Makena attends Roosevelt High School in San Antonio, Texas, where she is involved in DATA, the National Honor Society, and serves as the Motivational Director of the Student Council. Her favorite book is Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson because it tells a powerful and honest story about what it means to find your voice and confront difficult truths. Makena especially values stories that center Black girls and Black women, believing that representation in literature helps readers feel seen while also opening the door to important conversations. She is currently reading Eternal Ruin by Tigest Girma and Finding Me by Viola Davis. Through Girls for Books, Makena hopes more girls can discover stories that speak to them, challenge them, and remind them that their voices and experiences deserve to be heard.