[Many thanks to David Lewis for bringing this item to our attention.] Virginia Isaad (HipLatina) interviews Esmeralda Santiago, who speaks about the inspiration behind Las Madres, a novel centered on a group of Puerto Rican women in the midst of Hurricane Maria. Who are we without our memories? That’s the question Puerto Rican author Esmeralda…
Virginia Isaad (
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega (Holiday House, 2021).
Crystal Maldonado, 32, is a first-time author who grew up yearning to see a girl who looked like her in the mainstream: plus size and a woman of color. Now she’s made her own dream come true with her debut young adult novel,
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega featuring a “fat brown girl” as the lead character. The coming-of-age story has Puerto Rican teen Charlotte “Charlie” Vega coping with a fatphobic mom and her own insecurities about her body as she experiences the highs and lows of young love. With all the typical struggles of a teenage girl – boys, school, bullying – Charlie is also grappling with self-love while exploring romantic love with one her classmates, Brian Park. The book brings to life the representation Maldonado wished for that undoubtedly other young girls dealing with similar struggles can related to.