I had a good childhood because I had a great mother. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2015), what was childhood like in your home? As a much-admired author of award-winning books, including the 2016 Newbery Award for Last Stop on Market Street (G.P. It is difficult to remember that a famous person may not have always been so. Sometimes it is easy for readers and fans to elevate favorite authors above human status. Here, de la Peña shares with Mackin’s Amy Meythaler a bit of his life’s story and his mission to write the wrongs. Today, that “reluctant reader” is the 2016 Newbery Medalist and a champion for kids who have few opportunities for success. That experience deeply impacted him and led him to avoid reading until a serendipitous experience with a college professor many years later.
Early on, author Matt de la Peña was labeled a poor reader by teachers who felt he was not meeting learning benchmarks.
