Third Place Books welcomes debut YA author Danielle Parker for the launch of You Bet Your Heart, an "insightful and emotional" novel about academic angst, friendship, love, grief, and family (Kirkus Reviews). Parker will be joined in conversation by Maya Prasad, the author of Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required in advance.
This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A. Sustain our author series by purchasing a copy of the featured book!
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Sasha Johnson-Sun might not know everything—like how to fully heal after her dad’s passing or how many more Saturdays her mom can spend cleaning houses. But the one thing Sasha is certain of? She will graduate this year as Skyline High’s class valedictorian.
At least, she was sure before the principal calls Sasha and her cute, effortlessly gifted ex–best friend, Ezra Davis-Goldberg, into his office to deliver earth-shattering news: they’re tied for valedictorian and the scholarship attached…
This outcome can’t be left to chance. So, Sasha and Ezra agree on a best-of-three, winner-take-all academic bet. As they go head-to-head, they are forced not only to reexamine why they drifted apart but also to figure out who they’ve become since. With her future hanging in the balance, Sasha must choose: honor her family’s sacrifices by winning (at all costs) or give her heart a shot at finding happiness?
“An insightful and emotional exploration of teen changes and growth.”
—Kirkus Reviews
"[A] hilarious portrayal of academic angst."
—Publishers Weekly
Danielle Parker has a BA in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MA in education from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has over ten years of experience as a high school English teacher, during which her greatest pleasure was helping reluctant readers find a novel they absolutely loved. Danielle now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. You Bet Your Heart is her debut novel. When she’s not writing, Danielle can be found looking for a pool to splash in, thinking about dessert, or taking a quick nap.
Maya Prasad is a South Asian American author, a Caltech graduate, and a former software engineer. She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest, where she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and writing stories with joyful representation for kids and teens. Her debut novel Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things is a Children’s Book Council Young Adult Favorite of 2023. She’s also the author of Sejal Sinha Battles Superstorms, the first in a STEM chapter book series. Her short fiction has been published in Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA, Cast of Wonders, and Voyage YA.
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