Young Trailblazers: The Book of Black Inventors and Scientists

M.J. Fievre, B.S. Ed, earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Barry University. A seasoned K–12 teacher, a creator of safe spaces, and an initiator of difficult conversations, she spent much time building up her students, helping them feel comfortable in their own skin, and affirming their identities. Her close relationships with parents and students led her to look more closely at how we can balance protecting a child’s innocence with preparing them for the realities of life. She has taught creative writing workshops to children and teens at the O Miami Poetry Festival and the Miami Art Museum, as well as in various schools in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), Port-au-Prince (Haiti), and South Florida. She’s also been a keynote speaker at Tufts University (Massachusetts), Howard University (Washington, DC), the University of Miami (Florida), and Michael College (Vermont) and has served as a panelist at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference (AWP). M.J.’s publishing career began as a teenager in her native Haiti. She signed her first book contract at 18 years old with Hachette-Deschamps for the publication of a Young Adult book, La Statuette Maléfique. Since then, M.J. has released nine YA books in French, and she is the author of the award-winning Badass Black Girl book series for tweens and teens as well as Young Trailblazers. Kim Balacuit is an illustrator and designer who loves creating things that bring humor and joy into people's lives with bright colors and playful characters. Her background in graphic design, animation, and illustration have allowed her to work in both children's media and picture books. In her spare time, you can find her petting other people’s dogs, improving her banana bread recipe, or finding the spiciest foods to eat in the tri-state area.