I’ve been doing this for years. I’ve been a teen librarian since 1987 and an author of books for teenagers since 2004. I’ve attended hundreds of events, programs, and conferences related to teens and reading. And I’ve never seen anything like TBF. Ever. Not just all the fun stuff, like the marching bands, or the serious stuff, like the author panels. Not it is more than that; it is about connecting teens and books. I’ve never seen it done on such a scale and so successfully. TBF is the evidence that disproves every negative stereotype about teens. They do read, they do get involved, they do contribute to their community, and they do love their libraries. TBF is more than just a book festival, it is positive youth development in action. Patrick Jones