Cinnamongirl Returns to the 9th Annual Bay Area Book Festival

Cinnamongirls from all cohorts will moderate panels and interview authors at the festival in Downtown Berkeley, May 6 - 7, 2023. Plus, Cinnamongirl authors present their writing in a session on Sunday. Check out the schedule below and click the session title for more information. All daytime sessions at the festival are free this year!

SATURDAY, MAY 6

12:15 PM–1:00 PM

Join Cinnamongirls Olivia and Serena for Middle Grade: Cast a Spell with Marti Dumas (Charmed Life), Claire Kann (Harmony and Heartbreak), Claribel A. Ortega (The Golden Frog Games), and Alexandra Overy (The Gingerbread Witch). Ages 8 - 13.

LOCATION: Berkeley Public Library - Teen Room

12:30 PM–1:30 PM

Join Cinnamongirl Serena and her mother Anatasia Kim for Maurene Goo: Throwback with Maurene Goo (Throwback). Ages 14+.

LOCATION: Residence Inn Berkeley - Ballroom 1

1:30 PM–2:15 PM

Join Cinnamongirls Neve and Laila for Middle Grade: The Magic of Story with Brandon Hobson (The Storyteller), Misa Sugiura (Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind), and Brian Young (Heroes of the Water Monster). Ages 8-12.

LOCATION: Berkeley Public Library - Teen Room

3:30 PM–4:30 PM

Join Cinnamongirls Mariah and Bella for YA: Haunts and Horrors with Sara Farizan (Dead Flip) and Andrea L. Rogers (Man Made Monsters). Ages 12+.

LOCATION: Residence Inn Berkeley - Ballroom 1

SUNDAY, MAY 7

11:00 AM–11:45 AM

Join Cinnamongirls Talia and Aden for Spies, Sleuths, and Secrets: Middle-Grade Mysteries with Aya de León (Undercover Latina), Hayley LeBlanc (The Hayley Mysteries series), and Katryn Bury (Drew Leclair Gets a Clue). Ages 7-12.

LOCATION: Word Power Stage

*CINNAMONGIRL AUTHORS*

12:00 PM–1:00 PM

Cinnamongirl authors present their work: I Am the Change: Voices of a New Generation, the second anthology from the Write Your Story cohort, with editor and writing instructor R.C. Barnes and writing instructor Misa Sugiura. All ages.

LOCATION: Word Power Stage

1:00 PM–2:00 PM

Join Cinnamongirls Clover and Kamryn for YA: Thriller Superstars with Angeline Boulley (Warrior Girl Unearthed), Nick Brooks (Promise Boys), Marie Lu (Stars and Smoke), and Melissa de la Cruz (Going Dark). Ages 14+.

LOCATION: Residence Inn Berkeley - Ballroom 2

2:00 PM–2:45 PM

Join Cinnamongirls Samaiya and Taylor Sky for Grounded: Exploring Muslim Identities with the authors of Grounded: Aisha Saeed (Omar Rising), Huda Al-Marashi (First Comes Marriage: My Not-So-Typical American Love Story), Jamilah Tompkins Bigelow (Abdul’s Story), and S.K. Ali (Love From A to Z). Ages 8-13.

LOCATION: Young Readers Stage

2:30 PM–3:30 PM

Join Cinnamongirls Lea and Kamiyah for YA: What’s Your Inspiration? with Jennieke Cohen (My Fine Fellow), Francesca Flores (The Witch and the Vampire), and Marie Myung-Ok Lee (Hurt You). Ages 12+.

LOCATION: Residence Inn Berkeley - Ballroom 2