s own childhood, Stars In My Crown is an ode to big feelings but even bigger triumphs.

Preorder * Goodreads

About the Author: Antonio Michael Downing

Antonio Michael Downing is a performing artist, speaker and writer. He began his writing career with the novella Molasses in 2010 and followed this up with his critically acclaimed memoir Saga Boy in 2021. Antonio grew up in southern Trinidad, Northern Ontario, Scarborough and Kitchener.

About the Illustrator: Richy Sánchez Ayala 

Richy Sánchez Ayala was born in the Dominican Republic. He has learned to appreciate his beloved slice of paradise but also to seek out new horizons. He works in fine art, illustration, visual development and animation; regardless of what he’s working on, the child in him always manages to sneak in. He currently lives in San Francisco.

*Giveaway Details*

Ten (10) winners will receive an cop of Stars in My Crown (Antonio Michael Downing) ~ US/CAN Only!

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*

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Hi, YABCers!

Today we’re super excited to celebrate the cover reveal for

Keys of the Dawn (Justine Manzano),

releasing February 13, 2024!

Before we get to the cover, here’s a note from Justine Manzano:

Hi YABC Readers!
I can’t tell you how excited I am to reveal the cover of the third and final book in the Keys &
Guardians trilogy, Keys of the Dawn.
Keys of the Dawn releases on February 13th from Sword & Silk Books, and it concludes the
story of Jacklyn Madison and Kyp Franklin. Though their story started as a rebellion, they have
become two of the chief hunters of interdimensional monsters for the Order of the Key. After
rooting out the corruption within their ranks, they sacrificed themselves to seal the Rifts between
our world, the Dawn, and the world of the interdimensionals, the Dusk.
Keys of the Dawn begins with their surprising return to life, and the reopening of the
interdimensional Rifts they died to close. Rejoining their team, Jacklyn and Kyp must split their
attention between Kyp’s mysterious and unclosable wound, solving the mystery of why the Rifts
have been reopened, and hints of an upcoming destructive war that could mean the end of the
Dawn.
Keys & Guardians is the series of my heart. I conceived of this series as a teenager who wished
she could be a hero, and it grew with me until I finally released it into the world, evolving into a
dark fantasy, infused with strong and complex characters who possessed cutting wit and
badass fighting abilities. It’s hard to believe that I’ve reached the final book, but I’m so excited to
share how this epic tale ends.
Whether you’re just learning about Keys & Guardians, or you’ve been excitedly awaiting the
release of Book 3, I’m so glad to have you along on this journey.
Thank you!
Justine Manzano

Ready to see?

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Here it is!

*** If you choose to share this image elsewhere, please include a courtesy link back to this page so others can enter the giveaway. Thank you! ***

Title: Keys of the Dawn

Author: Justine Manzano

Release Date: 02-13-2024

Publisher: Sword and Silk Books

ISBN: 979-8-9879802-7-9

Cover designer/artist credit: Celin Chen

In the gripping third installment of the Keys & Guardians series, “Keys of the Dawn,” the stakes have never been higher.
Jacklyn Madison and Kyp Franklin, once heroes believed to have sacrificed everything to seal the Rifts, have defied the clutches of death. But with their miraculous return comes a new peril— the Rifts have reopened, more dangerous than ever before.
Kyp, bearing a cursed wound that refuses to heal, finds himself on the brink of death and rebirth over and over again. His last hope lies within the perilous Dusk, the realm of their most formidable foes. As he ventures into enemy territory with the Order’s daring members, the quest for salvation becomes a battle for survival.
Meanwhile, Jacklyn, rooted in the Dawn—the world as we know it—stands as the final guardian of her children, and perhaps the world. Alongside a motley assembly of allies, she uncovers a trail leading to an ancient adversary whose thirst for revenge knows no bounds. With a malevolent plot unfolding, Jacklyn must confront the shadows of her past to safeguard the future.
Time is the enemy as the Keys of the Dawn face a race against the clock to unravel the truth behind the reopened Rifts. Only by unmasking the true villain can they hope to prevent the fall of the Dusk and the Dawn. Will they succeed, or will they witness the rise of a new regime that seeks to undo everything they’ve fought for?
“Keys of the Dawn” is a testament to the enduring power of loyalty and the unyielding spirit of those who stand at the precipice of the unknown. Fans of “The Order of the Key” and “The Skeleton Key” will find themselves plunged into an even deeper, darker, and more thrilling adventure that will leave them yearning for more.
Prepare to dive into a world where the line between life and death is as thin as the veil between dimensions. Can the Keys of the Dawn restore the balance before it’s too late? Grab your copy now and join the battle that will determine the fate of worlds.

Pre-Order

About the Author: Justine Manzano

Justine Manzano is the geeky author of the geeky YA series Keys & Guardians, and geeky YA novel Never Say Never. Known as a Professional-Life-Ruiner-By-Antagonist, Justine’s fiction is tough on the outside and sweet on the inside, like an M&M or a hard candy with a gooey center, delivered with sass and snark. A freelance editor, she also serves as an Editor-in-Residence at WriteHive. She lives in Bronx, NY with her husband, teenage son, and new puppy! She can usually be found at her website, www.justinemanzano.com or all the usual social media haunts. If you’ve looked in all these places and can’t find her, she’s probably off reading fanfiction. She’ll be back soon.

*Giveaway Details*

Ten (10) winners will receive e-copies of all three Keys & Guardians books, plus a free novella (Justine Manzano)! ~ International!

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*

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Hi, YABCers!

Today we’re super excited to celebrate the cover reveal for And Then There Was Us (Kern Carter) releasing April 9, 2024!

Ready to see?

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Cover design by Gigi Lau. Cover illustration by Paris Anthony-Walker

Title: And Then There Was Us

Author: Kern Carter

Release date: April 9, 2024

Publisher: Tundra Books

ISBN: 9781774883402

About the Book: And Then There Was Us

Coi is just eighteen years old, but has already survived years of physical and verbal abuse from her mother. After being kicked out of her mother’s house at age fourteen, Coi has lived with her father, and together they’ve created a peaceful life. That peace ends suddenly when her mother dies.

While Coi struggles to find kindness in her heart for the woman who only hurt her, she starts having lucid dreams, forcing her to relive moments of abuse and emotional trauma that eventually led to Coi’s abandonment.

Her mother’s passing also reopens the door to her mother’s side of the family, including her beloved younger half-sister, Kayla, her stepfather and her grandmother. Each of them challenge Coi’s long-held views about her mother, especially Kayla, who, Coi realizes, is taking their mother’s loss hard. As she reconnects with her family, Coi learns to see parts of her mother she never experienced, and for the first time since she was abandoned, opens her heart to forgiveness.

Preorder * Goodreads

About the Author: Kern Carter

Kern Carter is the author of Boys and Girls Screaming, along with two self-published novels, Thoughts of a Fractured Soul (novella) and Beauty Scars. In addition to his writing, Kern is a filmmaker and also teaches professional writing at a local college, committed to supporting emerging writers and helping them find their voice. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Website * X * Facebook * Instagram * Youtube

*Giveaway Details*

Ten (10) winners will receive an advanced reader copy (ARC) of And Then There Was Us (Kern Carter) ~ US/CAN Only!

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*

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Hi, YABCers!

Today we’re super excited to celebrate the cover reveal for

Avatars of Gaia, Secrets Beyond Earth (Charlotte Purine),

released October 9, 2023!

Before we get to the cover, here’s a note from Charlotte Purine:

Hello! I hope you enjoy the read & the stickers! Don’t forget to watch my VIP book trailer on AvatarsOfGaia.com & let me know your thoughts! Thank you, Charlotte

Ready to see?

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*** If you choose to share this image elsewhere, please include a courtesy link back to this page so others can enter the giveaway. Thank you! ***

Title: Avatars of Gaia, Secrets Beyond Earth

Author: Charlotte Purine

Release Date: October 9, 2023

Publisher: Munchimonster

Cover designer/artist credit: Charlotte Purine

The beating heart of the Earth, superpowers, portals, tidal waves, ice kingdoms, hidden caverns, ancient clans, futuristic tech, mythical gems, plants that communicate, lab-made mutants, and part-human species – some very unfriendly. Can an average teen become a superhero in Gaia, the dimension of the living Earth?

Empowered by their new superpowers the Avatars of Gaia set out to conquer an evil king who wants to destroy Gaia, the spiritual realm of Earth’s beating heart. With help from Samoa, Gaia’s legendary guardian, Daisy and her summer campers embark on a mission to rescue Gaia’s princess, protect the ‘plantizens’ and animals in Gaia, and its pristine ecosystems that are under attack by the king’s destruction of pure water, seeds, trees, and sunshine that are required for life to thrive. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

The fate of all life forms in Gaia and on Earth depends on an average girl who calls upon her inner courage and perseverance to become a heroine. That leader is – Ranger Daisy Heart, an Avatar of Gaia.

Besides battling bizarre creatures and protecting a rare gem, Daisy must also solve the code of the curious Prism that holds the secret to the mysteries of the universe. Such knowledge is forbidden to humans! Will a part-human Gaian help her decipher it? He is lonely, believes Daisy is honorable, and that as friends they could better both their worlds by strengthening the human spirit.

NOTE TO PARENTS & TEACHERS This upbeat, fantasy-adventure novel will inspire readers to explore nature and research science. Students will have lots of questions re: botany, energy, marine life, navigation, geology, animals and dimension travel!

Book themes: courage, honor, critical thinking, and teamwork!

4 comments

Hi, YABCers!

Today we’re super excited to celebrate the cover reveal for

Beyond the Soul (Lynn Wallace),

releasing November 15, 2023!

Before we get to the cover, here’s a note from Lynn Wallace:

Howdy y’all! I’m Lynn Wallace, and I write romantic Christian fantasy, which means that I use monsters to magnify the brokenness of mankind and those monsters find redemption through love, just as we find redemption through God’s love. I feel that seeing monsters fighting against their inner nature to become human makes it easier to see the battle against sin to become the person God called you to be. I do include bits of biblical truth from Scripture. All of my books feature a love story, and I’m a big believer in happy endings ;-).

Do you believe that anyone can be saved?

Alex has resigned himself to misery. His best friend Jesse is off living happily ever after with Emer, the girl of both of their dreams, while Alex remains trapped in his immortal life as a vampire, with no hope of salvation.

Just when his existence can’t get any worse, a mysterious young woman appears, bearing strange powers and claiming that she’s somehow connected to Alex’s fate. Confusion morphs into something deeper as Alex finds himself wishing for a life he cannot have. When Jesse suddenly returns, begging for his help, Alex gets caught between pursuing his own happiness or standing with his only friend in a fresh battle against evil… an evil that threatens everything Alex holds dear.

Pre-Order * Goodreads

About the Author: Lynn Wallace

Lynn Wallace is a born-and-raised Texan. She graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Science in nursing, but along the way realized that writing was her true passion. Currently she lives with her husband, who cooks fantastic meals, and her young son, who creates fantastic messes but makes up for it by being adorable. When not lost in the wilds of her own imagination, she works part time as a registered nurse in surgery. Her other hobbies include reading, listening to music, cleaning the house, and chasing the toddler.

Website * Instagram * Facebook * X

*Giveaway Details*

Three (3) winners will receive a signed paperback copy of Beyond the Soul, plus a stack of ten bookmarks to share! ~ US Only!

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*

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Hi, YABCers!

Today we’re super excited to celebrate the cover reveal for

Herrick’s Key (T.M. Blanchet),

releasing TBD 2024!

Before we get to the cover, here’s a note from T.M. Blanchet:

Hello YABCers! Drum roll, please… I’m very excited and honored to share the cover for HERRICK’S KEY, Book 3 of The Neath Trilogy! You’re the first ones to see it, and I can’t think of a better group to share this experience with. 😊 Ollie and Tera’s adventures began with HERRICK’S END, continued with HERRICK’s LIE, and now come to a shocking and rip-roaring conclusion as they race against time to protect not only The Neath, but the world above that they left behind. *Giveaway alert!* One lucky winner will receive a free signed copy! If you haven’t yet started the series, I’ll send along Book 1. Otherwise I’ll send along Book 2 or Book 3, whichever you prefer.

Ready to see?

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Title: Herrick’s Key (Book 3 of The Neath Trilogy)

Author: T.M. Blanchet

Release date: TBD (Probably will be March 2024)

Publisher: Tiny Fox Press

Cover designer/artist credit: Damonza

Be careful what you witch for.

​

Ollie is back on the Brickside, and he’s living on borrowed time.

     He thought his mission was simple: Follow the clues and find the key. Fast.

     But when the “clues” are enigmas written in blood and the “key” has been split into pieces and scattered around Boston, it doesn’t take long for that mission to crumble like a North End cookie.

     The trail leads Ollie deep into the underbelly of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and beyond—all the way back to the place where the trouble began. Herrick’s home. The place of his sin.

     Salem.

     The answers are out there, somewhere. And Ollie intends to find them. But first, it seems, he’ll have to decipher codes, infiltrate the world’s most unlikely coven, survive brutal betrayals, see the unseen, solve riddles, commune with turtles, walk with ghosts, and maybe even learn to fly, all in an effort to uncover the clouded truths of the past.

     Water, earth, air. Three points make one key.

     The key, he knows, will open the door.

     What he doesn’t yet know? Some doors should never be opened.

About the Author: T.M. Blanchet

T.M. Blanchet is a former reporter, magazine editor, and award-winning humor columnist, as well as the founder of the nonprofit organization Operation Delta Dog: Service Dogs for Veterans. She works as a producer at A Mighty Blaze, an initiative created in 2020 to help authors and indie bookstores reach readers during the Covid-19 crisis, and as the producer and host of A Mighty Blaze Podcast. T.M. is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. T.M. is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and Grub Street in Boston.

Website * Instagram * Facebook * TikTok * Threads

*Giveaway Details*

One (1) winner will receive a signed copy of one book from the Neath Trilogy, your choice! ~ International!

**Note: If you choose Book 3 it will be shipped early 2024!**

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*

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Hi, YABCers!

Today we’re super excited to celebrate the cover reveal for

A Walk Between Raindrops (Amalie Jahn),

releasing June 27, 2023 from Bermlord!

Before we get to the cover, here’s a note from Amalie Jahn:

Hi YABC Readers! I’m so excited to share the cover of A Walk Between Raindrops with you here today! I think the cover really captures the mood and the essence of Elise and Wylla’s relationship, and I can’t wait to share their story with you this summer!

Ready to see?

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*** If you choose to share this image elsewhere, please include a courtesy link back to this page so others can enter the giveaway. Thank you! ***

About the Book: A Walk Between Raindrops

Fourteen days. Ten parks. Two sisters.
One chance to make things right.

Seventeen-year-old Elise and her younger sister Wylla haven’t spoken to one another in almost a year. Wylla refuses to forgive Elise for everything that happened last fall, but when they both win an all-expense paid trip to ten of the best amusement parks in the country to ride rollercoasters, Elise thinks it could be a way for them to finally reconnect.

As the pair set off with a ragtag group of misfits—including a licorice-eating biker, a doe-eyed sorority president, and an Irish guy who’s as sweet as a cinnamon roll—Elise hopes the hours of confinement in the back of a van might finally provide an opportunity to heal her relationship with Wylla. But Elise is struggling to recover from a trauma of her own, and Wylla has a secret that could derail Elise’s plans. As the girls navigate the ups and downs of their long history, will Elise find a way to reconnect with Wylla, or will she lose her sister, and her sanity, forever?

Goodreads

About the Author: Amalie Jahn

USA Today Bestselling author Amalie Jahn is the recipient of the Literary Classics Seal of Approval and the Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for her debut YA novel, THE CLAY LION. Her first YA contemporary, THE NEXT TO LAST MISTAKE, won the prestigious IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award in 2020. She is a contributing blogger with the Huffington Post and Southern Writers Magazine, as well as a finalist in the 2015 Kindle Book Awards. A TED speaker, human rights advocate, and active promoter of kindness, she lives in North Carolina with her husband, two children, and three extremely overfed cats.

Website * Instagram * Twitter

*Giveaway Details*

Three (3) winners will receive a signed paperback ARC copy of A Walk Between Raindrops (Amalie Jahn) ~ US Only!

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*

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Hi, YABCers!

Today we’re super excited to celebrate the cover reveal for

A Spider Named Itsy (Steve Light),

releasing September 5, 2023 from Candlewick!

Before we get to the cover, here’s a note from A Spider Named Itsy:

“The Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up the water spout.” Almost every child knows this finger play rhyme. As a child myself I always wondered why the spider goes up the spout. While singing the song one day in my nursery school classroom, I thought of what fun it would be to explore this story. I had been drawing bugs recently and was looking for something to do with them!

“Down came the rain and washed the spider out.” Rain falls in every one’s life, it is how we deal with the rain that defines our lives. A great lesson to teach children.

“Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.” With determination, the help of friends and a little luck, the sun usually does shine again.

“And the Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up the spout again.” No matter how many times we get “washed out,” we should always try to climb up again. What a great lesson for everyone, especially children who are falling, failing and learning every day.

I loved drawing and creating this bug world, from Itsy’s bed (spider iron work!) to his tea pot design and all of the traveling bugs. I pictured the story happening during a Dust Bowl Depression era where it hasn’t rained in a while so bugs have packed up their belongings to migrate to better lands; perhaps the safety of a roof eave. Trying to expand my pen and ink work, I looked at classic illustrators such as Franklin Booth and Albrecht Durer. Using a metal dip pen flex nib and watercolor, all art was hand drawn on watercolor paper.

I’m hoping this book creates a world around the beloved song that children will love exploring as much as they love the melody and finger play.

Ready to see?

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*** If you choose to share this image elsewhere, please include a courtesy link back to this page so others can enter the giveaway. Thank you! ***

Title: A Spider Named Itsy

Author: Steve Light

Release date: September 5, 2023

Publisher: Candlewick Press

ISBN (if available): 9781536225297

Cover designer/artist credit: Cover illustrated by Steve Light, cover designed by Maryellen Hanley at Candlewick Press

About the Book: A Spider Named Itsy

Why did Itsy Bitsy make his famous journey? With a dose of warmth and whimsy, Steve Light’s remarkable, intricate artwork spins a backstory of unexpected friendship.

Everyone knows the rhyme “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” We know about the climb up the waterspout, the washout, the return of the sun, and the determined climb back up the spout—again. Generations of children have sung this beloved verse and mastered its accompanying twisty finger play. But what sent the tiny spider on his upward trek to begin with? What happened along the way—and where is Itsy now? Steve Light—with his meticulously rendered, highly detailed pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations and an endearing cast of insect characters—riffs on a classic as he offers some surprising answers, ushering us into a charming tale of perseverance, kindness, and community. And it all starts when a branch falls from a tree…

Pre-Order

About the Author: Steve Light

Steve Light is the creator of many picture books, including Have You Seen My Dragon?, Have You Seen My Monster?, and Road Trip! A Whiskers Hollow Adventure, which School Library Journal described in a starred review as “a near-perfect story that invites children to look at its pages and make connections.” Among his board books are Black Bird Yellow Sun; Mama Tiger, Tiger Cub; and Up Cat Down Cat. He lives in New York City.

Website * Instagram * Twitter * Facebook

*Giveaway Details*

Two (2) winners will receive a signed hardcover copy of A Spider Named Itsy (Steven Light) ~ US/CAN Only!

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*

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Hi, YABCers!

Today we’re super excited to celebrate the cover reveal for

The Gravity of Lies (Dorothy Deene),

releasing June 13, 2023 from Sword & Silk Books!

Ready to see?

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*** If you choose to share this image elsewhere, please include a courtesy link back to this page so others can enter the giveaway. Thank you! ***

Title: The Gravity of Lies

Author: Dorothy Deene

Release Date: June 13, 2023

Publisher: Sword and Silk Books

ISBN:  979-8-9865998-6-1

Cover designer/artist credit: Celin Chen

About the Book: The Gravity of Lies

In the city of dreams, sixteen-year-old Skye knows that finding her father is the saving grace that will rescue her from abject poverty and her mother’s dysfunction. The minor acting roles she’s been getting keep them fed, but when she lands a spot on a reality show, the quest to find her father takes on a new life. With her dream so close to becoming reality, she must rely on the new friends she’s found and uncover long-hidden truths if she is to ever escape the destitution her mother refuses to find a way out of.

Pre-Order * Goodreads

About the Author: Dorothy Deene

Dorothy Deene has lived most of her life in the L.A. area and is no stranger to the entertainment world. She spent years writing and directing plays and working as a column writer for the Gazette. It wasn’t until her daughter landed a spot on a reality show at CBS Studios that centered around a group of talented teens and their parents, did Deene begin writing her debut novel, The Gravity of Lies. To learn more about the author, you can find her at www.dorothydeene.com and follow her on Twitter @dorothydeene.

Website * Twitter

*Giveaway Details*

Ten (10) winners will receive an e-copy of The Gravity of Lies (Dorothy Deene) ~ International!

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*

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Hi, YABCers!

Today we’re super excited to celebrate the cover reveal for

Untraceable (Aya de León),

releasing October 10, 2023 from Candlewick Press!

Before we get to the cover, here’s a note from Aya de León:

Amani is my first plus-size protagonist. Maybe she’s the first plus-size Black teen spy girl out there. I’m so excited with how this image turned out!

Ready to see?

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*** If you choose to share this image elsewhere, please include a courtesy link back to this page so others can enter the giveaway. Thank you! ***

Title: Untraceable

Author: Aya de León

Release date: Oct 10, 2023

Publisher: Candlewick Press

ISBN:  9781536223750

Cover designer/artist credit:          

Cover designer: Lisa Rudden

Cover artist: Richy Sánchez Ayala

About the Book: Untraceable

With gripping results, this companion novel to Undercover Latina returns to the high-stakes world of the Factory—an international organization of spies protecting people of color.

Fifteen-year-old Amani Kendall’s biggest problem is being the only plus-size Black girl at a white private school—until her house burns down and her family is unexpectedly on the run. Suddenly, she’s reeling from the news that her formerly boring mom is being pursued by an ex-boyfriend turned stalker, and her scientist dad has gone MIA. At the same time, she has to navigate an underfunded school in the city, suffering the cultural whiplash of being surrounded by other Black students, including the cute boy who’s an old family friend. How much danger is their family really in, and how untraceable are they trying to be? Her mom offers only half-answers and roundabout lies, so Amani starts to investigate. But her sleuthing has unexpected consequences, uncovering secret family legacies that will change their lives forever. A revealing prequel to Underground Latina for existing fans, Untraceable also serves as a thrilling introduction to the world of the Factory for readers encountering this fast-paced spy series for the first time.

Pre-Order * Goodreads

About the Author: Aya de León

Aya de Leon teaches creative writing at UC Berkeley. Kensington Books publishes her Justice Hustlers feminist heist novels, UPTOWN THIEF (2016), THE BOSS (2017), THE ACCIDENTAL MISTRESS (2018), and in 2019 SIDE CHICK NATION the first novel to be published about the hurricane in Puerto Rico. She has received acclaim in the Washington Post, Village Voice, SF Chronicle, and The Establishment. A graduate of Harvard College, with an MFA from Antioch University, Aya has been an artist in residence at Stanford University, a Cave Canem poetry fellow, and a slam poetry champion. She publicly married herself in the 90s, and from 1995 to 2012 hosted an annual Valentine’s Day show that focused on self-love. Her work has also appeared in Ebony, Essence, Guernica, Writers Digest, Huffington Post, Catapult, The Root, The Toast, VICE, Ploughshares, Bitch Magazine, on Def Poetry, and she’s an advice columnist for Mutha Magazine. In 2020, Kensington will publish her first spy novel about FBI infiltration of an African American political organization. She is currently at work on a YA spy girl series featuring African American and Latina teens called GOING DARK, as well as a picture book to help talk to children about racism. She blogs and tweets about race, gender, and culture at @AyadeLeon and ayadeleon.com.

Website * Instagram

*Giveaway Details*

Three (3) winners will receive a hardback copy of Undercover Latina (Aya de León) ~ US/CAN Only!

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*

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