The Writing Room
Immediately after high school graduation, eighteen-year-old Maya is kicked out of her wealthy dad’s NYC home; he prides himself on forcing his kids to “make their own way in the world.” Maya’s mom lives in Guatemala, so Maya crashes with friends while working and trying to land freelance writing gigs.
Maya struggles to find her footing until she gets access to a “writing room,” a shared workspace where she can focus—and get to know the intriguing neighbor, Jake, who’s often there.
When she discovers her dad is bankrolling a virulently anti-immigrant candidate for governor, Maya―the daughter of an immigrant―realizes she can’t continue quietly accepting his choices. She’ll have to take a stand, using the voice she’s found in the writing room.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
|
979-8-7656-2771-6
On pre-order until 11/04/2025
|
$19.99 | |
|
979-8-7656-7319-5
On pre-order until 11/04/2025
|
$24.99 |
| Interest Level | Grade 8 - Grade 12 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 8 |
| Genre | Young Adult |
| Category | Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diverse Books: Social Class, Diverse Books: Social Justice, Diversity, SEL: C Social Awareness, SEL: D Relationship Skills, SEL: E Responsible Decision-Making, Social Emotional Learning |
| Copyright | 2025 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Carolrhoda Lab ® |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 256 |
| Publication Date | 2025-11-04 |
Author: Marcia Argueta Mickelson
Marcia Argueta Mickelson was born in Guatemala and immigrated to the United States as an infant. She attended high school in New Jersey and then graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in American Studies. She is the author of six novels including Star Shining Brightly, The Huaca, and Where I Belong, and she is a winner of the Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Honor. She lives in Texas with her husband and three sons.
Reviews
David Bowles
“A timely and compelling portrait of people who rise above broken families and oppressive systems to find belonging and solidarity with one another. . . Daringly defiant and achingly hopeful, The Writing Room is an essential book that speaks to this moment with clear vision and powerful prose. Not to be missed!”—David Bowles, author of They Call Her Fregona
Ismée Williams
“An inspiring story about learning what’s important to you and finding the inner strength to stand up for it.”—Ismée Williams, author of This Train Is Being Held
Jessica Parra
“As emotionally gripping as it is heartfelt, The Writing Room is a powerful novel about family, finding your voice, and the potency of first love. Mickelson masterfully weaves trauma and tribulations with hope and healing, affirming the necessity of making space for yourself alongside and within your community.”—Jessica Parra, author of Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success and The Quince Project