Tucson Festival of Books

James Ponti (he/him/his)


James Ponti is The New York Times bestselling author of four middle grade series: The Sherlock Society, about a group of young detectives, “City Spies,” dealing with an elite MI6 kid spy team, the Edgar Award winning Framed! series, concerning tween sleuths in Washington, D.C., and the Dead City trilogy about a secret group policing the undead in Manhattan. An Emmy-nominated writer and producer, he has worked for Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and PBS, and lives with his family in Orlando, Florida.

Visit website | Facebook Twitter Instagram

Awards: Edgar Award


Scheduled events:
Middle Grade Carousel: Inviting Connection
Meet a bunch of authors in 60 minutes as they share their new books filled with invitations to adventure. Each author will be seated at a table to talk with a small group about their newest book. Every eight minutes the authors will rotate to a new table in our version of author speed-dating.

Education Room 211 (Kiva) (Seats 200)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 14, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
Children
Signing area: Signing Area - Children (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Tracey Baptiste, Dusti Bowling, Karina Yan Glaser, Sara Goetter, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Julie Kagawa, Mari Mancusi, James Ponti, Natalie Riess, David A. Robertson
Moderators: Lauren Freedman, Holly Johnson
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, HarperCollins Children's Books
High-Stake Action: Saving What Matters
The world is under attack by forces that include international criminals, colonizers and ancient beings out for revenge. Immerse yourself into Afro-Caribbean culture and history, an Indigenous portal into the land of Misewa, and an international group of young spies. In each book, children must take action to save what matters most.

Education Room 353 (Seats 92, Wheelchair accessible)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 10:00 am - 10:55 am
Children
Signing area: Signing Area - Children (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Tracey Baptiste, James Ponti, David A. Robertson
Moderator: Celeste Trimble
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Helios Education Foundation, Michael and Debra Lisull

Books:
Europa
Children
Aladdin
February 2026
ISBN 9781665959988
384 pages
Buy now

Hurricane Heist
Children
Simon and Schuster
September 2025
ISBN 9781665932561
320 pages
Buy now