A.S. King at the Bettendorf Public Library -- November 16.
Monday, November 16, 6 p.m.
Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf IA
Lauded as "one of the best YA writers working today" by the New York Times Book Review, author A.S. King makes a special November 16 visit to the Bettendorf Public Library, the critically revered talent appearing locally for a book signing and presentation titled Literacy: The Secret Sauce to Life.
As stated at AS-King.com, the author "is the only two-time winner of the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award (2020 for Dig and 2024 for The Collectors) and has won the LA Times Book Prize for Ask the Passengers. In 2022, King received the ALA's Margaret A. Edwards Award for her lifetime achievement in YA literature, and in 2023, she accepted the ALAN Award for 'artistry, courage, and outstanding contributions to YA literature.' In 2024, she released the highly anticipated Pick the Lock – described as 'a punk opera, a primal scream, and a portrait of a family buried in lies.'
"She also writes middle-grade fiction as Amy Sarig King, including bestselling Attack of the Black Rectangles, which Kirkus Reviews called 'a searingly relevant opus to intellectual freedom,' The Year We Fell from Space, Me and Marvin Gardens, and the upcoming It Came from the Creek. She spends many months of the year traveling the world speaking to high school and university students, educators, and humans who care about literacy and the mental health of young people.
"King started her writing journey in Ireland while working as an adult literacy teacher and has taught for a decade in MFA programs. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University, and she co-founded the University of San Francisco's Low Residency MFA in Writing for Young Readers.
"In 2024, King and her son co-founded Gracie's House, a charity that funds and provides safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in rural areas and runs Pennsylvania’s first safe-space LGBTQ+ overnight camp.
"In May, 2025, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters by the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design for her work as a champion of intellectual freedom who encourages young people to lead their own authentic creative lives."
King started out teaching adults how to read; it made her passionate about teen literacy and talking to young people about critical thinking, access to information, and how books can help overcome the effects of traumatic or unsettling experiences. During her 45-minute Bettendorf Public Library presentation Literacy: The Secret Sauce of Life, King shares her experiences working with adult literacy learners and the insights she gained from them. She also asks students to consider what literacy really is and why exercising your reading muscles is good for your brain—the same as learning to write well is an important lifelong skill, even for those who don’t like to write. King’s humor and frank style will have your students thinking about why thinking for yourself matters so much.
On November 16, A.S. King will present Literacy: The Secret Sauce of Life at the Bettendorf Public Library at 6 p.m., and will participate in a book signing from 7 to 8 p.m. Participation in the evening's events is free, and more information is available by calling (563)344-4175 and visiting BettendorfLibrary.com.
