In this Q&A series, SLJ poses five questions and a request for a book recommendation to a debut YA author. Jessica Walker discusses The Secret Astronomers in this latest installment.

Daniel Nayeri's novel set in World War II Iran was selected from a list of finalists that included Kyle Lukoff’s A World Worth Saving, Amber McBride’s The Leaving Room, Hannah V. Sawyerr’s Truth Is, and Ibi Zoboi’s (S)Kin.

SLJ chats with the Pura Belpre–winning artist about the creative process for this year’s December Best Books cover.