Picture a Cuban-American poet weaving history and heart into verse novels that sing—meet Margarita Engle! Born in 1951, this trailblazing author has captivated young readers with her lyrical tales of courage, culture, and nature. As the first Latina to win a Newbery Honor and the 2017–2019 Young People’s Poet Laureate, Engle’s words bridge her dual heritage, inviting readers into worlds where history dances with hope.
Engle’s stories, often written in free verse, reflect her Cuban roots and love for the natural world. Her ability to turn forgotten historical figures into vibrant voices has made her a beloved figure in children’s literature, inspiring empathy and curiosity across generations.
The Making of Margarita Engle
Born in Los Angeles to a Cuban mother and American father, Margarita Engle grew up straddling two worlds. Summers spent on her mother’s family farm in Cuba sparked her love for the island’s lush landscapes and vibrant culture. These childhood adventures, coupled with the abrupt halt of travel during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, shaped her imaginative connection to Cuba. Engle’s scientific background in agronomy and botany also infused her work with a deep appreciation for nature.
Engle began writing poetry as a child, but her career took off in the 1990s with adult prose novels. Inspired by Karen Hesse’s verse novel Witness, she switched to free verse for children’s literature, finding her true voice. Her first verse novel, The Poet Slave of Cuba, marked her as a rising star, earning critical acclaim and opening doors to a prolific career.
Margarita Engle’s Unforgettable Stories
Engle’s verse novels are a tapestry of Cuban history, nature, and human resilience. Her breakthrough work, The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom (2008), tells the story of Rosa la Bayamesa, a nurse during Cuba’s wars for independence. This poignant tale earned Engle the first Newbery Honor awarded to a Latino, cementing her place in literary history.
Other notable works include Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings (2015), a verse memoir exploring her Cuban-American childhood during the Cold War, which won a Pura Belpré Award. Drum Dream Girl (2015), a picture book celebrating a girl who broke gender barriers to play drums in Cuba, earned a Charlotte Zolotow Award. Her 2024 novel, Wild Dreamers, a Pura Belpré Honor book, was longlisted for the National Book Award, showcasing her enduring ability to blend romance and environmental themes.
Engle’s style is marked by accessible, lyrical free verse that brings historical figures to life. Her themes of freedom, identity, and peace resonate with young readers, while her focus on marginalized voices—like Cuban abolitionists and indigenous survivors—offers fresh perspectives on history. Her scientific lens often weaves nature into her narratives, creating vivid, sensory-rich worlds.
Why Margarita Engle Matters
Margarita Engle’s impact on children’s literature is profound. As a Cuban-American author, she has amplified Latino voices, introducing young readers to Cuba’s complex history and cultural richness. Her role as Young People’s Poet Laureate from 2017 to 2019 emphasized peace and cross-cultural understanding, themes she championed through bilingual poetry workshops and classroom resources. Engle’s awards, including multiple Pura Belpré Medals and the NSK Neustadt Prize, reflect her influence as a storyteller who empowers readers to embrace their identities.
By giving voice to unsung heroes, Engle fosters empathy and inspires young people to make hopeful choices in challenging times. Her work continues to break barriers, proving that poetry can be a powerful tool for connection and change in a divided world.
- Born: September 2, 1951, Los Angeles, California
- Key Works: The Surrender Tree, Enchanted Air, Drum Dream Girl, Wild Dreamers
- Awards: Newbery Honor, Pura Belpré Medals, NSK Neustadt Prize, Young People’s Poet Laureate (2017–2019)
Ready to dive into a world of verse and history? Snag Enchanted Air and let Margarita Engle’s lyrical magic sweep you away!