The International Alliance of Youth Writing Centers is a network of organizations worldwide which serve school-aged students with writing and tutoring programs, including those in the 826 National network, founded by author Dave Eggers and educator Ninive Calegari. The young people who attend classes and workshops at these centers are public school students ages 6-18.

They are also voracious readers and astute editors. Over the years, many children’s book authors have taught at these centers, and have found our students to be exceptionally enthusiastic readers who provide valuable insight.

In 2017, while writing The Lifters, a middle-grade book, Dave Eggers assembled a committee of young editors aged 8-12. He gave them his manuscript and asked for their feedback. With red pens in hand, they marked up the book, and these notes made the book stronger.

“Student readers are especially important, because their enthusiasm is so pure,” Eggers says. “One young reader, for example, put hearts all over the book to mark the parts she liked. She noted places where she thought I could improve the book, of course, but the enthusiasm meant the world to me. Now I can’t imagine writing something for young people without getting their input.”

Along with Chronicle Books editor Taylor Norman and noted author Mac Barnett — a former executive director at 826LA — Eggers decided this would be an important service to provide to authors writing for young people around the world. It gives young author-editors a powerful and authentic experience as editors in the professional publishing world.

The program, run by Amanda Uhle, former Executive Director at 826michigan, now invites more collaboration between young people and the adults who write for them.