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María Dolores Águila is a Chicana author from San Diego. Deeply inspired by Chicane history and art, she seeks to write empowering and inclusive stories about everything she learns. She also loves drinking coffee, browsing the bookshelves at her local library, and spending time with her family.

Getting to know María…

María’s loved stories as far back as she can remember. Before she could read on her own, she’d make her Mom read the 12 Dancing Princesses over and over, until she eventually memorized it. By the time she was ten, frustrated by the lack of Latine representation in the books she poured over, she set out to write a novel on the family computer.

In seventh grade, she read The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, and the experience was life-changing. She realized Chicanas, just like her, were writing their stories and other people were reading them. It was then that María decided that one day, people would read her stories too.

As the daughter of a construction worker and housekeeper, there was no blueprint to follow her literary dreams. Through sheer determination, she forged her own unconventional path to sharing her stories with the world.

María is dedicated to writing stories showcasing the Chicane community’s rich history of resistance and resillience, so that readers see themselves and feel empowered.

Books

BARRIO RISING/EL BARRIO SE LEVANTA is now available for preorder!

Release Date: June 18, 2024

BARRIO RISING, a picture book written by María Dolores Águila and illustrated by Magdalena Mora, will be published by Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House. BARRIO RISING will also be simultaneously published in Spanish as EL BARRIO SE LEVANTA, translated by David Bowles. 

BARRIO RISING is a vivid historical fiction account of the community activism behind San Diego’s Chicano Park—home to the largest outdoor mural collection in the U.S.—and just one example of the Mexican American community’s rich history of resistance and resilience.

BARRIO RISING invites readers to join a courageous young activist and her neighbors in their successful twelve-day land occupation and beyond, when Barrio Logan banned together and built the colorful park that would become the corazón of San Diego’s Chicane community.

MENUDO SUNDAY, a picture book written by María Dolores Águila and illustrated by Erika Meza, will be published 2025 by Dial Books For Young Readers/Penguin Random House.

Stay tuned for the official annoucement of María’s debut middle grade novel.

Newsletter

Would you like to receive some “muy exciting” emails from María every now and then? Or just want to make sure you don’t miss a thing? Sign up for her newsletter!

School Visits

Are you interested in having María visit your school? Book a visit now!

Because María deeply values connection and giving back, she is offering *free, in-person, school visits to Title I schools in Barrio Logan, National City, Chula Vista and Southeast San Diego.

If you are a teacher, librarian and/or administrator from a Title I school outside of these areas, please contact María to explore possible accomodations for a school visit.

All other teachers, librarians, and/or administrators may contact María for more details about pricing.

*Limitations apply, and are based on availability.