Matt De La Pena

Matt de la Peña is an award-winning American author of young adult novels and children's picture books. His picture book Last Stop on Market Street won the Newbery Medal in 2016, making it one of the few picture books ever to receive this prestigious award for children's literature. The book tells the story of a young boy named CJ who rides the bus with his grandmother through their city, learning to see beauty in the world around him despite its imperfections. De la Peña grew up in San Diego and draws on his Mexican-American heritage and his experiences of growing up between cultures to create stories that reflect the diversity of American life. His young adult novels, including Mexican WhiteBoy and The Living, explore themes of identity, race, class and belonging with emotional honesty and narrative skill. He has received numerous awards and has become one of the most prominent advocates for diversity in children's and young adult literature. The audiobook editions of his work bring his warm, inclusive storytelling to young listeners and families.