A novel-in-verse, An Appetite for Miracles by Laekan Zea Kemp follows two teens who must come together to heal from the pain of their pasts. In The Weight of Everything by Marcia Argueta Mickelson, a young woman cares for her grieving family after her mother’s death, and finds solace in painting and exploring her mother’s Guatemalan and Mexican roots. These YA authors will delve into themes of family, cultural heritage, and healing in this can’t-miss session.
Photo Credit: Diana Ascanrrunz Photography
Laekan Zea Kemp is the Pura Belpré Honor author of Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet, Heartbreak Symphony, and Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza. Her work celebrates Chicane grit, resilience, creativity, and joy while exploring themes of identity and mental health. She lives in Austin, Texas. Her latest young adult novel is An Appetite for Miracles, and her latest children’s book is A Crown for Corina.
Photo Credit: Rachel Meldrum
Marcia Argueta Mickelson was born in Guatemala and immigrated to the United States as an infant. She attended high school in New Jersey and then graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in American Studies. She is the author of five novels including Star Shining Brightly, The Huaca, and Where I Belong, and she has received a Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Honor. She lives in Texas with her husband and three sons. The Weight of Everything is her latest YA novel.
Lucy Podmore has served as a school librarian in San Antonio since 2007 and is currently the Chair of the Texas Association of School Librarians. She enjoys booktalking with anyone who will listen and planning LibraryPalooza, an author festival for teen readers in San Antonio. Authors will be introduced by students from the Young Women’s Leadership Academy.
