Claribel A. Ortega

Claribel Ortega is a Dominican-American author whose vibrant stories celebrate culture, identity, and the magic of everyday life. She is best known for her middle-grade novels "Ghost Squad," a spooky adventure blending Dominican folklore with ghostly thrills, and "Witchlings," a bewitching tale of friendship and belonging. Her graphic novel "Frizzy," illustrated by Rose Bousamra, tenderly explores a young Latina girl's journey to embrace her natural hair and cultural heritage. Ortega draws on her own childhood experiences to craft deeply relatable stories for young readers. She is also a passionate advocate for diverse and inclusive representation in children's literature.