Meg Medina

Meg Medina is a highly acclaimed author, well-known for her work in young adult, children's literature, and fiction books. She has received numerous awards for her writing, including the Pura Belpré award in 2014 for her novel "Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass," and again in 2016 for her picture book "Mango, Abuela, and Me." Medina has also won the International Latino Book Award and the CYBILS fiction award for "Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass."

Medina's writing has been praised as "heartbreaking," "lyrical," and "must haves for every collection." Her works include the Suárez family trilogy, which consists of "Merci Suárez Changes Gears," a 2019 John Newbery Medal winner and 2019 Charlotte Huck Honor Book; "Merci Suárez Can’t Dance," one of the 50 most anticipated novels of 2021, according to Kirkus; and "Merci Suárez Plays It Cool," which was named a Best Book of 2022 by PARENTS, Kirkus, and The Horn Book magazines.

Beyond her writing, Medina is also involved in various community projects that support girls, Latino youth, and literacy. She is a faculty member of Hamline University’s Masters of Fine Arts in Children’s Literature and currently serves as the National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature. Medina lives with her family in Richmond, Virginia, where she continues to write and inspire others with her powerful storytelling.