SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2026 | 2–3:30 PM: The 2026/2027 Inprint Cool Brains! Series presents an exciting afternoon with National Book Award winner and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo, sharing her new YA novel Anger Is Only a Shadow. The program will include a presentation by Acevedo, an audience Q & A, and a book signing, giving kids a chance to meet Acevedo, plus an appearance by celebrated Houston writer Jasminne Mendez. Inprint will provide free signed books to the first 100 families at the event. Books will be available for purchase from Kindred Stories, and free bus scholarships are available for school groups.

“An irresistible story of family connection, resilience, and loyalty” (Kirkus starred review), Anger Is Only a Shadow is Acevedo’s powerful new YA novel in prose and poetry. Lil is anything but small. She’s rebellious, she’s loyal; she’s figuring out what kind of good person she wants to be, or if she wants to be a good person at all. But more than anything? Lil wants to be free. When her instinct for freedom leads to another stay in D.C. juvenile detention, Lil knows she’s lucky to just be on probation. But judgment, guilt, and an ankle monitor weigh heavily on her, and she can’t shake that pinned-down feeling. The only person who might understand is her big brother, Aldwin. Except he’s more distant now than just the hundred miles from his college. As her court hearing ticks closer, a question looms over Lil as the missed phone calls and strange texts from her brother pile up: will she stay put, or put her future freedom on the line? “A striking and nuanced portrait of the realities of juvenile detention and mental illness” (Publisher’s Weekly starred review) and “intensely genuine” (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books starred review), Anger Is Only a Shadow is a white-knuckle journal to self-understanding and doing the right thing, no matter the