LA Times Festival of Books Returns This Weekend, Featuring Notable Asian American Authors

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Southern California’s premier literary event, returns to the USC campus this weekend, April 26-27, offering Inglewood and South LA residents a nearby opportunity to engage with renowned authors, artists, and performers.

The festival features free general admission, though some events require tickets. Attendees should note that photo identification will be required at all access points to enter the USC campus, which is approximately 15 minutes from Inglewood.

Among this year’s highlighted speakers are several Asian American and Japanese American authors and artists, including award-winning mystery writer Naomi Hirahara, whose historical mystery “Evergreen” set in Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights recently made the USA Today bestseller list.

Organic farmers David Mas Masumoto and Nikiko Masumoto will present their new children’s book “Every Peach Is a Story” on Saturday afternoon, connecting agricultural heritage with family history. Cynthia Kadohata, winner of both the Newbery Medal and National Book Award for children’s literature, will participate in a young adult fiction panel on Sunday.

Festival attendees can also experience live performances, including a Sunday afternoon show by Kazan Taiko, USC’s taiko drumming ensemble, whose explosive playing style reflects their volcano-inspired name.

Eric Nakamura, founder of Giant Robot and owner of the GR2 Gallery in Sawtelle Japantown, will join artist Jave Yoshimoto for a discussion on “Punks, Rebels, and Recipes: The Popular Culture of Asian America” on Sunday afternoon.

Other notable participants include Katie Kitamura, author of “Intimacies” and “Audition,” who will be in conversation with Rachel Kushner on Saturday.

The festival offers excellent family-friendly weekend entertainment for Inglewood and South LA residents, with dedicated children’s programming throughout both days, author signings, and hundreds of exhibitor booths.

For a complete schedule, list of participants, and ticket information for special events, visit the festival website at https://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/.