Jasminne Mendez

Jasminne Mendez is a Dominican-American poet, playwright, translator and award winning author of several books for children and adults. Her debut middle grade, Aniana del Mar Jumps In received a Pura Belpré Author Honor Book, NCTE Notable Verse Novel, and Best Book of the Year by School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, New York Public Library and Chicago Public Library.  Her YA novel-in-verse, The Story of My Anger also received a Pura Belpré Author Honor and is a finalist for NAACP Image Award. 

Jasminne is the author of Island of Dreams, Night-Blooming Jasmin(n)e: Personal Essays and Poetry, Islands Apart: Becoming Dominican American, and Josefina’s Habichuelas. Her poetry collection City Without Altar received the Texas Institute of Letters Best Book of Poetry. 

Mendez is also a translator and has translated Claribel Ortega’s graphic novel Rizos, Amanda Gorman’s picture books Change Sings and Something, Someday and other Spanish editions. Her poetry and essays have been published in numerous journals and anthologies including The Kenyon Review, New England Review, the YA Latinx Anthology Wild Tongues Can’t be Tamed edited by Saraciea Fennell and The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 4: LatiNext. Based in Houston, Jasminne is co-founder of the Latinx literary arts organization Tintero Projects and co-host of Inkwell, a poetry and writing podcast series. She is an MFA graduate in creative writing  at the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University, a University of Houston alumni, and a Canto Mundo Fellow. Photo Credit: Tasha Gorel.

Visit Jasminne online www.jasminnemendez.com and @jasminnemendez

Praise for The Story of My Anger:

★ “A powerful love letter to finding and using your voice, this story will resonate deeply with those who struggle to feel seen and nurtured, particularly young women of color… A compelling drama with a firecracker protagonist that stuns with its strikingly beautiful writing.” —Kirkus, starred review

★ “The perfect read for teens who are being impacted by book banning and other sociopolitical changes.” —Booklist, starred review

“Mendez’s poetry flows effortlessly, fully realizing Yuli’s struggles and joy…A must-have for all YA collections.” —School Library Journal

“This poignant novel…marries verse poems with playwriting in a narrative that centers timely questions about banned books and free speech. Passionate text that braids together Spanish and English deftly depicts Yuli’s journey from an aspiring actor in the wings of the real world to the fearless “leading lady” of her own life.” —Publishers Weekly