Friends of the Central Library to Host Bestselling Author Angie Thomas in Syracuse on April 8

SYRACUSE, N.Y.  – The Friends of the Central Library (FOCL) will welcome acclaimed author Angie Thomas to Syracuse as part of its 2024-2025 Author Series. Thomas will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, at the Civic Center’s Crouse Hinds Theater.

Thomas gained national recognition with her debut novel, The Hate U Give, which topped The New York Times bestseller list upon its release in 2017 and remained there for 50 weeks.

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, the novel was longlisted for the National Book Award, won the William C. Morris Award, and was named an Honor Book for both the Printz Award and the Coretta Scott King Book Awards. It also served as the basis for a major motion picture released by Fox 2000.

“We are honored to welcome Angie to Syracuse, where we know her writing will resonate deeply within the community,” said FOCL Board President Angela Bernat. “Angie doesn’t shy away from tough conversations, and we look forward to her riveting and engaging talk.”

As part of the event, the first audience question will be posed by the winner of FOCL’s student essay contest, which is based on a prompt responding to The Hate U Give.

“I'm a firm believer that books can create empathy, and that empathy is more powerful than sympathy,” Thomas said. “As a descendant of people who were once denied the right to read, I recognize the power of literature to not only enhance lives but also to advance them. I want more young people to understand that.”

A native of Mississippi, Thomas began her creative career as a teenage rapper before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from Belhaven University. Her second novel, On the Come Up, also became a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a film directed by Sanaa Lathan. In 2020, she released Find Your Voice: A Guided Journal to Writing Your Truth, aimed at aspiring writers, followed by Concrete Rose in 2021, a prequel to The Hate U Give that again reached the top of the bestseller list. Her latest book, Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy, marks her debut in the fantasy genre and is the first in a new series for young readers.

Tickets for the event are available through the Solvay Bank Box Office at the Oncenter or online at Ticketmaster.com. Group rates for 10 or more attendees receive a 20% discount. Student tickets are priced at $15 with a valid student ID. For more details on ticket purchases, call the Solvay Bank Box Office at (315) 435-2121 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOCL will conclude the 2024-2025 Author Series with a lecture by bestselling author Mitch Albom on May 6. More details about the season are available at foclsyracuse.org. Special thanks to the thirtieth-anniversary sponsors, the Slutzker Family Foundation and Michael and Jacki Goldberg.

The Friends of the Central Library advocate for Syracuse’s Central Library, the cornerstone of the Onondaga County Public Library system. FOCL is renowned for its Author Series, the longest-running library-affiliated lecture series in the country, now celebrating its 30th season. Since its inception, the series has hosted over 175 authors and raised more than $700,000 for the library. To learn more, visit foclsyracuse.org.