Read Brave, Saint Paul Public Library’s annual citywide book club, invites teens, families, and community members to read the same young adult book and have bold conversations about issues that matter to Saint Paul. This year’s Read Brave book selection—available in English and Spanish—is Lobizona by Romina Garber. Through Lobizona, we explore the human experience within immigration—the journey to find belonging and sanctuary in worlds both real and imagined.
This year’s Read Brave takes place amid unprecedented federal immigration enforcement that is causing harm, fear, and unimaginable loss for many in our community. Chosen by staff last summer, this year’s Read Brave title focuses on a story of immigration, power, and belonging— themes that, in ways we could not have foreseen, are now unfolding with intensity in our own neighborhoods. Read Brave exists to leverage the power of stories to build empathy and community—inviting us to listen deeply, honor lived experience, question our assumptions and what we are told to be true, and engage one another with deep care, dignity, and respect. SPPL invites you to read Lobizona over the next month and join us in community and conversation—virtually or in-person.
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.
This year’s book is best for students in grades 9-12.
Experience Read Brave
Join us for Read Brave Talk Brave on Thursday, March 5, from 5:30–8 p.m. at Arlington Hills Library, featuring a panel conversation with Romina Garber, author of Lobizona, Mayor Kaohly Her, and youth panelists.
We’re excited to partner with Immigrant Kitchen by BIPOC Foodways Alliance to bring a catered dinner to this event. BIPOC Foodways Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking down cultural barriers using food as a tool. Their Immigrant Kitchen program provides a platform for women of color and immigrant communities to tell their cultural legacy stories through home cooking. Two Argentine cooks will be catering the evening's meal and will share a little bit about their food and stories.
Registration is encouraged for this event to help us with food count! This event will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.
Meet the Cooks
Read Brave
Nico N. is from Buenos Aires and arrived in 2001 after visiting his uncle in Minneapolis who lived here. Nico came for vacation and since the economy in Argentina wasn’t great he thought he’d see what living in Minneapolis is like. Growing up with his mom and grandma he helped them cook all of the Argentinian street food that the family loved, and he grilled a lot with his dad. When he moved to Minnesota there was not any Argentinian food here at all– the only place he could get anything was at Bill’s Imported foods, a grocery store. He met his business partner Diego Montero from Cordoba, Argentina and they would cook together for fun. In 2016, they started selling empanadas online and bought a food truck in 2016. Today, they have two Del Sur Empanada locations.
Paula G. is originally from Buenos Aires and has been living in the Twin Cities since 2016. She arrived here with her husband who came here for work. In Argentina, she baked a lot of cakes for birthdays and stayed at home with two beautiful daughters as her husband traveled a lot for his job. When she came to Minnesota, she badly missed the food of Argentina, and she wanted to continue the food culture of Argentina here. Paula started making the kinds of sweets that she learned from her grandmother in Argentina, which helps keep culture alive for her. She sells her sweets in the Stillwater Farmers Market. “The flavors are very different in Argentina and some people really love it. It’s a good experience for me because I learn a lot of English doing this and when I came here I didn’t know a word of English. It’s very interesting to share with people from here– the feedback is very good. I have a lot of customers who come back every year to buy the same cake or something for special occasions. They love my accent!
The people here are very nice but the weather is difficult. I don’t have that many friends here and at home we have so many friends. We go to a house, for instance, and eat all day– we go at 11a.m. and finish at midnight. There’s always a reason to bring food and eat. Food is very important in our culture– you always bring something to eat and you can eat all day! Every Sunday my grandma would cook for the whole family and eat. Food in Argentina is everything.”
Paula will be assisted by her daughter Rocio Arias.
Grab a copy of the book.
Getting a copy of this year’s Read Brave book selection is simple. Stop by any Saint Paul Public Library location to grab a copy of Lobizona—in English or Spanish — to add to your home library.
Don’t forget to join us for the Read Brave Talk Brave event on March 5 to dive deeper into the book with the author and young people over a catered meal in partnership with Immigrant Kitchen!
Print, e-books, and audiobooks are also available for check-out at Saint Paul Public Library.
Pick up a book club kit.
Is your book club interested in participating in Read Brave this year? The Library is offering a limited supply of book club kits for you to keep at all library locations. It includes copies of the book, book discussion questions, Read Brave swag, and a tote bag! Available while supplies last!
Host your own conversation.
Talk about the themes found in Lobizona with your neighbors, friends, and family. Use our toolkit to facilitate brave conversations that push our city forward. Resources in the toolkit can help you host a conversation or event, or incorporate Read Brave into a classroom, book club, or another group.
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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Questions about Read Brave?
Get in touch with the Read Brave Team using the form below with any questions you have about Read Brave books, events, or partnerships.