Melissa de la Cruz Announces New Project Promoting Gender Equality

Melissa de la Cruz has written stories about witches, vampires, even the children of Disney villains. Now she’s telling new stories, and the characters are very real.

Best-selling author Melissa de la Cruz has created incredible stories of mystery and fantasy. Now, she’s turned her focus to reality. Following the success of her new book Something In Between, a story about the struggles of a teenaged, undocumented immigrant, de la Cruz is now tackling gender equality.

The author has announced a new collection of essays titled Because I Was A Girl: True Stories For Girls Of All Ages. The project tells the stories of real-life women and girls, highlighting the struggles they’ve faced because they’re female.

De la Cruz will edit the essays, and has recruited best-selling authors and friends Libba Bray, Victoria Aveyard and Margaret Stohl to contribute to the project. The collection will also feature input from 20th Century Fox’s Co-Chairman Stacey Snider and aerospace/mechanical engineer Emily Calandrelli, among others.

Partnering with Henry Holt Books’ Christian Trimmer, an official release date has not been announced. But, a working cover using pictures of various women looks to inspire readers of all ages.

In announcing the project, the team released an essay from the collection, courtesy of Elizabeth Acevedo. The piece details Acevedo’s experience as a female rapper, and the strength she needed to make it in such a male-dominated world.

Related Story: February's New Books Roundup

While we wait for this project, Melissa de la Cruz’s next book, Alex and Eliza, hits shelves April 11, 2017.