A Conversation with Matt de la Peña

One of the most exciting new voices in young adult literature is Matt de la Peña. Matt's novels explore how the world looks from the perspective of low-income and minority teens as they struggle to figure out who they can be in light of the obstacles they face. With pitch-perfect dialogue, richly-realized urban settings, and unforgettable characters, Matt's books are sure to engage all kinds of readers. Tune in to hear Matt discuss some of the thinking behind his newest novel, We Were Here.

After listening to this episode, be sure to print out this list of recommended titles to take to the library or book seller.

Recommendations in this episode include

• Ball Don't Lie (Delacorte, 2005)
• Mexican WhiteBoy (Delacorte, 2008)
• We Were Here (Delacorte, October 2009)