Meg Medina, the 2019 Read Brave Saint Paul author of Burn Baby Burn, was awarded the prestigious John Newbery Medal yesterday for her 2018 children's book, Merci Suárez Changes Gears, Medina will visit Saint Paul from February 19-21 to participate in Read Brave and will present a book talk and signing on February 20, 6-7:30 p.m. at Rondo Community Library (461 N Dale St). This event is free and open to the public.
In covering the announcement yesterday, the New York Times wrote:
"Meg Medina won this year’s John Newbery Medal, opens a new window for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature for her novel “Merci Suarez Changes Gears,” the story of an 11-year-old girl who navigates her home life with a Cuban-American extended family and her experiences as a scholarship student at a private school. Medina is the second Latinx writer to win the award — Matt de la Pena won in 2016 for the picture book “Last Stop on Market Street,” illustrated by Christian Robinson — and the first to win for a novel."
Read Brave Saint Paul is presented by Saint Paul Public Library, The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, and the City of Saint Paul. Read Brave is sponsored by Bremer Bank, and supported by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, the Katherine B. Andersen Fund, the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation, and the Saint Paul Saints.
