Downtown Decatur hosted the tenth annual Decatur Book Festival from September 4th through 6th. More than 600 authors from across the nation traveled to Georgia, spending time speaking to large crowds concerning their upcoming books and socializing with avid readers.  

Teenagers and young adult readers flocked to the teen stage. Throughout the weekend, acclaimed authors sat and answered numerous questions.  Names like Sarah Dessen, author of more than 12 books, and Meg Cabot, author of the beloved Princess Diaries series, appeared on the schedule, prompting substantial audiences to listen and wait for signatures in the sweltering heat. Despite popular belief, the teen stage did not just contain stereotypical sappy romance discussions and cliche topics. Instead, panels tackled topics regarding real issues that teens deal with, such as race and sexuality.

At the festival, emerging author Nicola Yoon held a signing for her debut novel, Everything Everything. Yoon’s main character, a mixed race girl, embodies Yoon’s very own daughter. “They’re often sidekicks in stories, and I wanted her to see herself in a book,” Yoon spoke of her daughter reading a book with a person of color as the main character.

Not only did the festival attendees listen to their favorite authors, they also explored various booths and witnessed hidden art around them. Tents were set up advertising five dollar books, where readers could stock up without breaking the bank.

Fortunately, the heat did not stop anyone from enjoying themselves and everyone in downtown Decatur held a smile on their face.