Marietta has worked with books, authors and illustrators throughout her career -- studying, creating, editing, marketing, teaching and selling. She supports independent bookselling, believes in libraries and takes pride in her work as a Latina in the world of publishing. She is always on the lookout for visual and narrative stories that reflect the world we live in, not the bubbles in which we put ourselves. She loves books that make readers feel and shies away from those that set out to teach the reader a lesson.
Whether she is reading a young adult novel, a middle grade novel or a picture book, Marietta looks for a book in which young readers can identify with the actions and reactions of the characters, not the perspectives of the author or illustrator. Diversity in the story must be inherent and authentic, not trendy. She is thrilled to shine the spotlight on soulful, insightful, well-crafted, literary or commercial projects aimed at any age group from young adult to the youngest of readers.
(PRH/DK) Curated by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy, ALLIES is a collection of true stories about allyship from 17 YA authors.
As an ally, you use your power—no matter how big or small—to support others. You learn, and try, and mess up, and try harder. In this collection of true stories, critically acclaimed and bestselling YA authors get real about being an ally, needing an ally, and showing up for friends and strangers.
From raw stories of racism and of invisible disability to powerful moments of passing the mic, these authors share their truths. They invite you to think about your own experiences and choices and to consider how to be a better ally.
There are no easy answers, but this book helps you ask better questions. Self-reflection prompts, resources, journaling ideas, and further reading suggestions help you find out what you can do. Because we’re all in this together. And we all need allies.
A portion of the proceeds from this book will go to We Need Diverse Books and The Black Curriculum.
I believe in authenticity and representation in the books we create, the positive role of libraries in our individual communities and our world, and the influence of independent bookstores. As such, I dedicate my time and energy to support and help those whose mission is aligned with those beliefs.