Celebrating the Power of Stories with Meg Medina, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

We’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by revisiting my 2023 conversation with Meg Medina, author and the Library of Congress’s 2023-24 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. As the first Latina to serve in this role, Meg discusses how her own immigrant background and experience growing up in Queens, New York, shape her writing. Her work, which includes the Newbery Medal-winning Merci Suárez Changes Gears and the picture book Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away, often centers on young Latina protagonists navigating the challenges of growing up while maintaining strong ties to their cultural roots.

Meg also shares her goals for the ambassadorship, including reconnecting kids with the joy of reading, supporting public libraries, and amplifying the voices of contemporary children’s authors. She speaks candidly about her journey from teaching to becoming a celebrated author, and how her experiences continue to inspire her mission to create stories that reflect diverse perspectives and universal truths.