Yvonne Ventresca
Yvonne Ventresca writes suspenseful novels for teens that explore themes of trust, deception, and betrayal. Her latest YA psychological thriller, BLACK FLOWERS, WHITE LIES (Sky Pony Press, 2016) won a National IPPY Gold Medal for YA fiction in 2017. Her debut novel, PANDEMIC, won a Crystal Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Yvonne’s other work includes two nonfiction books and several short stories selected for anthologies such as HERO LOST: MYSTERIES OF DEATH AND LIFE. She loves a good ghost story and studies Isshinryu karate in a haunted dojo. You can learn more about her books at YvonneVentresca.com, where she also features resources for teen writers.
Works

Black Flowers, White Lies
Her father died before she was born, but Ella Benton knows they have a special connection. Now, evidence points to his death in a psychiatric hospital, not a car accident as Mom claimed. When strange, supernatural signs appear, Ella wonders if Dad’s trying to tell her something, or if someone’s playing unsettling tricks. As the unexplained events become sinister, she finds herself terrified about who—or what—might harm her. Then the evidence points to Ella herself. What if, like Dad, she’s suffering a mental breakdown? Ella desperately needs to find answers—no matter how disturbing the truth might be.
Pandemic
Awards and Recognition
- BLACK FLOWERS, WHITE LIES won a 2017 Gold Medal "IPPY" for National Young Adult Fiction
- PANDEMIC was shortlisted for the 2018 West Australian Young Readers' Book Awards
- PANDEMIC won the 2015 Crystal Kite Award from the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators (Atlantic region).