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Our Teen Ambassadors love teen literature, constantly recommend the next best books to their friends, and live for fandom culture, shipping their OTPs, and all things bookish. Teen Ambassadors are hand-selected and serve as essential Bookish in the ‘Burgh team members for two years by helping us plan the Festival, assisting with Festival outreach and marketing, and volunteering on-site the day of the Festival.

Applications for 2021-2022 Teen Ambassadors will open in the late spring of 2021. Please check back for updates.

 

Meet our 2020/2021 Teen Ambassadors

 

Beatrice Alba (She/Her)

 

Age: 13
School: Pittsburgh CAPA

Ivy B. (She/Her)

 

Age: 15
School: Keystone Oaks High School

Jenn Bakowski (She/Her)

 

Age: 15
School: Brentwood Middle School

Sammi Cooper (She/Her)

 

Age: 15
School: Riverview Jr/Sr High School

Amelia D'Addieco (She/Her)

 

Age: 15
School: Peters Township High School

Mia DeAngelis Naccarato (She/Her)

 

Age: 16
School: North Allegheny High School

Deven Doshi (He/Him)

 

Age: 12
School: Pittsburgh CAPA

Kirsten Driscoll (She/Her)

 

Age: 14
School: Indian Creek High School

Skylyn Ellison (She/Her)

 

Age: 14
School: Freeport Area High School

Katie Green (She/Her)

 

Age: 14
School: Woodland Hills High School

Molly A. Green (She/Her)

 

Age: 15
School: Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School

Hudson Hackley (He/Him)

 

Age: 13
School: Mellon Middle School

Frances Huffman (She/Her)

 

Age: 14
School: Mars Area High School

Leena Idrees (She/Her)

 

Age: 17
School: Hempfield Area High School

Chloe Johnston (She/Her)

 

Age: 17
School: Oil City High School

Bella Jones (She/Her)

 

Age: 15
School: New Castle Senior High School

Layla Koon (She/Her)

 

Age: 16
School: Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School

Katie M. (She/Her)

 

Age: 14
School: North Allegheny Intermediate High School

Tess Malnight (She/Her)

 

Age: 17
School: Oakland Catholic High School

Sophia Menke (She/Her)

 

Age: 14
School: Pine-Richland High School

Renee LaGrosse (She/Her)

 

Age: 16
School: Bishop Canevin High School

Aris Pastor (She/Her)

 

Age: 15
School: North Allegheny Intermediate High School

Josephine Reiter (She/Her)

 

Age: 16
School: Pittsburgh CAPA

Abby Rickin-Marks (She/Her)

 

Age: 17
School: Fox Chapel Area High School

Emily Scholtisek (She/Her)

 

Age: 14
School: Bethlehem Center High School

Sarah Seader (She/Her)

 

Age: 17
School: PA Cyber Charter School

Ella Sheaffer (She/Her)

 

Age: 13
School: Environmental Charter School

Molly Sneddon (She/Her)

 

Age: 16
School: Thomas Jefferson High School

Aditi Srivastava (She/Her)

 

Age: 15
School: South Fayette High School

Hallie Sufrin (She/Her)

 

Age: 15
School: Winchester Thurston

Rohan Sykora (He/Him)

 

Age: 15
School: Winchester Thurston

Novalie Vesley (She/Her)

 

Age: 17
School: Greensburg Salem High School

Zora Watson (She/Her)

 

Age: 15
School: Indiana Senior High School

Meet our 2019/2020 Teen Ambassadors

 

Sophia M.

 

Age: 17
School: Barack Obama Academy of International Studies
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Creative, Energetic, and Determined
Hobbies: Youth and Government Lobbyist, Book Club, softball
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, and Magnus Chase series by Rick Riordan and Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.

 

Chelbey T.

 

Age: 16
School: Crestview High School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Creative, Hard-Working, Innovative
Hobbies: Marching band, drama, French Club, writing
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Harry Potter, Rupi Kaur

 

Aris P.

 

Age: 14
School: Ingomar Middle School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Bibliophile, logician, passionate
Hobbies: Swim club, Library Helpers, NaNoWriMo Club, writing, reading, and watching TV
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, all of V.E. Schwab’s books, and Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo

 

EmilyGrace R.

 

Age: 17
School: Moon Area High School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Activist, ambitious, organized
Hobbies: Speech and Debate, GirlGov, Drama Club, choir, making art, writing, playing instruments, listening to music
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, and Looking for Alaska by John Green

 

Madison M.

 

Age: 18
School: Rochester High School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Creative, Passionate, and Insightful
Hobbies: Reading, bowling, traveling, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, spending time with friends
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Charlotte Holmes series by Brittany Cavallaro, Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, The Diviners series by BLANK, If You come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson, John Green books, Leigh Bardugo books, and The Ilumminae Files

 

Whitley C.

 

Age: 19
School: Point Park University
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Passionate, Outgoing, Resilient
Hobbies: Movies, photography, writing scripts and poetry, cinematography
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

 

Frances H.

 

Age: 13
School: Mars Area Middle School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Positive, Motivated, Generous
Hobbies: YSU English Festival, theater tech, flute
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: The Schwa Was Here and Scythe by Neal Shusterman, Stung by Bethany Wiggins

 

Hermione T.

 

Age: 12
School: Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA)
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Intelligent, Confident, Persuasive
Hobbies: Singing, dancing, reading, drawing, spending time with siblings
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

 

Amelia D.

 

Age: 14
School: Peters Township
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Determined, Creative, Compassionate
Hobbies: theater, marching band, choir, writing
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: anything by Ally Carter, especially the Gallagher Girls series, Charlotte Holmes books by Brittany Cavallaro, John Green, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Ned Vizzini, One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, and Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

 

Lily C.

 

Age: 13
School: Jefferson Middle School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Creative, Funny, Fashionable
Hobbies: read, draw, listen to music, write, hanging out with friends
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews, The Zodiac series by Romina Russell, Nicola Yoon

 

Kirsten D.

 

Age: 13
School: Indian Creek Middle School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Curious, Inquisitive, Studious
Hobbies: softball, volleyball, school newspaper, band
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Harry Potter, Karen M. McMannus, Rupi Kaur

 

Lorelai R.

 

Age: 13
School: Delta Middle School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Engaged, Enthusiastic, Sensitive
Hobbies: Cheerleading, volunteering with the YMCA, Netflix, reading
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, Orbiting Jupiter, and Stargirl, Judy Blume, Jason Reynolds

 

Samantha C.

 

Age: 14
School: Riverview Jr. Sr. High School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Curious, Enthusiastic, Mindful
Hobbies: reading, drawing, musical theater, writing
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Benjamin Alire Saenz, Adam Silvera, and Leigh Bardugo

 

Mia N.

 

Age: 15
School: North Allegheny
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Ambitious, Creative, Quirky
Hobbies: breading, writing, Judo, working at a bookstore
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

 

Abby R.

 

Age: 16
School: Fox Chapel
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Hard-working, Ambitious, Loyal
Hobbies: playing sousaphone in marching band, soccer, basketball, reading and writing, genealogy
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Percy Jackson and other Rick Riordan Books, dystopian and diverse YA, Marissa Meyers

 

Abigail B.

 

Age: 14
School: Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Energetic, Bold, Personable
Hobbies: reading, drawing, musical theater, writing
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Sarah J. Maas, The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stefvater, The Folk of the Air by Holly Black, Where Creatures Hide by P.J. Shephard, The Remnant Chronicles by Mary Pearson, Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, The Hunter Games

 

Layla K.

 

Age: 15
School: Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Confident, Mature, Diligent
Hobbies: writing, reading, drawing, MMA, 4-H
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Neal Shusterman, John Flanagan, Harry Potter, Anthony Horowitz

 

Aideen S.

 

Age: 13
School: Marshall Middle School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Helpful, Talented, Understanding
Hobbies: drawing, writing, rollerblading, learning German, singing, reading
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake, The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag, The Prince and The Dressmaker by Jen Wang, The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar, Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar

 

Christiana P.

 

Age: 16
School: Fox Chapel
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Insightful, Bookworm, Driven
Hobbies: reading, choir, band, musicals, dance, youth group, fencing
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Jane Unlimited by Kristen Cashore, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan

 

Rachel R.

 

Age: 18
School: Trinity Christian School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Passionate, Caring, Hard-working
Hobbies: reading, basketball, volleyball, volunteering at the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia, piano, art
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Sarah J. Maas, Cassandra Clare, Marissa Meyer, Becky Albertalli, Morgan Matson, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, November 9 by Colleen Hoover, A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

 

Rachel E.

 

Age: 15
School: Punxsutawney Area High School
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Funny, Sarcastic, Shy
Hobbies: reading, writing, sports
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Books that are easy to relate to

 

Weeam B.

 

Age: 15
School: Bethel Park High School
Describe Yourself in Three Words:Creative, Analytical, Optimistic
Hobbies: lacrosse, French Club, school newspaper, community service
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: John Green, Rainbow Rowell

 

Athena I.

 

Age: 14
School: Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA)
Describe Yourself in Three Words: Hard-working, Reliable, Diligent
Hobbies: baking, writing, cross-fit, softball
Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Love, Life, and the List and On the Fence by Kasie West, Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow