Every October in Cambridge, thousands of avid readers gather in Copley Square for the Boston Book Festival. Local authors advertise their books, poets express themselves on an open mic, and children congregate for fun writing activities—all on a beautiful, crisp autumn Saturday, Oct. 14. Most importantly, it’s all free. What more could anyone ask for?
This massive event, founded by Deborah Porter in 2009 as a nonprofit, has grown exponentially with every year, and there’s always something for everyone to enjoy. The festival is much more than a typical street fair: Local vendors, artists and live musicians draw large crowds to the venue. Various speakers educate an audience in the Boston Public Library, Back Bay Events Center and other venues in Copley Square. Booksellers are scattered throughout the area.
The organization doesn’t skimp on special guests, either. Here were some of the most important talks from the event and some information about the authors giving them.
Rick Riordan, author of the widely popular “Percy Jackson” series, makes frequent appearances at the Boston Book Festival. This year, he was the festival’s featured children’s keynote, and his speech was about his first book release in ten years. “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Chalice of the Gods” is the latest adventure in the series, and Riordan was at BBF to give an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at his creative processes. Kids and teens who love the series and adults who grew up with the gang are all taken into consideration in this session that’s interesting and fun for everyone.
Young Adult author Chloe Gong was here to hype up the long-awaited sequel to her first novel, “Foul Lady Fortune.” In the follow-up, “Foul Heart Huntsman,” Gong returns to the story of Rosalind—an immortal assassin living in Shanghai. Scandal, romance and action are present in this fast-paced novel set against Imperial Japan. In this talk, Gong recounts her upbringing in Shanghai and shares the process of writing her novels—both mundane and crazy. Gong’s comedic take on authorship is worth a listen.
Former Harvard professor Jocelyn A. Chadwick, Boston Public Library CEO Linda Johnson, and CEO of PEN America Suzanne Nossel are the perfect experts to discuss current events in their talk “Book Banning: The Backlash Against Woke.” This talk was sponsored by the Boston Public Library, and it discussed the startling rise in book bans throughout the past few years in America. Books with LGBTQ+ themes or themes on racial justice are being withheld from students in public schools, and it is a troubling development for the country. These three presenters were at the event to discuss the recent bans, what they mean for the future of education, and how Americans can fight back against prejudice and censorship. It’s an essential lesson.
Heather Cox Richardson is the author of “Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America.” She is a professor at Boston College and is well-versed in modern politics and history. In her discussion, she aimed to educate people about the rise of authoritarianism in America and the proper precautions that must be taken to protect the democracy of the nation. She discussed the modern phenomenon of the wealthy minority influencing the lives of the majority, the falsehoods that many Americans are manipulated into believing, and the disturbing ties to terrible histories. Richardson had great advice that was worth heeding.
The Boston Book Festival is rife with so much more than these talks, and it was crafted for any reader—be it casual, avid or sporadic. If you miss the festival, however, or you want an activity for some younger audiences, worry not. The JustKids! Festival will be happening on Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nubian Square. Stop by to hear from prolific children’s authors and learn about writing. Most importantly, find a way to support your local booksellers, authors and nonprofit organizations!