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BYOB Book Drive 2016: A Recap

For the second year running, Book Riot teamed up with the Harry Potter Alliance to help kick off their annual book drive.

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Jenn Northington

Director, Editorial Operations

Jenn Northington has worked in the publishing industry wearing various hats since 2004, including bookseller and events director, and is currently Director of Editorial Operations at Riot New Media Group. You can hear her on the SFF Yeah! podcast nerding out about sci-fi and fantasy. When she’s not working, she’s most likely gardening, running, or (obviously) reading. Find her on Tumblr at jennIRL and Instagram at iamjennIRL.

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For the second year running, Book Riot teamed up with the Harry Potter Alliance to help kick off their annual book drive. We threw parties in New York City and Los Angeles, organized a scavenger hunt in Washington, D.C. at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library, and had an all-around excellent time.

In New York, guest authors recommended and raffled off a book each from their personal libraries at our party at Tumblr HQ. You’ll all want to add these to your TBR lists:

  • Jeffrey Cranor gave: Of Things Gone Astray by Janina Matthewson
  • Danielle Henderson gave: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

    And in Los Angeles, Mark Oshiro, Rachel Shukert, and an audience volunteer competed for the crown in the First Lines Gameshow (with thanks for the idea to Amy Stephenson and Booksmith) at The Last Bookstore. Congratulations to Shukert, who won the (actual) crown!

    All told, we collected over 500 books for local charities. Many thanks to all who came out, to our partner organizations the Harry Potter Alliance and the DC Public Library Foundation, to Macmillan Teen and Carry On by Rainbow Rowell for providing prizes and swag, and to Orbit for matching some of our book donations! Scroll on for some snapshots.