Picture a Latinx storyteller who weaves fairy tales with punk-rock vibes—meet Michelle Ruiz Keil! This mixed-race Chicana author and playwright crafts spellbinding young adult fantasy novels that pulse with magical realism and themes of found family. Her debut, All of Us with Wings, took seven years to perfect, blending her San Francisco runaway days with a vibrant, healing narrative.
Born in the San Francisco Bay Area to a teen mom and a father who passed young, Michelle’s early life was steeped in books and resilience. Her journey from runaway teen to celebrated novelist is as enchanting as her stories, making her a unique voice in Latinx literature.
The Making of Michelle Ruiz Keil
Michelle Ruiz Keil’s path to writing was anything but ordinary. Growing up as an only child, she found solace in stories, a love nurtured by her parents despite their challenges. At 17, she fled to San Francisco, mirroring her heroine Xochi’s journey in All of Us with Wings. This gritty, vibrant city shaped her, infusing her work with post-punk energy and a deep sense of place. Before novels, Michelle was a playwright, actor, and theater director, skills that honed her knack for vivid characters and dialogue. A dare from teens at her daughters’ school during National Novel Writing Month sparked her first book, proving her storytelling magic.
Michelle Ruiz Keil’s Unforgettable Stories
Michelle’s debut, All of Us with Wings (2019), is a Latinx coming-of-age tale set in a post-punk San Francisco. It follows Xochi, a 17-year-old Mexican-American governess, who, with her precocious charge Pallas, accidentally summons ancient beings to avenge past traumas. Critics hailed its lush prose and fearless exploration of abuse, addiction, and queer identity, calling it a “transcendent journey” (The New York Times). Her second novel, Summer in the City of Roses (2021), dives into fairy-tale-inspired Portland, blending sibling bonds with magical quests. Michelle’s short fiction shines in anthologies like Color Outside the Lines, celebrating interracial and LGBTQ+ love, and Dispatches From Anarres, honoring Ursula K. Le Guin.
Her style is a intoxicating mix of magical realism, fairy-tale bones, and Latinx cultural threads. Drawing from Aztec mythology and her Chicana heritage, Michelle crafts worlds where the mundane sparkles with purpose. Her multi-voice narratives, rooted in her theater background, feel like a play unfolding, with characters breathing vividly on the page.
Why Michelle Ruiz Keil Matters
Michelle Ruiz Keil’s impact lies in her unflinching honesty and celebration of marginalized voices. As a queer, biracial Latinx author, she writes #OwnVoices stories that resonate with teens navigating trauma and identity. Her work challenges conventional YA narratives, embracing complex themes like recovery and empowerment with hope and beauty. Through her fairytale reading series, All Kinds of Fur, in Portland, she fosters community and creativity, inspiring new writers. Her residencies at Hedgebrook and recognition as a 2020 Literary Lions honoree cement her growing influence.
- Birthplace: San Francisco Bay Area
- Key Works: All of Us with Wings (2019), Summer in the City of Roses (2021)
- Awards: 2020 Literary Lions honoree, 2021 Tin House Scholar
Snag All of Us with Wings and dive into Michelle Ruiz Keil’s magical, punk-infused world! Her stories will leave you enchanted and ready for more.