Text Messages: Recommendations for Adolescent Readers

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Episode 19 — 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)

Published September 24, 2009

About the Host

Jennifer Buehler taught English for ten years before earning a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan’s Joint Program in English and Education. As a high school teacher, she developed an 800-book classroom library designed to engage and inspire her ninth grade students as readers. Watching students select reading materials led Jennifer to expand her own reading accordingly, allowing her to match books successfully with teens’ wide-ranging tastes and interests.

As a teacher consultant with the Eastern Michigan Writing Project, Jennifer regularly led workshops on young adult literature for parents, area teachers, and students in university methods classes. Now Assistant Professor of English Education at Saint Louis University, Jennifer teaches classes on English methods and young adult literature. She is an active member of NCTE's Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN), and she served on ALAN’s first Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Committee.