VAASL 2024 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome to the VAASL 2024 Fall Conference App!
Telling Our Story through an incredible program of sessions and events.

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8:00am EST

Meet the Authors - Secondary

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST

Tidewater CD

Five Virginia and DC Authors who write for Middle School and High School Readers will present information about their Author Visits and answer questions. One participant will win a free virtual author visit from one of the presenting authors.

Speakers

Erin Teagan

author

Erin Teagan is the author of the Luciana series, American Girl’s 2018 Girl of the Year, The Friendship Experiment (HMH), and Survivor Girl (Clarion, 2019). She has a background in science and worked in drug research for more than ten years. She uses many of her experiences from... Read More →

Terry Jennings

Author

I am a Cuban American author of children's books. I am the author of The Little House of Hope, a book about an immigrant family who shares their home with other immigrants to give them a leg up in their new country. The Definitely Dominguita series is a chapter book series about a... Read More →

Edie Hemingway

Author

I am co-author of two Civil War novels, both licensed by Scholastic Book Fairs and optioned for films. My middle grade novel, Road to Tater Hill (Delacorte Press), won a Parents’ Choice Gold Award and was listed on Bank Street College’s Best Books List and several state lists... Read More →

Jen Furlong

Author, MPC Publishing

Author of award-winning YA series The Unimaginables: Hidden City, Tattooed Angel, Magick Squared. Meredith’s World Series (middle-grade humorous adventures) Meredith at The Met, Meredith for Congress. Children’s picture book: Mrs. Cheesely Loves Cheese. Co-Author of Antagonists... Read More →

Heather Murphy Capps

Author, SCBWI Mid-Atlantic

I’m an award-winning author of upper middle-grade books. I write historical fiction and use magical realism—topics I love to talk about, especially with young readers and educators.

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST
Tidewater CD

Literature Programming

AASL Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Explore, Engage
Audience Middle School, High School

11:00am EST

Does Diversity Matter? (Hint: Yes!)

Friday November 8, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST

Tidewater CD

Who gets to write what, and why? One author's point of view about creating books for young people - the roadblocks, readers' responses, and why this is so important for all voices to be heard.

Speakers

Lisa Yee

Author - Keynote

Lisa Yee’s groundbreaking Millicent Min, Girl Genius, featuring one of the first Asian American protagonists in contemporary literature, debuted in 2003. Her most recent novel, Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, has garnered numerous awards including a Newbery Honor, National Book Award... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Tidewater CD

Collection Development Literature Programming

AASL Include, Collaborate, Curate, Engage
Audience All Levels

12:00pm EST

Reading as a Revolutionary Act

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST

Tidewater CD

Join author Samira Ahmed for a candid discussion about the ongoing attacks on the freedom to read, the role of libraries as lighthouses of our democracy and why art is revolutionary. She will share personal stories of being "cancelled" and banned including work she's doing with Authors Against Book Bans and invites you to share your experiences as well.

Speakers

Samira Ahmed

Author - Keynote

Samira Ahmed is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of numerous works for young people including Love Hate & Other Filters, Internment, Hollow Fires, This Book Won’t Burn, the Amira & Hamza duology and Ms. Marvel: Beyond the Limit. She was born in Bombay, India and grew... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST
Tidewater CD

Literature Professional Growth

AASL Inquire, Explore, Engage
Audience All Levels

1:00pm EST

VRC High School Titles for 2024-2025

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST

Tidewater CD

Come learn about the new VRC high school titles for this year as well as how to join the committee, and nominate titles. Come with some of your favorite reads of the year to share with others!

Speakers

Elyse DeQuoy

School Librarian, James Wood High School

Megan Watson

English Teacher, LCPS

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST
Tidewater CD

Collection Development Literature

AASL Curate
Audience High School