Tehlor Kay Mejia is an American author. They[a] are best known for their novels We Set the Dark on Fire (2019), We Unleash the Merciless Storm (2020), Miss Meteor (2020), and Lucha of the Night Forest (2023).
Tehlor Kay Mejia | |
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Personal life
editMejia is a third-generation Mexican-American[2] and grew up in Oregon.[3] They did not attend post-secondary education.[2]
Mejia was previously married and have a child.[2] They live in Oregon with their partner and child.[4] Mejia identifies as queer and Latinx.[2]
Themes
editMejia's books often include Latinx and queer representation. They have indicated in interviews that this is because they did not see or read books about people like themself growing up. In a 2021 interview with Disney, Mejia said,
Not to be dramatic, but I feel like representation can literally be life or death. When we don’t have representation, it is so much easier to dehumanize people who are different from us because we don’t see them as real, complex, nuanced people. For so long, we’ve been seeing these two-dimensional, stereotypical forms of representation for marginalized communities, if we see them at all. This actually makes it harder for people to believe in themselves, and for people outside those cultures to see them as uniquely human. This can lead to issues like crisis of confidence or inequality and can even lead to violence being perpetrated in those communities. On top of that, being able to see yourself as the hero of a story is an experience that every kid deserves.[5]
Awards and honors
editWe Set the Dark on Fire
editIn 2019, Booklist included We Set the Dark on Fire on their "Booklist Editors' Choice: Youth Audio"[6] and "Top 10 SF/Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks for Youth" lists.[7] It was also a 2019 Tor.com Reviewers' Choice selection[8] and was included on their list of the year's best science fiction, fantasy and horror novels.[9]
The following year, the American Library Association selected it for their Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults,[10] Best Fiction for Young Adults,[11] Rainbow List,[12] and Rise: A Feminist Book Project lists.[13]
We Set the Dark on Fire was also shortlisted for the Neukom Institute's 2020 Literary Arts Award for Debut.[14][15]
Miss Meteor
editIn 2020, Miss Meteor was a Tor.com Reviewers’ Choice book[16] and was included on their "Best Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror of 2020" list.[17]
The American Library Association included it on their 2021 Rainbow List[18] and their list of the "Best Fiction for Young Adults."[19]
Publications
editAdult novels
editMiddle grade novels
edit- The Witch's Wings and Other Terrifying Tales. Illus. by Junyi Wu, Alexis Hernandez, Justin Hernandez, and Kaylee Rowena. Amulet Books. 2023. ISBN 9781419763564.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Paola Santiago series
edit- Paola Santiago and the River of Tears. Rick Riordan Presents. 2020. ISBN 9781368049177.[23][24][25][26]
- Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares. Rick Riordan Presents. 2021. ISBN 9781368049344.[27][28][29][30]
- Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows. Rick Riordan Presents. 2022. ISBN 9781368076876.[31]
Young adult novels
edit- Lucha of the Night Forest. Make Me A World. 2023. ISBN 9780593378366.[32][33][34][35][36]
- McLemore, Anna-Marie (2020). Miss Meteor. HarperTeen. ISBN 9780062869913.[37][38][39][40][41][42]
We Set the Dark on Fire series
edit- We Set the Dark on Fire. Katherine Tegen Books. 2019. ISBN 9780062691316.[43][44][45][46][47][48]
- We Unleash the Merciless Storm. Katherine Tegen Books. 2020. ISBN 9780062691347.[2][49][50][51][52]
Anthology contributions
edit- Mitchell, Saundra, ed. (2018). All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages. Harlequin Teen. ISBN 9781335470454.
- Spotswood, Jessica; Sharpe, Tess, eds. (2018). "Starsong". Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft. Harlequin Teen. ISBN 9781335016270.[53][54]
- The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories about Mythic Heroes. Rick Riordan Presents. 2021. ISBN 9781368070836.[55]
- davis, g. haron; Montgomery, Cam; White, Adrianne, eds. (2022). "Doublespeak". All Signs Point to Yes. Inkyard Press. ISBN 9781335418623.
- Alkaf, Hanna; Owen, Margaret, eds. (2023). "3:00 P.M.: Delores 'Lola' Cortez". The Grimoire of Grave Fates. Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780593427453.[56]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Tehlor Mejia". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ a b c d e Hansell, Sarah (2020-02-21). "Tehlor Kay Mejia creates a terrifyingly real world in her YA fantasy". Street Roots. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Tehlor Kay Mejia Bio". Literary Arts. Archived from the original on 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Tehlor Kay Mejia". Penguin Random House Canada. Archived from the original on 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Fong, Mimi (2021-10-14). "Author Tehlor Kay Mejia Shares Why Representation in Literature Matters". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Youth Audio, 2019". 2020-01-01. Archived from the original on 2022-01-29. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Booth, Heather (August 2020). "Top 10 SF/Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks for Youth". Archived from the original on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Gittelman, Maya (2019-11-18). "Tor.com Reviewers' Choice: The Best Books of 2019". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Brown, Alex (2019-12-12). "Best Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror of 2019". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2023-08-25. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "2020 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2020-01-06. Archived from the original on 2022-10-05. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2020". 2020-03-15. Archived from the original on 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Rainbow List: 2020". 2020-03-15. Archived from the original on 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Rise: A Feminist Book Project: 2020". 2020-03-15. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Liptak, Andrew (2020-06-17). "Neukom Institute Announces 2020 Literary Arts Awards Shortlist". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "2020 Neukom Awards Winners". Locus Online. 2020-10-08. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Brown, Alex (2020-11-18). "Tor.com Reviewers' Choice: The Best Books of 2020". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Brown, Alex (2020-12-09). "Best Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror of 2020". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Rainbow List: 2021". Booklist. 2021-03-15. Archived from the original on 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2021". Booklist. 2021-03-15. Archived from the original on 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Sammy Espinoza's Last Review". Kirkus Reviews. 2023-05-24. Archived from the original on 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Sammy Espinoza's Last Review". Booklist. 2023-06-01. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Sammy Espinoza's Last Review by Tehlor Kay Mejia". Publishers Weekly. 2023-04-24. Archived from the original on 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Paola Santiago and the River of Tears". Kirkus Reviews. 2020-05-17. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Paz, Selenia (August 2020). "Paola Santiago and the River of Tears". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Diaz, Shelley (2020-08-11). "Paola Santiago and the River of Tears". Shelf Awareness. Archived from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia". Publishers Weekly. 2020-06-18. Archived from the original on 2022-12-02. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares". Kirkus Reviews. 2021-05-26. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares". Booklist. 2021-06-01. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares (audiobook)". Booklist. 2021-10-01. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Zaboski, Samantha (2021-08-03). "Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares". Shelf Awareness. Archived from the original on 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows". Kirkus Reviews. 2022-06-07. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Lucha of the Night Forest". Kirkus Reviews. 2022-12-13. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Stevens, Allie (2023-05-15). "Lucha of the Night Forest". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Zaboski, Samantha (2023-03-31). "Lucha of the Night Forest". shelf-awareness.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Lucha of the Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Mejia". Publishers Weekly. 2023-01-26. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Brown, Alex (2023-03-30). "Book Review: Lucha of the Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Mejia". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Miss Meteor". Kirkus Reviews. 2020-07-07. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Cole, Sonja (2020-11-13). "Miss Meteor (audiobook)". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Reagan, Maggie (2020-09-01). "Miss Meteor". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Diaz, Shelley (2020-09-25). "Miss Meteor". Shelf Awareness. Archived from the original on 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Miss Meteor by Anna-Marie McLemore, Tehlor Kay Mejia". Publishers Weekly. 2020-09-03. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Brown, Alex (2020-09-23). "Cupcakes and Cacti, Meteors and Magic: Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia and Anna-Marie McLemore". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Paxson, Caitlyn (2019-02-28). "'We Set The Dark On Fire' Burns Bright". NPR. Archived from the original on 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "We Set the Dark on Fire". Kirkus Reviews. 2018-11-11. Archived from the original on 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Hong, Terry (2019-10-31). "We Set the Dark on Fire (audiobook)". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Reagan, Maggie (2018-11-01). "We Set the Dark on Fire". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Hadge, Clarissa (2019-03-01). "We Set the Dark on Fire". Shelf Awareness. Archived from the original on 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia". Publishers Weekly. 2018-12-17. Archived from the original on 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "We Unleash the Merciless Storm". Kirkus Reviews. 2019-12-07. Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Hong, Terry (2020-03-15). "We Unleash the Merciless Storm (audiobook)". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Hadge, Clarissa (2020-02-28). "We Unleash the Merciless Storm". Shelf Awareness. Archived from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Brown, Alex (2020-02-26). "When the Revolution Comes Home: Tehlor Kay Mejia's We Unleash the Merciless Storm". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Toil & Trouble". Kirkus Reviews. 2018-06-17. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Toil & Trouble: 16 Tales of Women and Witchcraft by Jessica Spotswood, Tess Sharpe". Publishers Weekly. 2018-10-22. Archived from the original on 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories About Mythic Heroes by Rick Riordan". Publishers Weekly. 2021-07-08. Archived from the original on 2022-06-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "The Grimoire of Grave Fates". Publishers Weekly. 2023-04-27. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.