New Frontiers: Daniel Nayeri & Aida Salazar

About this event

Young adult authors Daniel Nayeri (This is a Door ) and Aida Salazar ( Stream ) sit down for a conversation about their latest novels and the lessons their characters learn in unfamiliar settings. Whether facing mystical creatures and strange lands or navigating a sudden departure from the internet, both protagonists journey through uncertainty and learn their true purposes. Moderated by author Armin Tolentino ( Mythwakers: The Manananggal).

About This Is a Door:

A groundbreaking hero’s journey from National Book Award and Newbery Honor winner, Daniel Nayeri! A young boy, a mouse, and a dog set out to find their purpose in this fairy tale adventure told in an innovative visual format that offers a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

This is the tale of a boy named Nothing the Younger, who lives in a city on the mountaintop of a far-off and long-lost country. Everyone calls him Ing, and while he has no parents, he does have two friends: a dog, Pöppy, and a mouse, mOmO. When King Cyrus calls for a hero to find and defeat the Giantess ravaging the countryside, the king’s son, the Wander Prince, answers the call and Ing decides to follow. Along the journey, Ing (and his friends) must traverse the Land of the Dead, survive an encounter with the terrifying wimmelworm, and discover the truth of his mother and father . . . so that he may find what he’s been seeking all along—his best purpose.

The text on each page snakes, climbs, jumps, and explodes into shapes and forms that unravel the story. This Is a Door is full of fun surprises and poignant musings that flip the classic hero’s journey on its head—all in an artistic and inventive package that is a wonder to behold.

About Stream:

Two teens are sent to Mexico for the summer to unplug in this hilarious and heartwarming dual narrative, perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, Adib Khorram, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Meg Medina.

Newly graduated 8th graders Celi and Elio don’t know each other, but after a catfishing incident in their Oakland, California, community goes viral, both sets of parents discover their recent screen overuse. Independently, they have the “brilliant” idea to ship the kids off to the same rancho in Mexico for two months, thinking it will help them reconnect with themselves. In the middle of nowhere—without internet, electricity, or even running water—the two meet and bond over their miserable fates: Celi is forced to spend her days helping in a primitive healing clinic with her eccentric tías while Elio carts sticks and logs to rehabilitate a river. But day by day, amidst the stark beauty and cultural richness of rural Mexico, with crushes blooming, Celi and Elio each shed a little of their online selves and begin to understand what it means to embrace nature, connect to culture, and cultivate authenticity. Stream is a standalone story featuring the main characters from Aida Salazar’s award-winning verse novels Ultraviolet and The Moon Within . This fast-paced, quick read crackles with humor, wisdom, and relatable themes. The story speaks directly to teens and will make them feel seen.

From Daniel Nayeri