If you enjoy reading books by Meg Medina then you might also like the following authors:
Erika L. Sánchez is a writer who brings honest and emotional stories to life, often exploring themes of identity and family.
Her young adult novel, “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter,” follows Julia, a teenage girl grieving the loss of her sister while grappling with her family’s expectations.
As Julia uncovers secrets about her sister’s life, she begins to question everything she thought she knew. The book takes readers on a journey through Julia’s complicated relationships with her parents and her own search for independence.
Elizabeth Acevedo is a talented author who writes stories about family, identity, and culture. One of her standout books, “The Poet X,” follows Xiomara Batista, a teenager growing up in Harlem. Xiomara feels unheard at home and struggles with her strict mother’s expectations.
She finds her voice through slam poetry, pouring her emotions onto the page. The book is written in verse, giving Xiomara’s words a raw and powerful edge. It’s about learning to speak up and embrace who you are, even when the world pushes back.
Angela Cervantes creates heartfelt stories that often center on friendship, family, and self-discovery. Her book “Lety Out Loud” follows Lety, an animal shelter volunteer, who dreams of being the shelter’s official “Scribe” by writing profiles for adoptable pets.
But her plan hits a snag when she’s paired with a competitive classmate. Lety’s dedication to helping the animals, combined with her struggles to express herself fully in English, makes the story relatable and uplifting.
Fans of Meg Medina’s warm and realistic storytelling might find a new favorite in Cervantes.
Pam Muñoz Ryan is a writer whose stories often draw from rich cultural histories and deep family connections. One of her books, “Esperanza Rising,” tells the story of Esperanza, a privileged young girl in Mexico during the 1930s.
After an unexpected tragedy, she and her mother are forced to leave their home and move to California, where they begin a difficult life as farm workers. The story explores Esperanza’s journey as she learns resilience and the importance of hope in the face of hardship.
The characters and setting make the story feel vivid and personal, and the themes of strength and change are unforgettable.
Margarita Engle is a writer who often uses poetry to tell stories about Cuban history, culture, and identity. One of her books, “The Surrender Tree,” is about the struggle for freedom during Cuba’s wars for independence.
It follows Rosa, a healer who helps the wounded while living in hiding from Spanish forces. The story shows the survival and resilience of people facing incredible hardship. Engle’s words bring history to life in a way that feels deeply personal.
Renée Watson writes stories that feel grounded and heartfelt. Her book, “Piecing Me Together,” follows Jade, a teen who navigates the challenges of her predominantly white private school while growing up in her neighborhood in Portland, Oregon.
Jade is an artist who dreams of traveling and finding more for herself, but she’s constantly pushed into programs meant to “fix” her instead of helping her grow. The story explores her journey to understand her voice and worth.
Watson’s writing paints a vivid picture of friendship, identity, and finding strength within yourself.
Jenny Torres Sanchez writes stories that explore the lives of teens facing tough realities. Her book “We Are Not From Here” follows three teenagers—Pulga, Chico, and Pequeña—forced to leave their home in Guatemala.
They risk everything to journey to the United States, facing danger and hardship along the way. The story is raw and emotional, giving a look into the challenges of migration through the eyes of kids who refuse to give up hope.
Matt de la Peña is known for writing heartfelt stories that explore family, identity, and finding strength in unexpected places. In his book “Mexican WhiteBoy,” the story follows Danny, a mixed-race teenager who feels out of place in both his Mexican and white heritage.
During a summer spent with his father’s family, Danny dives into the world of baseball, where he works on perfecting his pitching and understanding himself.
The book paints a vivid picture of what it means to search for belonging while dealing with personal struggles and family relationships. If you enjoy Meg Medina’s focus on culture and self-discovery, you may enjoy Matt de la Peña’s work too.
Jacqueline Woodson writes stories that feel personal and heartfelt. Her book, “Brown Girl Dreaming,” is a beautiful recounting of her childhood through poetry. It follows her experiences growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, touching on themes of family, identity, and change.
Through her words, you see how the places she lived—Ohio, South Carolina, and New York—shaped her and the dreams she carried with her.
Christina Diaz Gonzalez is a Cuban-American author known for her engaging storytelling and connection to themes of family, identity, and resilience.
One of her books, “The Red Umbrella,” tells the story of Lucia, a fourteen-year-old girl living in Cuba in the 1960s during the Cuban Revolution.
When the government begins targeting families like hers, Lucia’s parents make the heartbreaking decision to send her and her brother to the United States for safety.
The story follows Lucia as she navigates a new country, grapples with homesickness, and finds her place in an unfamiliar world. It’s powerful and emotional, with moments that really stay with you.
Lilliam Rivera writes stories that explore culture, family, and identity in ways that feel honest and relatable.
Her book “The Education of Margot Sanchez” follows Margot, a Latina teenager from the Bronx, who gets caught between her friendships, family expectations, and her own dreams after making a bad decision.
The story takes place over a summer where Margot works in her family’s grocery store, giving readers a look into her struggles with fitting in at her private school and staying true to herself. The humor and emotional honesty in the book pull you into Margot’s world right away.
Francisco Stork writes thoughtful, character-driven stories that explore family, identity, and life’s challenges. One of his books, “Marcelo in the Real World,” follows a teenager named Marcelo, who has an autism spectrum disorder.
Marcelo lands a summer job working in the mailroom of his father’s law firm, where he encounters a world that tests his sense of right and wrong. The story examines his relationships and how he navigates moral dilemmas.
Fans of Meg Medina might enjoy Stork’s ability to portray personal growth and emotional depth through relatable characters.
Julia Alvarez is an author who writes stories rich with family ties and cultural roots. One of her well-known books, “How the García Girls Lost Their Accents,” follows four sisters after their family flees the Dominican Republic for the United States.
The story moves through their struggles to adjust to a new life, while also holding onto their heritage. The sisters’ relationships with each other and their parents show how identity can feel split between two worlds.
Rebecca Balcárcel writes stories that mix family, identity, and personal growth. Her book “The Other Half of Happy” follows Quijana, a girl caught between two cultures as she navigates being half Guatemalan and half white.
Quijana feels disconnected from her Guatemalan side, struggles with learning Spanish, and wrestles with the pressure of family expectations. At the same time, she deals with middle school, friendship, and her first crush.
There’s a warmth to the story, with moments that feel raw and real as Quijana figures out who she is while taking care of those she loves.
Benjamin Alire Sáenz is an author who writes about identity, family, and the deep connections between people.
One of his well-loved books, “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” tells the story of two Mexican-American boys, Ari and Dante, who form an unlikely friendship in the summer of 1987.
As they spend more time together, their bond transforms their understanding of themselves and the world. Sáenz’s writing brings out the characters’ hopes and struggles in a way that feels real and heartfelt.