Dear readers,

As we reach the close of #IntlYALitMonth 2024, I want to express my gratitude to the Global Literature in Libraries Initiative for inviting me to be involved. It has been a privilege to curate this month-long celebration of YA literature from around the world and to engage in meaningful conversations about the power of stories to transcend borders.

Throughout this month, we have explored a diverse array of YA books from various countries, each offering different perspectives and insights into the lives and experiences of young people. The reviews contributed by the talented students from Goldsmiths, University of London and my international colleagues have showcased the depth and breadth of international YA literature. We have also highlighted the work of local and global organisations dedicated to the study and promotion of children’s and YA literature. This month has served as a reminder of the importance of reading globally and embracing the richness of the field beyond our own back gardens.

As we move forward, let us continue to champion the transformative potential of YA literature. Let us seek out stories that challenge us, inspire us, and broaden our horizons. Let us support authors, illustrators, and translators from around the world and advocate for the representation of marginalised and minoritised voices in the publishing industry. And let us remember the space that YA literature can offer to cultivate joy, promote critical reflection, and foster empathy in a world that is increasingly and devastatingly divided.

As I say goodbye, I invite you to revisit the excellent posts of this year and past International YA Literature months.

Welcome to GLLI’s 2024 #IntlYALitMonth
Blue Squared
Do You Dream of Terra-Two?
Houses with a Story
Meet the YA Studies Association
Bitter
Sugar Town Queens
The Ventriloquist’s Daughter
Blood Scion
Never Tell Anyone Your Name
The Queen Series
Queen of the Tiles
City of the Beasts
Meet Spinning Gold
The Days of Bluegrass Love
Yoghurt and Jam: Or how my mother became Lebanese
Thunderbird
Inkheart
Who Owns the Clouds?
Meet the Association for Children’s Literature in South Asia
The Merciless Ones
Sweet Bean Paste
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls
Diary of a Young Naturalist
Death at the Voyager Hotel
Black in Time
The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor
Ducks
Mask Off
Meet The International Journal of Young Adult Literature
Our Own Little Paradise
Binti
Girls

Best wishes,
Emily

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GLLI’s 2024 International YA Literature Month has been curated by Dr Emily Corbett. She is a lecturer in children’s and young adult literature at Goldsmiths, University of London, where she leads the MA Children’s Literature: Theoretical Approaches to Children’s and Young Adult Literature programme. Her research focuses on the growth and development of YA from literary, publishing, and cultural perspectives. She is also General Editor of The International Journal of Young Adult Literature and was founding Vice President of the YA Studies Association. Her monograph, In Transition: Young Adult Literature and Transgender Representation (2024), has just been published by the University Press of Mississippi. You can find her contact details on her institutional website and connect with her on Twitter and Instagram via @DrEmilyCorbett.

Opinions expressed in posts on this site are the individual author’s and are not indicative of the views of Global Literature in Libraries Initiative.