Matt de la Peña facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matt de la Peña
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De la Peña at the 2013 Texas Book Festival
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| Born | California, United States |
| Occupation | Writer and educator |
| Nationality | American |
| Education |
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| Period | 2005–present |
| Genre | Young-adult novels |
| Children | Luna de la Peña and Miguel de la Peña |
Matthew de la Peña is an American author who writes amazing books for children and young adults. He won the famous Newbery Medal in 2016 for his picture book Last Stop on Market Street. His stories often explore themes like identity, family, and finding your place in the world.
Contents
About Matt de la Peña
Early Life and Education
Matt de la Peña grew up in San Diego, California. He loved sports, especially basketball. He even went to the University of the Pacific on a basketball scholarship! After that, he earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in creative writing from San Diego State University. This helped him become the talented writer he is today.
Writing and Recognition
Matt de la Peña started writing in 2005. His first book was Ball Don't Lie. He often uses his own life experiences to create his stories. For example, his book Mexican WhiteBoy was inspired by his love for sports and his Mexican heritage.
In 2012, Mexican WhiteBoy faced a challenge in Tucson, Arizona. Some people wanted to remove it from classrooms. However, in 2017, a court decided that removing the book was against the constitutional rights of Mexican American students. This showed how important it is for all students to see themselves and their cultures in books.
Matt de la Peña has received many awards for his work. In 2016, he won the Newbery Medal for Last Stop on Market Street. This is one of the most important awards for children's literature in the United States. The book also received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor and a Caldecott Honor. In 2016, he also received the National Intellectual Freedom Award from the National Council of Teachers of English.
More recently, in 2021, he published Milo Imagines the World. This book was named an "Outstanding Merit" book on the 2022 Bank Street Children's Best Books of the Year List. It also won the Josette Frank Award.
Life Today
As of 2022, Matt de la Peña lives in Southern California. He continues to write and inspire young readers. He also teaches creative writing at San Diego State University, sharing his knowledge with new writers.
Matt de la Peña's Books
Matt de la Peña has written many popular books for different age groups. Here are some of his notable works:
| Year | Title | Illustrator | Publisher | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Ball Don't Lie | Delacorte Press | Named a "Best Book for Young Adults" and later became a movie in 2008. | |
| 2008 | Mexican WhiteBoy | Delacorte Press | Recognized as a "Top Ten Pick" for young adults. | |
| 2009 | We Were Here | Random House Inc | Named a "Best Book for Young Adults." | |
| 2010 | I Will Save You | Selected as a "Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers." | ||
| A Nation's Hope-The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis | Kadir Nelson | Received excellent reviews and was a "Best Book of the Year." | ||
| 2013 | Infinity Ring: Curse of the Ancients | Part of a popular series. | ||
| Eternity | ||||
| The Living | ||||
| 2015 | The Hunted | Penguin Random House | ||
| Last Stop on Market Street | Christian Robinson | Penguin Books | Won the 2016 Newbery Medal, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, and a Caldecott Honor. | |
| 2018 | Love | Loren Long | ||
| Carmela Full of Wishes | Christian Robinson | |||
| 2019 | Superman: Dawnbreaker | A story about the famous superhero. | ||
| 2021 | Milo Imagines the World | Christian Robinson | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers | A New York Times Bestseller and winner of the Josette Frank Award. |
