As Students Return to Campus, Fragile Courage Puts Belonging and Family Dynamics at the Heart of the College Story
Educator Martha Casazza revisits her 2021 novel as new data renews attention to who gets to stay in college
SAYULITA, Mexico, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As a new academic year begins, educator and author Martha Casazza is drawing renewed attention to Fragile Courage, her 2021 debut novel about a Mexican American student finding her place in college while trying to remain close to the family she loves. The story asks what it takes for a student to feel supported once she arrives on campus, and what courage looks like when education changes the life a family imagined for her.
The question is timely. A September report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found that persistence into the second year of college improved across high school income groups, yet a 14.6 percentage point gap remained between graduates of high poverty and low poverty high schools in the study. The figures measure school poverty, not first generation status; but they underscore the broader discussion about access and continued support that runs through Casazza's fiction.
In Fragile Courage, Melina leaves a close knit Mexican American family to pursue a degree and a wider future. Margot, a driven academic raised with very different expectations, faces pressures of her own. Their initially uneasy connection becomes a way for both women to examine identity, ambition and the support people need to grow. The novel invites discussion among readers, families and educators about the human side of student success, beyond enrollment figures.
Casazza draws on a career spent expanding educational opportunity. She began in Chicago Public Schools, trained teachers at National Louis University and, as a Fulbright Scholar after apartheid, worked with South African university faculty serving students from townships. She later helped develop a college level program for Spanish speaking residents in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. Her work now extends to preschool children in Sayulita, Mexico.
"Through my work, I've gained a unique perspective on the various ways people learn and find their place in the world," said Casazza. "I'm passionate about exploring the transformative power of education and the importance of ensuring people have the access and support they need to learn and thrive."
Fragile Courage is available now. For details about the novel and a purchase link, visit marthacasazza.com/fragile-courage. The book page also notes a Spanish edition.
About Martha Casazza
Casazza is an educator and author whose work has focused on educational access and support for underserved students. Her experience spans Chicago, South Africa, Poland, Kazakhstan, Scotland, England and Mexico. A Fulbright Scholar, she received the Instituto Spirit Award in 2018 for her work with Instituto del Progreso Latino in Chicago. She has written nonfiction on student learning and access, as well as the novel Fragile Courage. Learn more at marthacasazza.com.
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