Why am I passionate about this?
Stories and the myriad ways they’re told fascinate me. Growing up in Atlanta with Mexican and American heritage, I first learned about Mexican códices—centuries-old books that tell stories through images—on a trip to visit family in Mexico. Later, I studied the history and literature of Latin America at Harvard and got a Ph.D. in Latin American and Iberian Cultures and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. I’ve studied storytelling in many forms, from Mesoamerican maps to early Spanish chronicles of exploration and invasion, to modern Latin American novels. The books listed here celebrate oral storytelling, written traditions, and artistic expression, and they take seriously the perspectives of young people.
Alexandra's book list on the power of stories and finding your voice
Why did Alexandra love this book?
In this book Laurie Halse Anderson lets us inside the mind of Melinda, a high schooler who finds herself increasingly isolated from friends and family.
As a reader, it was easy to share her frustration with how others treat her, because it was clear that her inner world didn’t match up with what others perceived outside of her. She has experienced a traumatic event, a violation that she doesn’t know how to process or talk about.
This novel masterfully captures the way Melinda compartmentalizes what has happened to her and grasps for coping mechanisms. Some of my favorite scenes occur in art class, where art-making becomes a key part of Melinda’s journey of gaining the courage to speak up about her trauma, and of reconnecting with others.
7 authors picked Speak as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.
A fiercely authentic, critically acclaimed and award-winning modern classic.
'Speak up for yourself - we want to know what you have to say.'
From my first day at Merryweather High, I know this is a lie.
Nobody will even talk to me, let alone listen - all because I called the cops on an end-of-summer party.
But if I could only tell everyone why I called the police that night...
If I could explain what happened to me...
If I could speak...
Then everything might change.
'With the rise of women finding their voices and speaking out about sexual assault…
- Coming soon!