May 2024 News, Deals, Reveals, & More

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In: General

The Rundown

  • Melanin in YA News
  • Book Deals
  • Foreign Rights
  • Cover Reveals
  • Bestseller Lists
  • Appearances
  • Awards/Honors
  • Buzz – Starred Reviews
  • General Updates
  • Podcasts
  • June 2024 Releases

Melanin in YA News

  • The info@melanininya.com email is back up! Apologies for that inconvenience. You can use that email or you can still also always reach out to us at melanininya@gmail.com at any time.

Book Deals

  • National Book Award nominee Nafissa Thompson Spires has sold their YA debut, AKIMBOBO to to Random House/Make Me a World, scheduled for fall 2026 release.

Foreign Rights

  • WHERE SLEEPING GIRLS LIE by Faridah Abike-Iyimide sold to Spain.
  • WE DESERVE MONUMENTS by Jas Hammonds sold to Vietnam.
  • TWENTY-FOUR SECONDS FROM NOW by Jason Reynolds sold to the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Hungary, Spain, Italy, & Brazil.

Cover Reveals

  • Jason Reynolds unveiled the cover for his novel, Twenty-Four Seconds from Now . . .: A LOVE Story which releases October 8, 2024
  • Akana Phenix revealed the cover for THE EMPIRE WARS (Out August 6, 2024).

Bestseller Lists

NYT: BLOOD AT THE ROOT by LaDarrion Williams debuted at #5 on May 26, 2024.

Indie: THE POISONS WE DRINK by Bethany Baptiste debuted at #15 on May 8, 2024. BLOOD AT THE ROOT by LaDarrion Williams debuted at #8 on May 15, 2024.

USA Today: BLOOD AT THE ROOT by LaDarrion Williams debuted at #75 on May 15, 2024.

Appearances

Note: To see the latest virtual and in person events coming up, be sure to visit the Events page!

Awards/Honors

  • THE MAKING OF YOLANDA LA BRUJA by Lorraine Avila, A SONG OF SALVATION by Alechia Dow and THE LIBRARY OF BROKEN WORLDS by Alaya Dawn Johnson were tapped as Locus Top 10 Finalists for Young Adult Novels.

Buzz – Starred Reviews

General Updates

  • THE DANGEROUS ONES by Lauren Blackwood and THIRSTY by Jas Hammonds were chosen as Amazon Editors’ Picks for May 2024.
  • Rakuten Kobo listed THE POISONS WE DRINK by Bethany Baptiste and THE DANGEROUS ONES by Lauren Blackwood were listed as Best Books of the Month.
  • Kwame Alexander was a Commencement Speaker at American University‘s 2024 graduation ceremony for the School of Communication and School of Education. (See Kwame’s photo coverage on Instagram.)
  • Desiree S. Evans is a 2024 Steinbeck Fellow. Congratulations, Desiree!
  • Randi Pink is a South Arts’ 2024 Alabama Fellow for Literary Arts. Congratulations, Randi!
  • Well-Read Black Girl announced the date of their annual festival. Mark your calendars for October 26, 2024!
  • Bank Street College of Education released their Best Children’s Books of the Year which include THE MINUS-ONE CLUB by Kekla Magoon, THE MELANCHOLY OF SUMMER by Louisa Onomé, COOL. AWKWARD. BLACK. edited by Karen Strong, AND OTHER MISTAKES by Erika Turner, HER GOOD SIDE by Rebekah Weatherspoon, NIGERIA JONES by Ibi Zoboi and many more. View the full list here.
  • Elle named SO LET THEM BURN by Kamilah Cole and KING OF DEAD THINGS by Nevin Holness as “The Best Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books of 2024, So Far.”
  • Parents named SAINT-SEDUCING GOLD by Brittany N. Williams in “The Ultimate Summer Reading List for Kids and Teens.”

Podcasts

June 2024 Releases

June 4, 2024

Four Eids and a Funeral by Adiba Jaigirdar & Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé 

Storm: Dawn of a Goddess by Tiffany D. Jackson

Louder Than Words by Ashley Woodfolk and Lexi Underwood

June 11, 2024

Seasick by Kristin Cast & Pintip Dunn

Rapunzella, Or, Don’t Touch My Hair by Ella McLeod

The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson

June 18, 2024

With Love, Miss Americanah by Jane Igharo

June 25, 2024

Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron

Happy reading!

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