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Tehlor Kay Mejia

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Tehlor Kay Mejia
Notable works
Website
tehlorkaymejia.com

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).

Personal life

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Mejia 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

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Mejia'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

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We Set the Dark on Fire

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Main article: We Set the Dark on Fire

In 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

[edit]
Main article: Miss Meteor

In 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

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Adult novels

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  • Sammy Espinoza's Last Review. Dell Publishing. 2023. ISBN 9780593598771.[20][21][22]

Middle grade novels

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Paola Santiago series

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Young adult novels

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We Set the Dark on Fire series

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Anthology contributions

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Notes

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  1. ^ Although many interviews use she/her pronouns for Mejia, as of August 2023, Mejia's Instagram indicated they use they/them pronouns.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "Tehlor Mejia". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Tehlor Kay Mejia Bio". Literary Arts. Archived from the original on 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  4. ^ "Tehlor Kay Mejia". Penguin Random House Canada. Archived from the original on 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Youth Audio, 2019". 2020-01-01. Archived from the original on 2022-01-29. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  7. ^ Booth, Heather (August 2020). "Top 10 SF/Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks for Youth". Archived from the original on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2020". 2020-03-15. Archived from the original on 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  12. ^ "Rainbow List: 2020". 2020-03-15. Archived from the original on 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  13. ^ "Rise: A Feminist Book Project: 2020". 2020-03-15. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "2020 Neukom Awards Winners". Locus Online. 2020-10-08. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Rainbow List: 2021". Booklist. 2021-03-15. Archived from the original on 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  19. ^ "Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2021". Booklist. 2021-03-15. Archived from the original on 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  20. ^ "Sammy Espinoza's Last Review". Kirkus Reviews. 2023-05-24. Archived from the original on 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  21. ^ "Sammy Espinoza's Last Review". Booklist. 2023-06-01. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "Paola Santiago and the River of Tears". Kirkus Reviews. 2020-05-17. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  24. ^ Paz, Selenia (August 2020). "Paola Santiago and the River of Tears". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares". Kirkus Reviews. 2021-05-26. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  28. ^ "Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares". Booklist. 2021-06-01. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  29. ^ "Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares (audiobook)". Booklist. 2021-10-01. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ "Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows". Kirkus Reviews. 2022-06-07. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  32. ^ "Lucha of the Night Forest". Kirkus Reviews. 2022-12-13. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  33. ^ Stevens, Allie (2023-05-15). "Lucha of the Night Forest". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ "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.
  36. ^ 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.
  37. ^ "Miss Meteor". Kirkus Reviews. 2020-07-07. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  38. ^ Cole, Sonja (2020-11-13). "Miss Meteor (audiobook)". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  39. ^ Reagan, Maggie (2020-09-01). "Miss Meteor". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  40. ^ Diaz, Shelley (2020-09-25). "Miss Meteor". Shelf Awareness. Archived from the original on 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  41. ^ "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.
  42. ^ 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.
  43. ^ 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.
  44. ^ "We Set the Dark on Fire". Kirkus Reviews. 2018-11-11. Archived from the original on 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ Reagan, Maggie (2018-11-01). "We Set the Dark on Fire". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  47. ^ 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.
  48. ^ "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.
  49. ^ "We Unleash the Merciless Storm". Kirkus Reviews. 2019-12-07. Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  50. ^ Hong, Terry (2020-03-15). "We Unleash the Merciless Storm (audiobook)". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  51. ^ Hadge, Clarissa (2020-02-28). "We Unleash the Merciless Storm". Shelf Awareness. Archived from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  52. ^ 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.
  53. ^ "Toil & Trouble". Kirkus Reviews. 2018-06-17. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  54. ^ "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.
  55. ^ "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.
  56. ^ "The Grimoire of Grave Fates". Publishers Weekly. 2023-04-27. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
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