The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind (22 page)

“It’s superstition and nonsense,” the dignitaries told their friends with embarrassed chuckles.

But Sonia and Pancho knew better. Privately, when they held hands and shared stories under their Prayer Tree, they confessed they had always had a soft spot for old mountain stories like his, for tales of humble people and the courage it took to live their days. For true stories of magic and love.

Meg Medina
is the author of the picture book
Tía Isa Wants a Car,
illustrated by Claudio Muñoz. Of
The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind
, she says, “I wrote Sonia’s story in the tradition of old Latino tales — romantic and magical. But I didn’t want a telenovela. I wanted a novel that spoke to what’s happening all around us even today. The question I kept asking myself as I developed the story was: What is it that all young people deserve, regardless of where they’re born or their station in life? To me the answer is love, respect, and a chance at a future full of possibility. That’s the core. These are the things for which a person will risk everything.” The daughter of Cuban immigrants, Meg Medina grew up in Queens, New York, and now lives in Richmond, Virginia. This is her first novel for young adults.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or, if real, are used fictitiously.

Copyright © 2012 by Meg Medina

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, taping, and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.

First electronic edition 2012

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number pending

ISBN 978-0-7636-4602-8 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-7636-5968-4 (electronic)

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