SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) is currently hosting Read Brave 2026, its annual citywide book club that invites teens, their families, and community members to read the same young adult book and have brave conversations about issues that matter to Saint Paul.
This year’s book selection is Lobizona by Romina Garber. Through Lobizona, readers are invited to explore the human experience within immigration—the journey to find belonging and sanctuary in worlds both real and imagined.
“At its heart, Read Brave brings people together through story and conversation,” shared Maureen Hartman, library director of Saint Paul Public Library. “This year more so than any other year, we offer Read Brave and this book as both a mirror to our current reality and a window to the experiences of others. We offer it as a doorway to connection and empathy. And as one of many tools we can use to build and strengthen community.”
Read Brave Talk Brave event
Read Brave’s signature community event, Read Brave Talk Brave, will take place on Thursday, March 5, from 5:30-8 p.m. at Arlington Hills Library.
This event brings Romina Garber, Mayor Kaohly Her, and young readers together for a facilitated community conversation alongside a shared Argentine meal, created in partnership with Immigrant Kitchen and inspired by the book. Argentinian cooks Nico Nikolov and Paula Gutierrez will prepare a three-course meal.
Registration is encouraged to help with the food count. Register online here.
Read Brave Talk Brave will also be livestreamed on the SPPL YouTube channel.
About the book
Lobizona is a young adult fantasy novel that follows the story of Manuela “Manu” Azul, who has always lived between worlds. As an undocumented immigrant in Miami, her life is one of careful invisibility designed to keep her and her family safe. But, when her mother is arrested and her entire life unravels, Manu uncovers a secret that defies every rule she’s ever believed in: a hidden world of brujas and lobizones—witches and werewolves—where the old myths of Argentina are alive, fierce, and waiting for her.
Through Lobizona, we’re invited to confront what it means to belong—and who gets to decide. Manu’s journey mirrors the real struggles faced by those navigating borders seen and unseen, searching for belonging, safety, and home. As she dares to exist unapologetically in both her worlds, her story challenges us to imagine a future where difference is not a danger, but a kind of magic.
“When we selected this book last summer, we knew it was brave and important to select a book about an undocumented immigrant living in the United States, but we could not have imagined what it would mean in our current times,” shared Hartman. “In moments when our community is facing real challenges, the library’s role is to create space for listening, learning, and connection. We are grateful to everyone who shows up to read and talk together with openness and care.”
About the author
Romina Garber is a New York Times and international bestselling author whose other books include The Last Vampire, Castle of the Cursed, Cazadora, & the ZODIAC quartet. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and raised in Miami, Florida, Romina landed her first writing gig as a teen—College She Wrote, a weekly Sunday column for the Miami Herald that was later picked up for national syndication—and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She is a graduate of Harvard College and a Virgo to the core. For more information, please visit www.rominagarber.com.
Get a copy of the book
Residents can get their own free English or Spanish-language copy of Lobizona to keep by stopping by any SPPL location during open hours, while supplies last. Print copies, e-books, and audiobooks are also available for check-out at all SPPL locations. A limited supply of guided book club kits to keep are also available at all library locations. In total, SPPL aims to distribute 5,000 books, including more than 2,000 books to students in Saint Paul.
Read Brave Saint Paul is brought to you by Saint Paul Public Library, The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, and the City of Saint Paul. This program is funded, in part, with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
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About Saint Paul Public Library
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