Welcome the new cover art for ANGER IS A GIFT
Today is a very special day in the journey of my debut YA book, Anger Is a Gift. I was so thrilled with my initial cover, and felt privileged that Tor Teen gave me something I loved so very much. I was sitting in my barbershop when the Paste Magazine article revealing the cover, title, and publisher for Anger dropped, and it was—and will always be!—one of the best days of my life. I have been working so hard on this book, and all that dedication and perseverance had finally paid off.
As things sometimes go in the publishing industry, we have made the decision to go in a different direction for the cover art. After much work by my talented and fabulous Tor Teen colleagues, I can now reveal that I have blessed by the cover gods… twice.
Behold: the brand new cover for Anger Is a Gift.
This cover was designed by Bay Area artist, Chris Koehler. I am thrilled that this now firmly roots Anger’s cover in Oakland with the iconic Tribune Building in view. As you read the book, you will get to experience the beauty and importance of downtown Oakland through the eyes of Moss Jeffries and his friends. I attended multiple protests on the very street where this cover is set, and it is a perfect match for the emotional and empowering story of Moss.
This book is set to come out amidst a national conversation about student activism and weapon use on campus. It’s surreal watching it happen; Anger was born out of my desire to explore my own experiences with police forces on high school campuses, becoming an activist while still a teenager, and learning how to join with fellow students to fight for what’s right. It is unfortunate that this is all relevant again, nearly 16 years since I graduated high school. That’s one reason I love this cover so much: it conveys a sense of hope more than anything else. It’s my desire that Anger inspire kids everywhere to join a long tradition of student activism and to feel supported while doing so.
I am additionally thrilled that Adam Silvera (HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME, THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END) has provided such a meaningful blurb that now sits on my cover:
"ANGER IS A GIFT is an explosion of fury and revolution. Mark Oshiro's beautiful and brutal debut proves that not only can anyone be a hero, but great change comes when the heroes work together."
He joins Marieke Nijkamp (THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS, BEFORE I LET GO)
"Raw, unflinching, and full of heart, ANGER IS A GIFT is a masterpiece."
and Kelly Jensen (HERE WE ARE, IT HAPPENS, Book Riot)
"An essential book to read alongside THE HATE U GIVE and DEAR MARTIN."
in support of this book. I am eterntally grateful for them!
I am so happy that I can share this with all of you, and that Tor Teen has gifted me AGAIN with such a wonderful cover. There is going to be a DELUGE of news in the next three months to publication date, so keep an eye out here and on Twitter.
I’m so excited to be on this journey with all of you.
