The first of its kind, this book focuses on the personal and educational experiences of three Latina teachers in the Deep South, using contemporary young adult literature written by three Latina authors. The three-month narrative ethnographic study explored the lived experiences of these teachers during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection methods included book talks, altered book tasks, in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and ethnographic field notes.

This study disrupted traditional methods by emphasizing cultural trenzas (braids), highlighting the linguistic and cultural attributes of the Latina teacher participants.

Findings revealed three predominant themes in the narrative stories shared by the participants, namely: grounding by family, the experience of belongingness, and empowerment (stemming from bilingualism and increased awareness through young adult literature). **

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Autorentext

Vanessa E. Vega**,** former Director of Clinical Experiences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's School of Education and Visiting Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida - Tampa, holds a B.A. from Purdue University, an M.Ed. from Rutgers University, and an Ed.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research focuses on Latina teachers and the use of social justice-oriented young adult literature to explore counter-narratives and lived experiences. She is committed to exploring experiential knowledge by stretching notions of "traditional" academic writing and research by way of creative nonfiction and imaginative methodologies. Her work often examines her own lived experiences of navigating murky spaces and swimming contra la corriente.