Meg Medina

Meg Medina (born 1963 in Queens, New York) is a Cuban-American author of children's and young adult literature whose work celebrates Latinx cultural identity and explores themes of belonging, community, and coming-of-age. She grew up in Queens, New York, the daughter of Cuban immigrants, and her heritage informs nearly all of her fiction. She holds a degree from Florida Atlantic University. Medina is a prolific author of picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels. Her picture books include Tía Isa Wants a Car and Mango, Abuela, and Me. Her young adult novel Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass (2013) won the Pura Belpré Award and was praised for its unflinching portrayal of school bullying and Latinx identity. She returned to the Pura Belpré list with Merci Suárez Changes Gears (2018), which won the Newbery Medal—making Medina the first Latinx author to win the award—as well as a Pura Belpré Honor. Medina has served on the board of We Need Diverse Books and has been a vocal advocate for diverse representation in children's literature. Her picture book Evelyn Del Rey and the Last Day of Summer was named a New York Times Notable Book. She lives in Virginia and is recognized as one of the most important voices in contemporary Latinx children's and young adult literature.