Yak Fest is an event that is held in Keller, TX in January every year at Central High School. The purpose of Yak Fest is to provide the teens of Keller ISD and the surrounding communities with exceptional opportunities to connect with literature and authors in a non-academic setting.

There is always an extensive list of authors that speak on panels discussing their books and their writing.  Books are for sale, and opportunities to get autographs from the authors are available at the end of the day.  This year there were 25 different authors from all over the US.  Yak Fest is funded by a donation from the M. R. and Evelyn Hudson Foundation.  So everything other than purchasing the author books is free for the students.

Our goals are to:
* connect teens with award-winning young adult authors
* enrich reading and literacy skills
* stimulate interest in reading and writing
* provide teens with an entertaining, educational event
* provide teens with leadership opportunities
* encourage “non-readers” to become readers through the enthusiasm of other teens

Mount Pleasant High School book club took 15 students to Yak Fest this year.  Students were able to sit in sessions and listen to over 25 authors.  They could also ask questions.  Students were also able to hang out with their favorite authors and buy their books and get them autographed.  It was a great experience for our students to be able to talk to their favorite authors.  Author Julie Murphy was the guest speaker.  She has our two books, Dumplin, and Side Effects May Vary. Teenagers love her!