Powerful Female Voices in YA Lit: An Interview with Yamile Saied Méndez [S5 E155]

Listen to the full episode below:

We are back with a new Camp BNT interview with author Yamile Saied Méndez. Yamile is the author of Furia, a book set in Argentina about a talented young soccer player named Camila who is determined to pursue her dreams despite her family's lack of support.

Yamile discusses the importance of representation in literature and why she created a strong female protagonist who defies expectations in her book. We found it inspiring to hear about Yamile's journey to becoming an author and how she draws from her personal history to create compelling stories that resonate with her young readers.

We hope that this interview makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Most of all, we hope you feel inspired to not only read some new books, but really think about how we can widen the experience that our students have in their curriculums, and include more voices in our conversations.

Be sure to tune in to our next episode to hear us give ideas on how to use Furia in your classroom! Don’t forget to sign up for Camp BNT, where you can join our Facebook community to discuss these episodes and learn from each other.

Meet Yamile:

Yamile Saied Méndez is an author with a passion for storytelling. Originally from Rosario, Argentina, Yamile has written over 20 books and short stories for readers of all ages, from picture books to young adult novels and even books for adults.

Her works explore themes of home, friendship, and identity, and though they vary in genre and style, they all share a common goal of connecting with readers.

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

  • How Yamile’s background and personal experiences have influenced her writing

  • The main focus of the award-winning novel, Furia

  • The complexity of Furia’s main character, Camila, and the challenges she faces

  • Breaking the cycle of generational trauma

  • A look at Yamile’s writing process

  • The importance of representing diverse identities and experiences in literature, particularly in Young Adult fiction

  • A sneak peek of Yamile’s upcoming books

More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

Tune in on your favorite podcast apps like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Amanda Cardenas