Pizza Party Times Two: Adele Griffin at Greenfield Public Library on June 22, 6:30 (Pizzeria Scotty!) and then Brittany Cavallaro and Mackenzi Lee at Boswell on June 29 7 pm (Pizza Man)

Boswell presents two YA pizza parties.

Thursday, June 22, 6:30 pm, at the Greenfield Public Library, 5310 W Layton Ave:

Adele Griffin, author of Be True to Me

Adele Griffin is the acclaimed author of many books for young readers, including The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone, Agnes and Clarabelle, and The Oodlethunks.

More about the new book: "A riveting tale of romantic suspense set against the backdrop of the iconic Bicentennial summer, where It girl Jean and girl-next-door Fritz find themselves competing for the love of the handsome and mysterious Gil within the gates of a Fire Island colony of the super rich."

Where is the pizza coming from? We asked around and there was a lot of enthusiasm for Pizzeria Scotty!, located at 9809 W Oklahoma Ave. Go figure, I pass it all the time and didn't know how good it was. Very strong Yelp rating.

Will there be swag? Yes, Griffin is bringing some fun beach bags with flip-flops, water bottles, etc., for a beach theme, to use as a raffle prize.

Will there be YA galleys? Yes, we'll be giving away some YA novels to attendees.

What are people thinking of the book? From the starred School Library Journal review: "Eager to escape her sister's shadow for the summer, privileged but insecure Jean Custis is delighted to meet newcomer Gil Burke one early June night. Yet within a matter of days, Gil has been intercepted by Fritz, a girl with no family connections to the small town of Sunken Harbor, who humiliated Jean in last year's tennis playoff. As both girls interact with Gil through the summer of 1976, their relationships grow complicated and eventually lead to disastrous consequences for all three. Set against the backdrop of a Long Island beach town in the 1970s, Griffin's latest is peppered with historical references without being heavy-handed. From the evocative descriptions of the sun-drenched setting down to the tiny details of rickrack being sewn onto a summer dress, this book is an immersive experience."

The Greenfield Public Library is located just off the 60th Street exit of I-894.

Thursday, June 29, 7 pm, at Boswell: 

Brittany Cavallaro, author of A Study in Charlotte (now in paperback) and The Last of August and Mackenzi Lee, author of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

Brittany Cavallaro is a poet, fiction writer, and old school Sherlockian. In addition to Charlotte Holmes series, Cavallaro is the author of the poetry collection Girl-King and is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. Many folks locally know her from her years at the the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee PhD program in creative writing. And here's something pretty cool, even if it's an honor from a competitor--Cavallaro's A Study in Charlotte was chosen for the Target Book Club, a rare YA entry to receive this honor. 

Mackenzi Lee's MFA is from Simmons College in writing for children and young adults. Her previous novel, This Monstrous thing, is now in paperback. Lee loves Diet Coke, sweater weather, and Star Wars. What you might not know is that she is also a bookseller in Boston.

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue is the #1 Indie Next Pick for kids. The quote comes from Marika McCoola at Porter Square in Cambridge: “Get ready to swoon over this book... Monty and Percy, best friends since forever and Monty hopes maybe something more, are headed off on their grand tour. Despite severe prohibitions on alcohol, sex, and other vices, Monty is determined to have a decadent time. But they get more than they bargained for when Monty accidentally steals an important object from the French court. Filled with highwaymen, pirates, and heart-pounding exploits of a romantic nature, this is the summer road-trip adventure you’ve been waiting for.”

And from the starred Booklist review: "Tongue-in-cheek, wildly entertaining, and anachronistic in only the most delightful ways, this is a gleeful romp through history. Monty is a hero worthy of Oscar Wilde ( What's the use of temptations if we don't yield to them? ), his sister Felicity is a practical, science-inclined wonder, and his relationship with Percy sings. Modern-minded as this may be, Lee has clearly done invaluable research on society, politics, and the reality of same-sex relationships in the eighteenth century. Add in a handful of pirates and a touch of alchemy for an adventure that's an undeniable joy."

In Cavallaro's latest, The Last of August, in which Jamie and Charlotte are in a chase across Europe to untangle a web of shocking truths about the Holmes and Moriarty families. Another starred review from Booklist cheers for the newest: "Beautiful prose, thrilling action, a touch of romance, and two complicated heroes to root for make this a not-to-be-missed sequel. Readers will be craving the final book in the trilogy."

Where is the pizza coming from? Pizza Man on Downer!

Yes, each attendee will be able to pick an upcoming YA advance copy, with a bonus book if you buy one of the featured titles.