Category: ALAN Workshop

The 2026 ALAN Workshop: Closing Keynote with A.S. King

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Monday, November 23rd from 4:35pm to 5:00pm

We are so excited to share that A.S. King will close the 2026 ALAN Workshop as our final keynote speaker. Her books have received numerous awards including two Michael L. Printz Awards, one for Dig in 2020 and The Collectors in 2024. She also won the LA Times Book Prize for Ask the Passengers. She was the recipient of ALA’s Margaret A. Edwards Award in 2022 and the ALAN Award in 2023.

Middle grade educators may be more familiar with these titles, Attack of the Black Rectangles, The Year We Fell from Space, and Me and Marvin Gardens under her name Amy Sarig King. Look for her newest middle grade novel, It Came from the Creek, coming out on October 6th. If you are lucky, it could be in your book box so register today! https://convention.ncte.org/registration/

ALAN Writing Seminar: Craft & Creativity with Daniel Nayeri

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Saturday, November 21st from 5:45pm to 7:00pm

Join us for an evening with Daniel Nayeri. He is the author of Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story) and winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, the Christopher Medal, and the Middle Eastern Book Award. He also wrote The Many Assassination’s of Samie, The Seller of Dreams, winner of the Newberry Honor, and The Teacher of the Nomad Land, winner of the Newbery Honor and the National Book Award. He will be our featured author at the annual ALAN Writing Seminar at the 2026 NCTE Convention. His session is titled “Craft & Creativity.” Look for his next book, This Is a Door, coming out October 27th and join us at the 2026 ALAN Workshop in Philadelphia. Register here: https://convention.ncte.org/registration/

Don’t Miss the March 31st Deadline!

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Call for proposals!

Are you heading to Philadelphia in November for the 2026 ALAN Workshop! We are excited to learn from you! Write a proposal for either the Poster Session or Antiracist Session! Learn more about each proposal by heading here:

Antiracist Session Proposal Application: https://tinyurl.com/ALANARSession26

Poster Session Proposal Application: https://tinyurl.com/ALANPOSTER26


TAR Call for Column Editors 2025

Beth Scanlon

Adolescence in Academia: Scholarly Books about Young Adult Literature

In response to the popularity of young adult literature (YAL) in the past two decades, there has been a rise in the scholarship on YAL. From literary criticism to commentary to pedagogy, these books offer YAL teachers, scholars, and enthusiasts other ways of thinking about and approaching the texts. 

In order to bring attention to this work, the incoming TAR editorial team seeks a column editor for “Adolescence in Academia: Scholarly Books about Young Adult Literature.” This 1,000-1,750-word column, which will appear in each issue, will review two to three scholarly books about YAL, providing an overview and critique of the books and identifying possible audiences and uses for them. Column editors will be responsible for overseeing the column for one year (three issues), soliciting contributors and/or writing the column and submitting it to the TAR editorial team according to the publication timeline.

To apply, please submit a CV/resume, a writing sample (no more than five pages in length), and a statement (no more than two pages in length) that provides information on your:

  • Interest in this position
  • Qualifications for being column editor. What makes you well-suited to writing about scholarly YAL?
  • Ideas for the column. What books might you want to feature?

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experience levels. Applications should be sent to alanrevieweditors@gmail.com by January 15, 2026 for consideration. Please use the subject line “Adolescence in Academia Application 2026” in your email. If you have questions, please reach out to Terri Suico (tsuico@saintmarys.edu).

From the Practitioner’s Desk: Teachers and Librarians on Young Adult Literature

Middle and high school teachers and librarians are often the unsung heroes of young adult literature. From connecting readers to the right book at the right time to finding creative ways to bring new books into their classrooms and libraries to championing the right to read, they help young adult literature find its audience. 

With this in mind, the TAR editorial team seeks a column editor for “From the Practitioner’s Desk: Teachers and Librarians on Young Adult Literature.” This 1,000-1,750-word column, which will appear in each issue, will center the voices of classroom teachers and school librarians as they share their perspectives and ideas on YAL in middle and high schools. While we envision topics ranging from pedagogical ideas for a particular book to challenges that teachers and librarians are facing, we ultimately want this column to reflect the needs and interests of those who work with young adults.

The column editor will be responsible for overseeing the column for one year (three issues), soliciting contributors and/or writing (or co-authoring) the column and submitting it to the TAR editorial team according to the publication schedule. Given the nature and focus of the column, the editor should be a practicing middle or high school teacher or librarian.

To apply, please submit a CV/resume, a writing sample (no more than five pages in length), and a statement (no more than two pages in length) that provides information on your: 

  • Interest in this position
  • Qualifications for being column editor. What makes you well-suited to writing about YAL from a school practitioner’s perspective?
  • Ideas for the column. What books, specific topics, and/or other contributors might you want to feature?

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experience levels. Applications should be sent to alanrevieweditors@gmail.com by January 15, 2026 for consideration. Please use the subject line “From the Practitioner’s Desk Application 2026” in your email. If you have questions, please reach out to Terri Suico (tsuico@saintmarys.edu).

Meeting in the Middle

Middle-grade literature has increased in popularity over the most recent years. While this literature typically encompasses the ages of 8-12 years old, there are debates surrounding whether the age demographic applies to the reader or to the characters. This discourse – and the liminal space is inherent to this age range – makes middle-grade literature ripe for analysis and investigation. 

In the current social, cultural, and literary landscape, the TAR editorial team seeks a column editor for “Meeting in the Middle.” This 1,000-1,750-word column, which will appear in each issue, will focus on pieces that explore the role of middle-grade literature in the broader arena of literature for adolescents. This column will cover a range of topics such as universal themes, cultural impact, relatability, adaptations and accessibility. The overall aim of the column will seek work that showcases how middle-grade literature is constructed across areas such as pedagogy, literary criticism, author spotlights, book reviews and more.  

The column editor will be responsible for overseeing the column for one year (three issues), soliciting contributors and/or writing (or co-authoring) the column and submitting it to the TAR editorial team according to the publication schedule. 

To apply, please submit a CV/resume, a writing sample (no more than five pages in length), and a statement (no more than two pages in length) that provides information on your: 

  • Interest in this position
  • Qualifications for being column editor. What makes you well-suited to writing about Middle Grades literature?
  • Ideas for the column. What books, specific topics, and/or other contributors might you want to feature?

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experience levels. Applications should be sent to alanrevieweditors@gmail.com by January 15, 2026 for consideration. Please use the subject line “Meeting in the Middle Application 2026” in your email. If you have questions, please reach out to Terri Suico (tsuico@saintmarys.edu).