Upcoming Big Books
Meet the authors behind some of the adult, children’s, and graphic titles on PW’s radar
Adult WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 11:05 a.m.–noon
• Elizabeth Acevedo, Family Lore (Ecco, $30, Aug. 1)
Elizabeth Acevedo is the bestselling author of The Poet X, which won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and the Printz Award, among other accolades. She is also the author of YA titles With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land. She holds a BA in performing arts from George Washington University and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland, and she is a National Poetry Slam Champion. In September, the Poetry Foundation named Acevedo the 2022– 2024 Young People’s Poet Laureate. Her first novel for adults tells the story of one Dominican American family through the voices of its women as they gather for a living wake to celebrate the life of one of their matriarchs.
• Mitch Albom, The Little Liar (Harper, $26.99, Nov. 14)
Mitch Albom’s numerous inspirational books have collectively sold more than 40 million copies worldwide including eight consecutive #1 New York Times bestsellers, such as Tuesdays with Morrie, the bestselling memoir of all time, and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Albom is renowned as a journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster, and musician. His newest novel follows the stories of 11-year-old Nico, his brother, and their school friend who survive the Holocaust in their small village in Greece and find their lives interconnected decades later in America.
• Alice McDermott, Absolution (FSG, $28, Nov. 7)
A National Book Award winner for her novel Charming Billy, Alice McDermott
also the author of the Pulitzer finalists That Night, At Weddings and Wakes, and After This, and several other titles. Her forthcoming novel spotlights the experiences of two young American wives in 1963 Saigon. They form a wary alliance as they support their husbands’ work during the Vietnam War and take up the mission to do good for the Vietnamese people.
• Kiley Reid, Come and Get It
(Putnam, $28, Jan. 9, 2024)
Kiley Reid’s bestselling debut novel, Such a Fun Age, was longlisted for the Booker Prize and was a celebrated pick of many book clubs, including WellRead Black Girl Book Club, Reese’s Book Club, and others. Reid, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, set her latest book at the University of Arkansas in 2017, where senior resident advisor Millie finds herself navigating intrigue and bad behavior when she accepts an unusual opportunity from visiting professor Agatha.
MODERATOR: Maris Kreizman
Maris Kreizman hosts the Maris Review, a literary podcast from LitHub. Her essays and reviews have appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times and the Atlantic. She’s also the author of Slaughterhouse 90210, which grew out of her popular Tumblr of the same name and explores the intersection of literais ture and pop culture. A former book editor at S&S’s Free Press, Kreizman has held previous positions as editorial director of Book of the Month as well as editorial director of digital content at B&N.com.
Children’s & YA WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 11:05 a.m.–noon
• Melissa de la Cruz, The (Super Secret) Society of Octagon Valley
(Disney-Hyperion, $17.99, Sept. 5)
The author of more than 50 books for readers of all ages, Melissa de la Cruz is best known for the Descendants books, based on the Disney Channel films, and the YA series Blue Bloods and Witches of East End. Melissa de la Cruz Studio, her recently
launched Disney Publishing imprint, focuses on middle grade and YA books that will provide original content to multiple Disney platforms. As an author, she’s kicking off a humor-adventure middle grade series set at an exclusive high-tech institute.
• Candice Iloh, Salt the Water
(Dutton, $18.99, Oct. 3)
Candice Iloh is a first-generation Nigerian American writer, teaching artist, and youth educator. Their YA debut, the novel in verse Every Body Looking, was a National Book Award Finalist and a Printz Honor Book. Iloh’s sophomore book, Break This House, was published in 2022. Their forthcoming verse novel focuses on nonbinary Black teen Cerulean and their efforts to make it through a challenging postpandemic senior year, become self-sufficient, and build a new life outside of the Bronx.
• Karen M. McManus,
One of Us Is Back
(Delacorte, $19.99, July 25)
Karen M. McManus is an international bestselling author of young adult thrillers. Her work includes One of Us Is Lying, which has been turned into a television show on Peacock and Netflix; its sequel, One of Us Is Next; and the standalone novels Two Can Keep a Secret, The Cousins, You’ll Be the Death of Me, and Nothing More to Tell. Her next book closes out the One of Us Is Lying trilogy as someone unexpected returns to Bayview, bringing potentially deadly consequences.