Latina author discusses cultural intersections at Milwaukee book talk

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Meg Medina, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, addressed students at a Southside Milwaukee school.

The Cuban American children's book author spoke at United Community Center on Tuesday, June 25.

Medina's work explores how cultures intersect through young people's perspectives, emphasizing strong female characters. Her visit had a particular aim to resonate with the school's predominantly Latino student body, which comprises 97% of the students.

The Library of Congress appointed Medina as the first Latina to serve as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. In this role, she promotes literacy and the importance of diverse voices in children's literature.

During the book talk, Medina discussed her experiences as a Cuban American author and the universal qualities found in Latino culture.

She said she takes pride in how storytelling can create connections within families, telling CBS 58, "My thought is that when we talk about books, we talk about the book, sure, but we’re also talking about ourselves, the things that matter to us."

"In short order, the kid is telling you about the things that matter to them, and you are telling them about the things that matter to you, and then there's a connection."

Medina also has hopes for what the students will take home after the book talk, adding, "I hope we talked about how reading can look in their life, right alongside their screen time and screen life. I hope they saw an example of a literary life in someone from a Latino background: that it lifts their sights for roles that they can aspire to and achieve in their own lives."

Learn more about Medina and her work by visiting her official website.