Library hosts Newbery Medal winner

Matt de la Peña visits Pikes Peak Library District to discuss award-winning titles, All Pikes Peak Reads themes

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Once a self-admitted reluctant reader, Matt de la Peña’s path to become an author was anything but ordinary.

Now the award-winning author of 10 books, de la Peña is travelling the country to share his transformative experience with literature. On Nov. 8, he will stop in Colorado Springs as part of All Pikes Peak Reads, Pikes Peak Library District’s community-wide learning and literacy initiative.

“We are thrilled to be hosting Matt de la Peña,” said Becca Philipsen, young adult services senior librarian for Pikes Peak Library District. “Not only is he a prominent and award-winning author, his novels are powerful stories that resonant strongly with teens, many who are grappling with similar issues to his characters. Younger fans enjoy his work as well, especially with his recent success in picture books.”

De la Peña is the author of Last Stop on Market Street, the children’s title for All Pikes Peak Reads and winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal. He also contributed to Flying Lessons & Other Stories, the All Pikes Peak Reads teen title.

In Colorado Springs, de la Peña will discuss his own transition from reading aversion to authoring multiple award-winning titles, and how he sees it mirrored in some of the youth he meets today. He’ll wrap his conversation into the themes of All Pikes Peak Reads, including diversity, multiculturalism, immigration, and resiliency.

“A surprising number of teens I meet in rougher schools around the country find refuge in novels and creative writing,” de la Peña said in an essay for National Public Radio. “It's not always the usual suspects either, the high achievers. Sometimes it's the … kid who's twice been suspended for fighting. The one constant I find? Many of these teens — especially the ones from working-class families — do their reading and creating in secret.”

De la Peña will visit Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr., from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thu., Nov. 8. He will also sign books after his presentation. More information is available at ppld.org/appr.

###
Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is a nationally recognized system of public libraries serving a population of more than 623,000 in El Paso County, Colorado. With 14 facilities, online resources, and mobile library service, PPLD responds to the unique needs of individual neighborhoods and the community at large.