Hopeful Heroes. More Poems About Amazing Latinos - Margarita Engle;Juliet Menéndez

In this companion to Bravo!, Margarita Engle's beautiful poetry introduces young readers to lesser-known Latinos from varied backgrounds who have all shown tremendous resilience.

Prepare to be inspired by this empowering collection of poetry that tells a larger story about fortitude and community across Hispanic history. From environmental activists such as Christina Figueres to record breaking athletes like Pelé, each role model featured is a legend in their own right. There’s no better time to champion the accomplishments of this remarkable group of unsung heroes from all across Latin America!

Those profiled in this collection include Anacaona, Martín de la Cruz and Juan Badiano, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Micaela Bastidas Puyucahua, Simón Bolívar, Mariana Grajales Cuello, Ana Roqué de Duprey, Julio Garavito Armero, Ramón Fonst Segundo, Christiana Figueres, Juano Hernández, Gabriela Mistral, Martín Chambi de Coaza, Marina Núñez del Prado, Noé Canjura, Nicolás García Uriburu, Pelé, and Rigoberta Menchú Tum.

Margarita Engle is the Cuban-American author of many verse novels, memoirs, and picture books, including The Surrender Tree, All the Way to Havana, Bravo!, Drum Dream Girl, and Dancing Hands. Awards include a Newbery Honor, Pura Belpré Medals, Golden Kite Award, Walter Honor, Jane Addams Award, PEN U.S.A., and NSK Neustadt Prize, among others. Margarita served as the national 2017-2019 Young People’s Poet Laureate. Margarita was born in Los Angeles, but developed a deep attachment to her mother’s homeland during childhood summers with relatives on the island. She studied agronomy and botany along with creative writing, and now lives in central California.


Juliet Menéndez is a Guatemalan American author and illustrator living between Guatemala City, Paris, and New York. While working as a bilingual teacher in New York City’s public schools, Juliet noted the need for more books that depicted children like the ones in her classrooms. She studied design and illustration in Paris and now spends her days with her watercolors and notebook.

"No matter when the subjects lived or what they did, Engle highlights their creativity, ­dignity, and the impact they had on their worlds. Accompanying Engle’s direct, concentrated free verse with similar power, Menéndez’s full-page illustrations blend blocky, mural-like characterizations with vibrant colors as bold as the lives of the heroes. . .The message is clear: Latin ­America’s past and present are filled with individuals whose examples can inspire ­readers in pursuing their passions today. . .An uplifting collection of Latinx ­heroes united by their tenacity, ideal for those in need of inspiration." -School Library Journal, starred review

"Menéndez’s watercolor artwork shines throughout each hero’s double-page spread, depicting these immense figures in bold form against mostly monochromatic backgrounds of warm colors. . .Worthy songs of praise for Latine legends." -Kirkus

"Each brief two- or three-stanza selection is written in free style and includes a bit of historical context, as well as first-person commentary that encourages relevancy and immediacy. . .Eye-catching, detailed full-page portraits reflect Latin American folk art motifs" -Booklist