The YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers program dedicates a staff of librarians and readers to scoping out and finding those books in the YA genre that hold contextual value to young readers as well as visual appeal, entertainment value, and a storyline that draws readers in who typically struggle to find books to captivate them. It is a difficult task for authors to have their books recognized by YALSA in general, let alone receive a nomination to be included on a list of novels written by some of the highest-selling authors in the YA market today, authors like Laurie Halse Anderson, Angie Thomas, Alan Gratz, Jason Reynolds, Brendan Kiely and Kwame Alexander. And me. Yep. Me.

So, I found out last week that my debut novel, NO SAD SONGS, is a 2019 YALSA Quick Picks nominee! I’m over the moon about this development because it represents an opportunity to get my book in the hands of readers who will benefit not only from the gift of finding something that interests them, but who will also be able to recognize the reach of Alzheimer’s Disease in our society and the plight of youth caregivers worldwide. I hope you’ll have a chance to pick up a copy of No Sad Songs for yourself or for that special young adult in your life who may not have found the type of book that unlocks reading for them yet.