YA Midwest 2025

YAM Returns to Naperville in 2025!

Are you ready to celebrate all things YA?

*YA Midwest is a book festival for YA readers of all ages. Anyone under the age of 12 is required to be accompanied by an adult*

Coming at you from the Chicago suburbs, readers, authors, publishers, educators and influencers are invited to join us for a full day of authors, panels, and books, books, books!

Becky Albertalli, K. Ancrum, Alanna Bennett, AR Capetta, Jyoti Chand, Jay Coles, Michelle Jabès Corpora, Carli Corson, Becky Dean, Candace Fleming, R.M. Gray, Briana Johnson, Megan Lally, Susan Lee, M.K. Lobb, Mia P. Manansala, Cassandra Newbould, Ali Novak, Ashley Hope Perez, Lexi Ryan, D.L. Taylor, L.T. Thompson, Ann Zhao (check back for frequent updates, author lineup subject to change)

Plus audiobook narrators:

Lauren Robin Amanda, Jordan Cobb, Lindsey Dorcus, Candace Fleming, Robb Moreira, André Santana

Tickets are only $30 and include:

*Admission to the opening celebration and keynote speech *A copy of the Keynoter's new book *Attendance at four breakout sessions featuring timely topics discussed by panels of your favorite YA authors *Lots of time to shop at the onsite bookstore *Signing session with all attending authors

*Lunch available onsite

--

An important note about your tickets:

To expedite the check-in process, please have your ticket(s) with the QR code(s) pulled up on your phone or printed out when you come to the event. Please check your confirmation, open the PDF with the ticket/QR code and reprint if needed from the EventCombo website or app.

Please read these Event Policies carefully:

Anderson’s Bookshop reserves the right to change the format of this event to a virtual one at any time if it becomes necessary. Please be advised that Anderson’s Bookshop assumes no responsibility or liability for any personal injury or other loss you may incur as a result of your decision to attend an event, including the transmission of Covid-19 or related illnesses. We expect that for the protection of everyone, all applicable Covid-related protocols will be followed.  Failure to treat all participants with courtesy and respect may result in your expulsion from the event. 

YA Midwest Policies

Anderson’s Bookshops, LITapalooza, and YA Midwest are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.  In order to ensure the safety and comfort of all attendees, participants, panelists, speakers, authors, publishers, volunteers and employees, we expect everyone to maintain an atmosphere of respect and the following standards of behavior:

Your experience should be a positive one regardless of race; sex; national origin; religion (or lack thereof); age; ethnicity; color; gender; gender identity and/or expression; neurodiversity; sexual orientation; marital, civil union, or domestic partnership status; past or present military service; physical, mental, or sensory disability; national, social, or ethnic origin; pregnancy; family or parental status and/or genetic information (including family medical history); or technology choices.

By registering for this event, you are agreeing to refrain from engaging in inappropriate behavior and harassment of any kind throughout the course of this event.

Harassment includes but is not limited to:

• Offensive verbal comments related to, or that reinforce social structures of dominations related to, any protected category above

• Inappropriate physical contact

• Sexual propositions or images

• Unwelcome sexual attention

• Off-color, obscene, racial and/or culturally insensitive jokes, remarks, or gestures

• Any other words or conduct of a sexual nature that makes the recipient or observer uncomfortable

• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following

• Sustained disruption of talks or other events

• Unwelcome photography or recording

• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

Please note that any participants who engage in inappropriate behavior or harassment of any kind will be immediately removed.  If you are being harassed, observe someone else being harassed, or have concerns about potential violations of this policy, please notify the event organizers immediately and all appropriate actions will be taken