Welcome!

I’m Kristina Menendez, writer and school librarian.

Encouraging literacy in students is my mission. As a middle and high school librarian, I’ve noticed a dearth in middle grade (MG) fiction of my favorite genre - hard science fiction. Think outer space and robots. In particular, MG hard sci-fi books with female protagonists are few and far between. MG hard sci-fi books with diverse female protagonists are virtually nonexistent.

It has never been more important to encourage a love of both reading and STEAM concepts, especially for adolescent girls, with high interest, action-packed stories that engage kids at a time when there are countless other distractions. To this end, my book The First Martian, tells the story of 12 year old Mera, the first person born on Mars. Set in 2082 in the underground Mars station, Galileo, Mera and her friends race against time to save themselves and the crew at Galileo from disaster.

The Martian meets Lord of the Flies for adolescents, with a diverse female protagonist.

Stay tuned for publication info!