Wyoming Arts Council

Acclaimed author Matt de la Pena to conduct writing workshops in Teton County schools

Featured News | November 21, 2014

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News from the Teton County Public Library:

Teton County Library will be bringing Matt de la Peña, the author of five critically-acclaimed young adult novels, into Teton County schools to talk with tweens and teens about creative writing on Wednesday, Dec. 3, and Thursday, Dec. 4.

The young adult fiction writer builds a strong case for the power of literacy and creativity in an essay he penned for National Public Radio’s Code Switch blog.

“A surprising number of teens I meet in rougher schools around the country find refuge in novels and creative writing. It’s not always the usual suspects either, the high achievers…,” he wrote in the November, 2013 essay. “The one constant I find? Many of these teens — especially the ones from working-class families — do their reading and creating in secret.”

A resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., de le Peña teaches creative writing and visits high schools and colleges throughout the country. He visited Jackson Hole schools once before in February 2012. One month after his visit to Jackson in March 2012, de le Peña caught the attention of the New York Times, which followed the author into Tucson High School where he visited students after his book had been banned from the curriculum (along with the work of several other Hispanic authors). de le Peña tackles what it’s like to grow up Mexican American in his books and talks.

de la Peña is the author of: “Ball Don’t Lie,” “Mexican WhiteBoy,” “We Were Here,” “I Will Save You” and “The Living.” He’s also the author of the award-winning picture book “A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis” (illustrated by Kadir Nelson).

“We’re always excited to work with the schools and bring authors into their classrooms,” said Julia Hysell, Library Communications Manager. “With Matt de la Pena, there’s great anticipation. He’s an author who has a history of really connecting with students. And he makes a powerful case for the importance of reading and writing in our lives.”

The Library brings award-winning authors into Teton County schools with support from donations, large and small, to the Teton County Library Foundation. You can find Teton County Library online at www.tclib.org, call us at 307.733.2164 or visit us at 125 Virginian Lane, Jackson WY, 83001.

Author’s website: mattdelapena.com

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