2024 National Book Award winner Shifa Shafadi to discuss writing with young writers, community on April 26
Indiana University Northwest will host The Northwest Indiana Literacy Council’s third annual Young Authors Conference at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26.
The event will take place in the Mainstage Theater located within the campus’s Arts & Sciences Building.
The conference will feature the work of young writers in grades K-12 from schools across Northwest Indiana who their teachers have nominated.
Author Shifa Safadi will present a motivational talk on writing and sign copies of her coming-of-age novel Kareem Between, which is set in Northwest Indiana. This book has received much praise and recognition, including receiving the 2024 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and being named a “Best Kids Book of 2024” by PEOPLE magazine.
The day will feature a gallery walk of student writing and refreshments, followed by the author’s talk and award ceremony at 1:30 p.m. The event will conclude with Safadi signing copies of her book, which will be available for purchase.
This event is free and open to the public.
About the Northwest Indiana Literacy Council
The Northwest Indiana Literacy Council hosts several activities to promote literacy throughout the year. Its mission is to promote and support reading and writing in Northwest Indiana by sharing innovative, evidence-based practices among the region’s educators.
About Shifa Safadi
Shifa Saltagi Safadi is the National Book Award-winning author of Kareem Between, the Amina Banana series and several picture books, including The Gift of Eid.
She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from IU Northwest, is a former ELA teacher and is passionate about spreading a love of reading through story times and school visits.
Shifa was born in Syria and immigrated to the United States with her parents as a young girl. She lives near Chicago with her husband and four children. Follow Safadi on Instagram @shifasaltagisafadi.
