Angela Cervantes is the Mexican American author of popular children’s novels like Lety Out Loud, which was a 2020 Pura Belpré Honor Book. Her other books include Maritza: Lead with Your Heart (American Girls book); Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring; Gaby, Lost and Found; Allie, First at Last. Angela’s latest novel, The Cursed Moon, is the author’s first book in the children’s horror genre and is available now.
In addition to her original novels, Angela authored the junior novelization for Disney/Pixar’s animated-film, Coco and Disney’s animated film, Encanto.
Angela’s short stories have been featured in Chicken Soup for The Latino Soul and the Young Adult anthology Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America.
Angela is a daughter of a retired elementary-school teacher who instilled in her a love for reading and storytelling. Angela writes from her home in Kansas City. When she’s not writing, Angela enjoys reading, running, gazing up at clouds, and taking advantage of Taco Tuesdays.
Career Highlights
- The Cursed Moon is published by Scholastic Press on September 5, 2023.
- Encanto: The Junior Novel is published by Disney Random House on Oct. 12, 2021
- Maritza: Lead With Your Heart is published by American Girl Books on March 30, 2021.
- Angela’s short story Yoli Calderón and Principal Hayes is included in the Mexican American anthology Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America.
- Lety Out Loud is named a 2020 Pura Belpré Honor Book Award.
- Lety Out Loud is published by Scholastic Press on Feb. 26, 2019
- Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring is named as a finalist for the Texas Bluebonnet Master List (2019-2020)
- Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring is published by Scholastic Press on March 27, 2018
- Coco: The Junior Novel is published by Disney Random House on Oct. 10, 2017
- Angela attends the Hollywood premiere of the Disney/Pixar movie, Coco, on Nov. 9, 2017
- Allie, First at Last is published by Scholastic on March 30, 2016
- Gaby, Lost and Found is published by Scholastic on July 29, 2013
- In 2008, The Kansas City Star Magazine named Angela an Emerging Artists.
- In 2007, Angela won third place for Creative Nonfiction in the Missouri Review’s audio competition for her story “House of Women.”
- In 2007, Angela’s short story “Ten Hail Marys” wins the Kansas City Voices Best of Prose Award (Whispering Prairie Press)
- In 2005, Angela’s short story, Pork-Chop Sandwiches is published in “Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul”
- In 2001, along with Chicana poetry group Las Poetas, Angela opened for El Vez at the Grand Emporium in Kansas City.
