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Portland Book Festival brings together writers of all genres, from memoir to comics to books for early readers as well as novels and poetry collections, cookbooks and songbooks. This year, the fest expanded its scope to a week of collaborative events throughout the city—dinners, concerts, art shows and the like, running Nov. 2 through 8. But Saturday, Nov. 7, is still the big book day, which in 2026 boasts an uncountable number of panels, readings and author events with 150-plus authors and presenters at all of the Portland’5 Centers for the Arts and adjacent Park Blocks venues. There are several highly recognizable writers in the mix, lots of debuts, and a variety of adult and children’s writers on the bill. If you think you’re the bookishest one in the bunch, prove your stuff below.
1. The title of this first-time author’s memoir is the catchphrase from the Oregon-set classic in which he starred.
2. Before his YA fiction took off, this Portland indie-rocker and noted bouzouki player wrote a book about The Replacements album Let It Be.
3. This social media sensation will teach you how to forage in your own backyard without accidentally poisoning yourself.
4. This Pulitzer Prize–winning author spends part of the year in Italy and set his latest novel there.
5. Known for her haunting YA books about vampires and werewolves (but not those ones), this author is now promoting the second graphic novel adaptation of her work.
6. This children’s author is best known for her series about two best friends, one named for an invasive plant and one named for a burrito ingredient.
7. This author received the Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award for her book about a girl growing up in Portland.
8. This poet and essayist recited one of her poems at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.
9. Not only is this author an American Book Award and NAACP Image Award- winner, but she also co-wrote an episode of Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone revival.
GO: Portland Book Festival at Portland’5 Centers for the Arts and South Park Blocks venues, pdxbookfest.org. See website for event schedule Nov. 2–8. $23, under 17 or 18 with high school ID free.
Answer key: 1E / 2A / 3G / 4H / 5F / 6D / 7I / 8B / 9C
