Chantel Acevedo, a University of Miami English professor and accomplished author, found her path to writing middle-grade literature in an unexpected way during a family trip to England in the summer of 2017.
While visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum, Acevedo was struck by a statue of a muse, which sparked the idea for her two-book series, “Muse Squad.”
She asked herself, ‘How would the muses inspire people differently if they were kids?’
That question fueled her creativity, leading her to jot down plot points on her phone.
This moment of inspiration coincided with a desire her daughter Penelope, then 11, had expressed earlier about Acevedo writing for a younger audience.
At that time, Acevedo had already published four adult novels, and Penelope expressed her excitement about the idea of her mother writing something they could read together.
“As a kid, I bragged that my mom was an author,” Penelope recalled.
“It was hard to read her adult novels when I was in middle school.
I was excited when she wrote ‘Muse Squad’ because my friends and I could read it.”
In July 2020, Acevedo published the first book in the series, “Muse Squad: The Cassandra Curse.”
Despite a well-laid marketing plan by her publisher HarperCollins, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her book launch.
With libraries and bookstores closing, many readers couldn’t discover new titles, leading to what Acevedo described as “nonexistent” sales for the first six months.
However, determined not to let this setback hinder her, Acevedo continued to work on the sequel, which she published in 2021.
Over time, the “Muse Squad” duology found its audience and even garnered interest for a potential film adaptation by The Walt Disney Company.
“There were talks about turning ‘Muse Squad’ into a TV show,” Acevedo said.
However, negotiations fell through due to concerns about the title and the main character being Latina.
In 2023, her book “The Curse on Spectacle Key” received a nomination for the Sunshine State Young Readers Award, which recognizes literature’s role in fostering literacy among young students.
As a Florida-based author, Acevedo is keenly aware of the impact of recent book bans in the state.
During 2023, she made several school visits to discuss her work, but many schools became hesitant to host author visits amid a climate of increasing censorship and parental pushback.
Acevedo noted, “Here in Miami, they dried up,” referring to the decrease in invitation requests from schools.
“Principals said they didn’t want author visits because a parent might not like what an author says and sue the school.”
In some instances, schools have made extreme requests; one school in Immokalee required her to have a million-dollar insurance policy in case of litigation.
“Many of my school visits are unpaid, so I have to pay for my expenses myself,” Acevedo explained.
“I couldn’t afford that and couldn’t visit the school, which was heartbreaking.”
Reflecting on the current climate surrounding book bans, Acevedo believes the issue has grown considerably over the past decade since her time as a high school English teacher.
She actively seeks ways to challenge these bans and advocate for children’s literacy.
Recently, she engaged in discussions with faculty members at the School of Education about how to foster writing and reading initiatives for children.
“Having those conversations and voting on these issues are important,” she asserted.
Despite the challenges presented by current trends in censorship, Acevedo is committed to her craft.
“Storytelling is something I’ve always done,” she affirmed.
“It’s something I’m always going to do.”
Readers can explore the imaginative worlds of Acevedo’s books by purchasing them wherever books are sold.
Her fifth children’s book, “No Way, Never Sisters,” co-authored with UM alumna Natalia Sylvester, is expected to publish in 2026, along with her adult novel “Cages.”
image source from：https://themiamihurricane.com/2025/05/31/university-of-miami-professor-steps-into-the-kids-literature-world/
