The Story of My Anger

* "A powerful love letter to finding and using your voice, this story will resonate deeply with those who struggle to feel seen and nurtured, particularly young women of color... A compelling drama with a firecracker protagonist that stuns with its strikingly beautiful writing."—Kirkus, starred review

* "The perfect read for teens who are being impacted by book banning and other sociopolitical changes."—Booklist, starred review

"This poignant novel...marries verse poems with playwriting in a narrative that centers timely questions about banned books and free speech. Passionate text that braids together Spanish and English deftly depicts Yuli’s journey from an aspiring actor in the wings of the real world to the fearless “leading lady” of her own life."—Publishers Weekly
“Both timely and disheartening in its realism, the book ends with a hopeful note about the significance of unheard stories that need to be told.” —BCCB


Praise for Aniana del Mar Jumps In
Pura Belpré Author Honor Award
New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year  NCTE Notable Poetry Book and Verse Novel Selection School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Kirkus Best Book of the Year ALSC 2024 Notable Children’s Books
USBBY 2023 Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities

* “A painful yet hopeful exploration of family, trauma, faith, and healing.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “Via myriad poetic forms and sensorial verse, Mendez viscerally details the emotional family tumult of grief, mistrust, and resentment alongside Ani’s heartfelt quest to reunite with water.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “The nuanced depiction of disability, intergenerational conflict, and family trauma make this a must-have for all middle grade shelves.”—School Library Journal, starred review

* “Mendez’s novel beautifully crafts a first-person narrative with concrete poetry, forming shapes of teardrops, sea creatures, and storms to capture the physical and emotional journey of Aniana’s desire to return to the water and navigate her newly diagnosed disability.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

“Aniana del Mar Jumps In is a story of love, loss, and growth that explores how our actions can unintentionally harm those who we love, how we learn to heal from that pain, and how we grieve not only those who we’ve lost but the people we once were, as well as embracing who we are becoming.”—Booklist

“Jasminne Mendez uses multiple poetic forms and deft lyricism to explore the knotty intaglios of family and community, guiding readers through multiple emotional storms to a rousing, heart-warming conclusion.”—David Bowles, award-winning author of They Call Me Güero

“Reading this made me feel like I have been holding my breath without knowing it. This book made me exhale. Similarly, I know that so many young people will see themselves in this book, exhale and say FINALLY. Such an important book.”—Elisabet Velasquez, award-winning author of When We Make It

“Beautiful in its honesty and vulnerability, this is a powerful story about dreams and bodily agency that sings from the heart.”—Natalia Sylvester, award-winning author of Breathe and Count Back From Ten