Margarita Engle Books In Order

Publication Order of Enchanted Air Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Picture Books

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Margarita Engle is a renowned Cuban-American writer of historical fiction stories and children’s books. She is also a popular journalist and poet, whose work has featured in numerous countries. Margarita’s works have helped her in winning many awards. Most of her stories are penned in verse, reflecting her Cuban heritage. They also reflect her knowledge and deep appreciation of nature. In 2009, Margarita became the first Latino woman to be awarded the Newbery Honor. The Poetry Foundation selected her to serve as the 6th Young People’s Poet Laureate between 2017 and 2019. In 2018, Margarita was nominated for the 2019 NSK Prize by a jury member named Lilliam Rivera, which she eventually won.

Author Margarita was born on September 2, 1951, in Pasadena, California, United States. Her father hailed from Los Angeles, while her mother was a native of Trinidad, Cuba. Although Margarita was born and brought up in California, she spent numerous summers living in Cuba with her extended family as she grew up. She got exposed to poetry in the Spanish language when she was too young. One of the poets that she liked very much was Jose Marti. Author Margarita completed her graduation in 1974 from California State Polytechnic University with a B.S. degree. It was followed by an M.S. degree in 1977 from Iowa State University. Margarita had almost earned a doctoral degree from California University, Riverside in 1983 in biology.

Before the start of her writing career, Margarita worked as a tenured professor at California State University. At the time of pursuing her doctoral degree, Margarita participated in a creative writing seminar with Tomas Rivera. She credits this experience as the force that ignited her passion for writing. As of today, author Margarita resides in Central California. Her husband is involved in volunteering for wilderness search & rescue dog training programs. Margarita enjoys providing a helping hand to her husband in his work during her spare time. Some of the well-known works of Margarita include her verse books such as The Enchanted Air, Drum Dream Girl, The Surrender Tree, and Forest World. The most recent books written by her include Dreams From Many Rivers, With a Star in My Hand, Dancing Hands, Soaring Earth, etc.

Some of the prestigious awards won by her, besides NSK Neustadt Prize, include multiple Pura Belpre prize, Jane Addams prize, International Latino Book Award, Newbery Honor, Walter prize, Americas prize, Charlotte Zolotow prize, Green Earth prize, PEN USA award, Arnold Adoff prize, Claudia Lewis award, Golden Kite prize, Lee Bennett Hopkins prize, and a couple of Astrid Lindgren nominations. Author Margarita believes that writing historical novels in the form of verses feel like time travel. It appears to her as a dreamlike mixture of reality and imagination. Margarita likes to explore through her novels and sees it as a chance to indulge in communication with the future through the younger readers.

As a writer, Margarita loves to write about young individuals who are forced to make hopeful choices in times of hopelessness. It is her hope that stories of compassion and courage will make youthful readers take effective decisions in difficult times. Being a popular author has given Margarita an opportunity to become a proud member of prominent associations such as Amnesty International, Freedom to Write Committee, PEN USA West, Freedom House of Human Rights, etc. Margarita loves ice cream and yogurt very much. She is never willing to give up anything that is sweet. The thing that disheartens her is that most Americans do not read poetry enough to understand that it gives peace of mind in the true sense.

An excellent book written by author Margarita Engle is entitled ‘The Firefly Letters’. It was released by the Henry Holt & Co. publication in 2010. This Pura Belpre Award-nominated novel is set in Swede and Cuba during the 19th century. It features the primary characters in the roles of Fredrika Bremer, Cecilia, Elena, and a few others. Initially, it is depicted that girls and women in Cuba do not have the freedom to roam. It is the year 1851 and there is a strict policy on the free movement of females across Cuba. Fredrika Bremer arrives in the country from Sweden with the intention of learning about the people living on the magical island. She is accompanied by a young slave from Africa named Cecilia, who dreams of returning to her home. The house where Fredrika Bremer stays in Cuba has a wealthy daughter named Elena. She also sneaks out and joins Fredrika and Cecilia. As the 3 women explore Cuba’s lush countryside, they go on to form a bond so strong that it breaks the barriers of culture and language. In this powerful book, Margarita has painted a portrait of the women’s rights activist Fredrika Bremer and has shown her life transformed after a visit to Cuba.

Another mind-blowing book penned by the author is known as ‘Mountain Dog’. It was also published by Henry Holt and Co. in 2013. Author Margarita has set this book in Sierra Nevada, United States. The central characters depicted in this book include Tony, Tio, Gabe, and a few others. Initially, it is shown that Tony’s mother is handed over to a prison facility by the court for a crime. Following this, Tony is asked to relocate to the house of his great uncle in Sierra Nevada for some time. Tony has never met his great uncle and prays that he does not face any difficulties.

The move turns out to be a daunting one as the new world is nowhere similar to the one Tony used to live in with his mother. But, with time, the scars from his troubled past start to heal against a remarkable and remote backdrop. With the help of a search & rescue dog called Gabe and his Tio, Tony learns the tricks of tracking wild animals. He is also welcomed at the Cowboy Church. The Mountain School, the new school where he goes for studying, helps him make new friends. The most important of all is that Tony discovers unconditional love through Gabe for the first time. It helps him heal further and accept life as it comes to him.