An Upcoming TBF Book I'm Dying to Read

Cover May Not Be Final.

After several years of anticipating and attending Teen Book Fest, I’ve learned that one of the best aspects of the event is how it introduces me to new, incredible authors. This year (of course) is no exception. If you’ve been monitoring the TBF attending authors page as obsessively as I have, you may have noticed that the acclaimed graphic novelist Penelope Bagieu will be coming to the Festival next year. She is the author of both Exquisite Corpse, California Dreamin’: Cass Elliot Before The Mamas & the Papas and a new book coming out in March 2018 Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World.

Throughout history and across the globe, one characteristic connects the daring women of Brazen: their indomitable spirit. With her characteristic wit and dazzling drawings, celebrated graphic novelist Pénélope Bagieu profiles the lives of these feisty female role models, some world famous, some little known. From Nellie Bly to Mae Jemison or Josephine Baker to Naziq al-Abid, the stories in this comic biography are sure to inspire the next generation of rebel ladies.

Sounds cool, right? In the first place, I love graphic novels-- seeing different artistic styles and how they allow the reader to view characters in new ways-- but I love novels about amazing historical women even more. Hearing about fascinating stories about people that you know are real is a different experience than reading a fantasy novel, but in my view, similarly appealing. For example, Nellie Bly traveled around the world in seventy-two days, beating the fictional Phileas Fogg’s record by eight!If you’re as intrigued as I am, check out the page previews on Macmillian Publisher’s site and make sure to attend Teen Book Fest this spring to meet the amazing Penelope Bagieu in person!

See you there,
Kate G.